Service Branches
Space Force
The U.S. Space Force is the Military’s sixth Service branch, with advanced operations on land, in air and in orbit. Its core mission is to deploy forces that improve the nation’s defensive technology and communications capabilities, and to achieve key national objectives through military space power.
Quick Facts:
- Full-time service
- 9,441 active duty members
- 19 Career Specialties
The Origins of the U.S. Space Force
There’s no such thing as a day without space operations, and today the U.S. Space Force stands ready to meet new challenges with the world’s most advanced defensive capabilities.
Length 2:43 View TranscriptTranscription
Voiceover: Today, space is essential not only to our way of life. It's absolutely critical to the modern way of war. GPS, ATMs, cell phones, gas pumps, traffic lights, power grids, guided missiles, surveillance, RPAs, ground combat control. There's no such thing as a day without space operations. You just don't see them. Earth is only half the battle. Cyberattacks and jamming of our satellite, microsatellites that can create a debris field. At 17,000 miles an hour, a piece of metal the size of a coin can be weaponized. Now is the time for a military branch with a clear and singular focus on space. A military branch that protects the hopes and dreams of America, and our way of life, as the space domain becomes more and more contested. It's time for another giant leap. The United States Space Force is being built from the brightest minds across the space operations of the Air Force, our joint services, and the private sector. We aren’t just getting ready for the near future; we’re getting ready for the 22nd century. When our enemies ask, “What if?” we will have an answer. When foreign powers can build bases on the dark side of the moon. When private companies are inventing a new economy beyond our planet. We need to stay one step ahead of the future. The future is where we’ll make history. We will fight in an environment with no up or down, no left or right, where there are no borders, and nowhere to hide. Our Space Force is defending our country here on Earth and wherever our mission takes us. As commerce and exploration expand, we will imagine the unimaginable, anticipate the inconceivable, and prepare for the impossible. We won't just think outside the box...we'll think outside the atmosphere; in one of the most challenging environments ever known.
The Origins of the U.S. Space Force
Space Force Careers
The Space Force operates in some of the most advanced and far-flung battlefields on Earth (and off). Because of this, its career field is growing quickly, with advanced opportunities to explore. Discover if one might be right for your future.
Before Serving in the Space Force
To join the Space Force, you must be between 18 (17 with parental consent) and 41 years old. While a high school diploma is preferred, an equivalent such as the GED may also be accepted. Recruits must take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to determine placement within the Space Force. You will also be screened on moral and physical standards set by the Space Force and Department of Defense (DoD) and paired with a counselor to determine placement options based on your strengths and the needs of the Service.
If you are interested in becoming an officer, you will submit an application through your recruiter and take the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT), which assesses verbal, math and other skills. Your application will then be reviewed to determine if and where you may fit within the Space Force. Once accepted, you attend Officer Training School (OTS).
Types of Military Service
The U.S. Military consists of six active-duty Service branches and their respective Guard and Reserve components. Together, they offer a broad variety of ways to serve.
