Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 A look at Task Force Spartan's Space Soldiers By  Sgt. Andrew Valenza
                New York National Guard
 UNDISCLOSED – There have been sightings in halls of the Task Force Spartan Shield headquarters of late of a rare Soldier, a Space Soldier. However, these are not the Space Soldiers you are used to seeing in popular sci-fi television shows or even military personnel depicted in the new Netflix comedy series, "Space Force," starring Steve Carell and John Malkovich. These are real men and women who provide a unique capability to combatant commanders worldwide. Within Task Force Spartan, there is a small section of Soldiers who provide capabilities beyond our atmosphere. This section comprises Soldiers from the Colorado National Guard's 117th Space Support Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, operating out of CENTCOM's area of responsibility. In 2010, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates directed each military branch to develop a "cadre of space-qualified professionals comprised of Military and Civilian personnel to represent their Military Service and agency's interests in space requirements, acquisition and operations." These Soldiers use space-enabled devices to perform unique and vital missions for the task force. According to Lt. Col. Adam Brink, the Space Operations Chief, the Army uses space capabilities to shoot, move, communicate, gather intelligence and to protect the force. "A simple example is GPS, which comes from a constellation of satellites," said Brink. "Most people recognize that GPS is used for navigation and precision targeting, but GPS also provides timing data, which is used in many civilian and military applications, from bank transactions to secure communications." Maj. Clay Bibb, Task Force Spartan Space Operations deputy, emphasized the scope of the everyday Soldier's use of space-based technology. "If you look at today's battlefield, it's riddled with technology," said Bibb. "Nearly 70 percent of those pieces of equipment in the Army are space-enabled in some shape or form. Whether you're talking about big explosions or little movements, those are all made possible through space-enabled equipment." Soldiers of the Space Operations Section work for years to earn the coveted Space Badge. "To be a Space Operations Officer, you have to complete a 10-week course," said Brink. "Then, for National Guard Soldiers, you need two years of experience to earn the Basic Space Badge, five years for the Senior Space Badge, and eight for the Master Space Badge." Spc. Kyle Mclaughlin, a satellite communications specialist, recently received his Space Badge. He came into the career field because of his passion for learning more about the final frontier. "Space is a frontier that is never going to end; I'm very passionate about space. I'm an engineering student, and I think that a lot of the skills I learn out here will go toward my aerospace engineering degree. I think it will help me think constructively toward the uses of the things I will be creating when I get that degree." After receiving the badge, McLaughlin said the process toward earning it has been fulfilling. "The Space Badge required a lot of work," said Mclaughlin. "Having achieved all that, and coming out here on this deployment, getting the badge is fulfilling. It's nice to know that hard work is rewarded in some way."
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Space Soldiers
 Space Badge
 Task Force Spartan Shield
 Centcom
 117th Space Support Battalion
 Colorado National Guard
 U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command
 
 South Carolina National Guard Airmen Return From Deployment
 By Capt. Lisa Allen,
  Women in Military Lauded at Air and Space Symposium
 By Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Pena,
  California Army Guard Brigade Works 24/7 to Defend Nation
 By David Loeffler,
  More
 106th Rescue Wing Conducts Comprehensive Rescue Training Guard News • 8 hours ago
 Oregon Air Guard Security Forces Squadron Trains in Hawai'i Guard News • 9 hours ago
 Alaska Air Guard Rescue Triad Conducts Water Rescue Training Guard News • yesterday
 Wisconsin National Guard Brigade Begins Major Training Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Idaho National Guard, German JTACs Train Together Guard News • 2 days ago
 2024 (178)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil