Who should the Space dimension belong to? Why?

MAJ Bryan Zeski — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 01:24:57 -0400

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Jun 28 at 2017 1:28 AM

MAJ Bryan Zeski — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 01:28:40 -0400

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/against-air-force-space-corps-space-belongs-the-navy-21350

Against An Air Force Space Corps: Space Belongs to the Navy!

Our Navy, not Air Force, has the crew mentality, operational perspective, and leadership culture compatible with our long-term space needs.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jun 28 at 2017 2:39 AM

SN Greg Wright — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 02:39:29 -0400

How is this a question? The AF doesn't drive ships. Of any nature. Sure, they've got space planes. With no crew. They could conceivably ramp that up to WITH crew. 4, 5, 6 people? Nah. Only the Navy has the institutional experience to bring hundreds, or thousands, of people together to run a ship.

That said, what an AWESOME f'n question, Major!

Response by SSgt Holden M. made Jun 28 at 2017 8:11 AM

SSgt Holden M. — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 08:11:02 -0400

The Air Force's domain. Air, Space, and Cyberspace leave it alone. I worked with many space people when I worked at the Air Force Space Command Headquarters and most of them think that it will really make things worse if they make space it's own branch. If they really want to dick around with things just make everything the DoD and stop calling each branch by it's name but just call it all DoD....

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jun 28 at 2017 8:32 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 08:32:33 -0400

Of course the Air Force is going to say it should belong to them. The Army will counter that Air Defense belongs to them. Really, we need know what you are meaning by 'Space dimension' but from what I am thinking, it would require a combination separate from the other services, if and when it is needed.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Jun 28 at 2017 8:58 AM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 08:58:16 -0400

Over a third of the AF budget is already space support to the Joint force. I'd hate to add another layer of management (and cost) by making Space it's own branch, but that's probably what the Army said in 1946.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jun 28 at 2017 9:08 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 09:08:59 -0400

Start out with the Air Force and eventually grows into it's own branch. United States Star Force?

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2017 9:46 AM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 09:46:31 -0400

I say a separate branch simply due to the fact that it is its own unique domain. Now, by the same logic you could say cyberspace needs to be its own, but cyberspace presents a much different challenge and requirements.
From Bill Dries, USAF, "For a particular task, a component is designated as the lead and is then “supported” by the other components to complete its mission. To sustain this model, the military departments develop capabilities to dominate their domains." To me, this would come down to having those assets in the domain be under a single entity, not multiple. It seems like it would have issues with command at that point.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jun 28 at 2017 11:25 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 11:25:33 -0400

I voted for the Air Force because they currently have the mission capability. For now we're talking about near-Earth ISR, Defense, and Offensive operations. Space exploration and visits to other planets is with NASA and maybe some international amalgamation of national space organizations. My estimate is that pretty well covers activities in the 21st Century. Beyond that it depends on what we find, if anything, beyond our Solar System. If we run into intelligent life that is hostile to us, we may need a military capability. Too early to cross that bridge.

The DoD did have a Unified Command, US Space Command, dealing with space operations from 1985-2002. It was merged with US Strategic Command in 2002. If a strategic requirement exists for a joint command to handle space operations, then we have the foundation for it.

Response by PO1 Don Gulizia made Jun 28 at 2017 11:27 AM

PO1 Don Gulizia — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 11:27:04 -0400

Separate branch...but Navy ranks! No space SHIP Captain should ever be called Colonel. The -Land-Expeditionary-Extraterrestrial Forces, attached to the ship, can have Army/USMC ranks.

Response by SSgt Ryan Sylvester made Jun 28 at 2017 3:30 PM

SSgt Ryan Sylvester — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 15:30:05 -0400

Hopping on board with the Separate Service folks. Here's the thing everyone's looking at: defining the service by the requirements of today's operating environment. When you're talking about near-Earth operating environment, we're fine with the division of responsibilities as they are. Why? Because the primary operation of space is based right here on Earth. When we start pushing into the solar system with actual manned vehicles, then we might start talking about shifts in the operating environment and which service would handle what the best, but you are still talking within easier reach of Earth. When you're talking about actually breaching past the solar system and into outer space, reaching a new solar system and planets, now you're talking about a completely new operational environment, one which would probably best fall under a blended service due to the extreme variance of operations required.

And the bigger question still, should this even be a military organization at all? Or even a country's organization? NASA wasn't, even though there were military personnel that were (and are) astronauts. Such might be with deep space exploration. But ultimate control may best be put under a different agency than the military.

Response by PO2 Brad Broerman made Jun 28 at 2017 4:07 PM

PO2 Brad Broerman — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 16:07:56 -0400

For now, I would think that Air Force is a good place for it. If we ever achieve the goal of actual ships in space (and not just space capable aircraft) then I would draw from the Navy. It should be it's own force, but starting off using experienced Navy personnel.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2017 4:14 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 16:14:35 -0400

Reading through the comments, I find it funny that most of the Navy are the only ones calling for it to fall under the Navy control; everyone else is either for it's own branch or part of the AF.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2017 4:46 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 16:46:41 -0400

Navy has its merits, but lets not forget that while living on ship may be difficult, it isn't rocket science and we've figured that out already.

