United States Space Forces – Indo-Pacific Explained

Unit Name:United States Space Forces – Indo-Pacific
Start Date:22 November 2022; months
Type:Component field command
Role:Space operations
Size:21 personnel
Command Structure:United States Indo-Pacific Command
Garrison:Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii
Garrison Label:Headquarters
Commander1:Brig Gen Anthony Mastalir
Commander1 Label:Commander
Commander2:Col Jason N. Schramm[1]
Commander2 Label:Deputy Commander
Commander3:CMSgt Jason Childers[2]
Commander3 Label:Command Senior Enlisted Leader

The United States Space Forces – Indo-Pacific (USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC)[3] is the United States Space Force component field command to the United States Indo-Pacific Command. It plans, coordinates, supports, and conducts employment of space operations across the full range of military operations, including security cooperation, in support of the combatant command's objectives. It was activated on 22 November 2022.

History

Director of Space Forces, Pacific Air Forces

USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC's presence in the United States Indo-Pacific Command traces back to the director of space forces (DIRSPACEFOR) construct before the establishment of the Space Force. When the Space Force was still Air Force Space Command, there would be a space operations officer called the DIRSPACEFOR in every air service component command that would advise the air component commander on matters relating to space operations.[4] As such, there was a director of space forces assigned to Pacific Air Forces.[5] During the standup of USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC, the DIRSPACEFOR staff became the new component command staff and Col Anthony J. Zilinsky III became the last director of space forces to Pacific Air Forces.[6]

List of director of space forces

Establishment

Initial plans for establishment of Space Force component field commands started in 2021 when then Colonel Anthony Mastalir was assigned as director of space forces at the Ninth Air Force and stand up the United States Space Forces Central (USSPACEFOR-CENT). USSPACEFOR-CENT was supposed to be the first Space Force component field command.[7] In November 2021, Secretary Frank Kendall III approved the creation of Space Force elements in U.S. European Command, U.S. Central Command, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, but establishing those elements as component commands required Joint Chiefs of Staff approval.[8]

By May 2022, plans were changed to first establish the USSPACEFORINDOPAC due to China being the pacing threat.[4] [9] [10] "We very deliberately chose INDOPACOM first because we want the nation, the Department of Defense, that combatant command, and anyone who might wish us harm in that region to understand that's what we pay attention to every single day," said General David D. Thompson after the command's activation.[11]

On 25 October 2022, Thompson announced that the USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC would be established on 22 November 2022, with Mastalir taking the helm as its first commander.[12] It would be the Space Force's first component field command, followed by the standup of component field commands in United States Central Command and United States Forces Korea.[13] According to Mastalir, USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC would be initially composed of less than 100 Space Force personnel. For its first six months, the command would focus on mission analysis and planning.[14]

In a ceremony on 22 November 2022, USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC was activated. Admiral John C. Aquilino handed over the unit flag to Mastalir who assumed as the first commander of USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC.[15] [16] [6]

Structure

United States Space Forces Indo-Pacific (USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC), Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii

Heraldry

Emblem

The USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC emblem has the following symbolism:[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonschramm/
  2. Web site: New enlisted leader takes responsibility at Space Forces Indo-Pacific. King. Samuel. 2024-07-23. U.S. Space Force.
  3. Web site: Archived copy . 15 August 2024 . 4 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230504030254/https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/3227481/space-force-presents-forces-to-us-indo-pacific-command/ . live .
  4. Web site: Space Force Prepares for Decision on Indo-Pacific Command Service Component. 19 May 2022. Mahshie. Abraham. Air Force Magazine. 27 October 2022. 27 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221027030509/https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-prepares-for-decision-on-indo-pacific-command-service-component/. live.
  5. Web site: Archived copy . 23 November 2022 . 15 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815003136/https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/pacaf/publication/afi13-103_pacafsup/afi13-103_pacafsup.pdf . live .
  6. Web site: Space Force Component Activation Ceremony. DVIDS. 23 November 2022. 23 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221123072011/https://www.dvidshub.net/video/865290/space-force-component-activation-ceremony. live.
  7. Web site: Space Force planning for new component in the Middle East alongside AFCENT. Rachel. Cohen. 11 August 2021. Air Force Times. 10 June 2022. 15 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240815003303/https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2021/08/11/space-force-planning-for-new-component-in-the-middle-east-alongside-afcent/. live.
  8. Web site: Space Force takes first step to establish components in commands from Europe to Asia. Breaking Defense. Theresa. Hitchens. 29 November 2021. 22 November 2022. 31 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230831230242/https://breakingdefense.com/2021/11/space-force-takes-first-step-to-establish-components-in-commands-from-europe-to-asia/. live.
  9. Web site: Space Force, Pentagon still hashing out service's presence in theater commands. Breaking Defense. Theresa. Hitchens. 20 May 2022. 27 October 2022. 31 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230831230245/https://breakingdefense.com/2022/05/space-force-pentagon-still-hashing-out-services-presence-in-theater-commands/. live.
  10. Web site: New Space Force Service Component Targets China Threat. 2022-05-19. Roaten. Meredith. National Defense Magazine. 10 June 2022. 15 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240815003255/https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2022/5/19/new-space-force-service-component-targets-china-threat. live.
  11. Web site: Archived copy . 23 November 2022 . 25 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221125070608/https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/11/22/space-force-moves-guardians-pacific-amid-rising-threats-china.html . live .
  12. Web site: Space Force to Get New CSO, INDOPACOM Component in November, Vice Chief Says . Air Force Magazine . 25 October 2022 . Hadley . Greg.
  13. Web site: Space Force to Establish Components for INDOPACOM, CENTCOM, Korea by End of 2022. Air & Space Forces Magazine. Greg. Hadley. 2 November 2022. 22 November 2022. 15 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240815003252/https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-components-indopacom-centcom-korea-end-of-2022/. live.
  14. Web site: INDOPACOM prepares to activate Space Force command in Hawaii. Stars and Stripes. 2022-11-22. Olson. Wyatt. 22 November 2022. 15 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240815003256/https://www.stripes.com/branches/space_force/2022-11-21/space-force-indo-pacific-command-8143408.html. live.
  15. Web site: Space Force Stands Up Its First Geographic Component Command, Prioritizing the Pacific. 22 November 2022. 23 November 2022. 23 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221123062918/https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-stands-up-its-first-geographic-component-prioritizing-the-pacific/. live.
  16. Web site: Space Force establishes permanent presence in Indo-Pacific region. Sandra. Erwin. 22 November 2022. SpaceNews. 23 November 2022. 15 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240815003304/https://spacenews.com/space-force-establishes-permanent-presence-in-indo-pacific-region/. live.

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