U.S. begins transferring soldiers to the rebranded Space Force

There was a lot of development for the United States Space Force (USSF) in the summer of 2020. Its units were renamed, symbols – updated, and at the beginning of autumn, it began acquiring its first soldiers. 

The process started with the transfer of 20 members of the 16th Expeditionary Space Control Flight and the 609th Air Operations Center on September 1, 2020, in Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. According to the Force’s press release, it is just the first batch of 2,400 active-duty personnel to be transferred through the fall. 

“It’s been really impressive to see how much space and the need for space has expanded,” Tech. Sgt. Cody Hircock, one of the new Space Force members, is quoted in the release. Presumably, he referred to the capabilities of the newly-established branch of the U.S. armed forces.

He, along with others, is transferred from the U.S. Air Force, whose space-related duties USSF is set to take over. 

This was just one of the latest developments within the branch, as it saw significant changes since the formal establishment in December 2019. 

Several officers, including U.S.’ first female three-star general Nina Armagno were transferred to the Force in August, and its doctrine, entitled “Spacepower”, was published: roughly 64-page document that mentions the word “Space” 860 times, four of them on the front cover.

Even before that, in July, the wings of USAF Space Command, whose structure the USSF inherited, were renamed “Deltas” to give them separate identity, and the new brand book was created. 

The latter includes a motto, new logotype, as well as several other visual cues. The logo – reimagining of old USAF Space Command insignia – was previously widely criticized for resembling a logo of Starfleet Command from TV series Star Trek, which may have prompted the change.

(Photo: United States Space Force)