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Jun 28 at 2017 4:51 PM

SGT Tony Clifford — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 16:51:24 -0400

It seems pretty obvious that in the future wars will occur in space. To staff large warships in space an organization similar to the navy would be used. To do ship to ship raids you'll need an organization similar to the Marines, and for sustained land operations you'll need an Army. Air support for ground troops would either require a dedicated branch of the Army or a support role for the navy in this future warfare scenario. Essentially the Air Force would be obsolete in this type of war.

Response by Sgt Joseph Baker made Jun 28 at 2017 6:30 PM

Sgt Joseph Baker — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 18:30:26 -0400

Plus if you're invading another planet you want to make the right first impression. This can only done properly with Marines. The reasons the Marines are the right ones for the job are as follows: they penetrate deeper into the bad bush, they stay longer, and they don't pull out until the job is
done.

Response by LTJG Edward Bangor Jr made Jun 28 at 2017 6:49 PM

LTJG Edward Bangor Jr — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 18:49:42 -0400

Of course it's the Navy. We've already had several SEAL astronauts (and the latest one is also an MD). We are one functional exoskeleton away from the Spartan program being a thing.

In all seriousness, I'd say that the Navy would eventually take charge of the stars by the time we have enough craft in orbit to worry about interplanetary/interstellar combat. As others have said, the Navy has a history with this kind of logistics. A continuously moving asset with a crew of hundreds that need supplies to be carried with them and ready to fight...it's a concept that the Navy already has. the Air Force, although they have done the lion's share of the military's space-related R&D efforts up until now, are still based at permanent locations. You can forward deploy a detachment of bombers or fighters somewhere, but they are still ultimately fixed to that base. Compare to an aircraft carrier. The Nimitz-class can land a C-130 if need be, and can be stationed off the coast of any almost any country with a shoreline. This brings the airbase to the staging ground, instead of needing to play leapfrog with tankers mid-flight.

The Navy has the experience is this area. It's the branch that's most cut out for the realities of true space-based warfare. This also means the marines are along for the ride. For what it's worth, the USMC is already trying to make space marines. Look up SUSTAIN.

Also,

Response by MSgt Jason McClish made Jun 28 at 2017 7:04 PM

MSgt Jason McClish — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 19:04:05 -0400

Without hesitation, the United States Air Force to lead it. Heck, space is one of the Air Force's major commands. However, this should be a joint command, taking orders directly from the DoD/SECDEF.

Response by TSgt Walter Thalacker made Jun 28 at 2017 8:00 PM

TSgt Walter Thalacker — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 20:00:38 -0400

It already exists, NASA. Just put Stars and Bars in charge of it. To me it'd be a Joint Command.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2017 9:36 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 21:36:46 -0400

Historically, the US Navy has pioneered virtually every technological advance, from cannons that fire BLOS (Beyond Line of Sight) to SONAR to RADAR to aircraft; sail to steam to nuclear power. So should we now pioneer military space maritime defense.

Response by SSG J Rose made Jun 29 at 2017 12:53 AM

SSG J Rose — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 00:53:55 -0400

Should be something else for the exploration of space, that should also include satellites(except for national defense and such), but if it comes to a point to where we need combat fighters in space, Air Force. With the other branches providing for their specialties. ie; combat on a distant plant would be some form of the Marines and/or Army. That is all far fetched at this point in time, but our forces have enough to deal with on this planet at current.

Response by SPC Steven Depuy made Jun 29 at 2017 7:07 AM

SPC Steven Depuy — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 07:07:52 -0400

Is it a ship, a bomber, the AF has flying vessels with multiple crew on it. I think it should be its own command, but if not, the Chair Force, I mean Air Force should have it.

Response by Maj Walter Kilar made Jun 29 at 2017 7:44 PM

Maj Walter Kilar — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 19:44:22 -0400

For now, the mission should go to the Air Force, since space is currently being used as a strategic-operational extension of the air domain in support of other combatant commanders in a geographic, joint operations area (JOA). Years from now when manned crews are fighting in space against other manned crews in space, with weapons being targeted against other systems in the space JOA, then even as career Air Force I could argue for either an independent Space Corps using Navy ranks or another department of the Navy.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2017 3:13 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 03:13:19 -0400

Is Richard Dean Anderson available?

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Jun 30 at 2017 2:09 PM

MSgt James Mullis — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 14:09:09 -0400

It all depends on what you include in "the Domain of Space". Currently, NASA, the Air Force, and civilian companies are all involved in heavy lifting of cargo/objects into low earth orbit. Also, each military and intelligence service has its hand in mission specific satellite development, control, and usage. As for the future, it makes sense to me for the Air Force to maintain control of low earth orbit Safety and Security operations while the Navy would seem to have the institutional knowledge for large multi passenger/long duration space vehicle operations.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2017 6:40 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 18:40:46 -0400

A space ship is called a ship or a vessel. So Navy

Response by CPO Glenn Moss made Oct 1 at 2017 8:56 PM

CPO Glenn Moss — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 20:56:33 -0400

Given the bickering this kind of thing generally entails, I'll just end all the discussion and say this:

It should belong to me.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 28 at 2018 8:22 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 20:22:13 -0500

Sir, I'm pretty damn sure I don't want to take a company of grunts into space on missions.