SSC Rapid Reaction Branch receives Air Force Electronic Warfare Award for crisis response support for Commander, U.S. Space Command; named Outstanding Level II Electromagnetic Warfare Unit of the Year
Sept. 5, 2023
Satellite launches and space capability acquisition for joint warfighters might be two of Space Systems Command’s (SSC) more well-known missions. Think deeper and just imagine all the different teams and professional skill sets it takes to for SSC to develop and deliver the systems and architectures required to protect our nation’s place in space against adversarial threats.
One such team is the Rapid Reaction Branch (RRB). Part of SSC’s Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power directorate, the RRB is an acquisition unit unlike any other in the DoD. Its mission is to field quick reaction capabilities in response to Combatant Commanders’ urgent operational needs for the U.S. Air and Space Forces. The Branch drastically reduces capability development and fielding timelines ranging from multiple years down to months or even weeks.
In addition to developing exquisite operationally relevant capabilities, the organic high-caliber multi-functional Branch builds secure operating facilities from the ground up in the most austere of locations. Their use of streamlined acquisition authorities and a flexible funding construct enables success in providing concepts of operations; tactics, techniques and procedures development; operator training and certification; and ensuring system sustainment for the DoD’s most urgent missions.
SSC’s RBB was recently recognized for its efforts in advising the Commander, U.S. Space Command (CDRUSSPACECOM) on six crisis response options in support of Operation ZODIAC ENDEAVOR, The Branch unit executed two overseas missions to develop, test, train and deploy a $5 million space electromagnetic warfare quick reaction capability in less than 60 days from requirement.
Amidst ongoing contingency ops, the RBB quickly responded to changes in the operational environment, delivering critical software updates and in-field reprogramming actions that increased mission utility by 92%. To ensure usability and effectiveness, they integrated a 10-member space operator quick reaction force from Space Delta 3 to provide system, checklist and training feedback 70% early to plan. As part of this effort, then trained 35 additional crew members on more than 100 hours of advanced academic and hands-on material with real-time analytics to ensure the members’ readiness for this four-star “No Fail” mission. Additionally, the RBB drove a paradigm shift in the space electromagnetic warfare targeting process, which enabled the synchronization of non-kinetic fires across five joint platforms.
SSC’s RBB was awarded the Air Force Electronic Warfare’s Outstanding Level II Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) Unit of the Year. Selected from 47 nominees across the Department of the Air Force, the RRB was the only acquisition unit to be awarded across the 15 awards program categories and was one of only two U.S. Space Force winners.
Capt. Malia Stephens, SSC chief of operations and sustainment and one of the RBB project leads who fielded capability last year, said, “Delivering a mission overseas was one of the most rewarding experiences because we led every step of the process from development, test, hardware set-up and checkout, to operator training and operational acceptance. Our success was further enabled by our in-house team of government representatives and contractors, all of whom are passionate and motivated to deliver unique capabilities and stretch towards the next hard challenge.”
The RRB closely partners with Combatant Command planners and operational users to ensure research and development efforts are aligned with emerging threats. They capitalize on this close relationship to anticipate operational needs and optimize effectiveness of their innovative solutions, ranging from standalone analysis tools to major weapon system modifications and one-of-a-kind quick reaction capabilities. Last year, they researched more than 30 adversary technologies, prioritizing capability requirements across a $20 million internal research and development budget in collaboration with military service and interagency partners to close Operations Plan gaps for eight Combatant Commands. According to Capt. Tyler Murray, RBB chief of development, “All of this is made possible by a mission focused and badge-less workforce whose number one priority is to get capability to field at the speed of need.”
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It doesn’t stop there. The RRB also has an in-house lead development test organization (LDTO) with decades of electromagnetic warfare test experience to ensure quick response capabilities are adequately and accurately verified on the rapid timelines required of each unique mission. Systems are placed into operations immediately upon delivery, which means it is vital that the tests are as relevant and realistic as possible. This requirement can take RBB’s test team to wherever a system is being developed and operated.
Within one month of his arrival to the RRB last year, SSC chief of test, Maj. John Sebes, shared how he was supporting testing outside the contiguous United States. Sebes said, “Our team takes great pride in the unique mission of the RRB and the capabilities we deliver. This shows through the rigor used to evaluate our systems, ensuring we deliver a useful capability to the operational teams.”
In addition to supporting the RRB’s quick reaction mission, the RBB’s LDTO serves on integrated test teams for programs of record across the Space Electromagnetic Warfare enterprise. Their efforts contribute to the success for Space Systems Command and Space Rapid Capabilities Office programs valued more than $1.5B.
In the past five years, the RRB has successfully responded to seven urgent operations needs with nine quick response capabilities supporting five Combatant Commanders. SSC’s RRB is also the only Air Force unit to have successfully fulfilled an urgent operation need within the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-mandated two years, according to a recent Air Force Audit Agency review.
The Air Force Electronic Warfare Annual Awards Program (AFEWAAP) recognizes individuals and units’ efforts that further electronic warfare operations that contribute to advances in the Air and Space Force and throughout the Department of Defense. Categories for the 2022 AFEWAAP include identification/solution of significant EW problems, threats and vulnerabilities, creation/development of innovative training, education and awareness, and mission accomplishment/success resulting from the application of EW.
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/3515979/ssc-rapid-reaction-branch-receives-air-force-electronic-warfare-award-for-crisi
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Space Force announces new mission statement
Sept. 6, 2023
The Space Force has announced its new mission statement - “secure our Nation’s interests in, from, and to space.”
This new statement was designed to better reflect the vital functions Guardians perform in service to the United States.
“We did not hire a corporate marketing team to develop a catch phrase. Nor did generals sit around a table in the Pentagon debating what the statement should be,” said Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman. “Our mission statement was sourced from a Guardian-driven process.”
Understanding Guardians were best positioned to choose the words that would describe their shared mission, Saltzman solicited input from the force in May. Within two weeks, 135 responses were received from units and individual Guardians.
In July, officer, enlisted and civilian Guardians from four field commands and major commands participated in a series of eight focus groups to provide feedback and further shape the verbiage that now serves as the Space Force mission statement.
“This is our mission statement; these are your words,” Saltzman said.
Each portion of the statement was chosen to represent a key aspect of the Space Force mission that the president, Congress and the American people have charged Guardians with executing.
“Secure” refers to the Space Force’s formative purpose to contest, and when directed, control the space domain on behalf of the nation and joint force.
“Our Nation’s interests” represents Guardians’ focus on protecting the security and prosperity the U.S. derives from space. It also serves as a reminder that space activities are essential to the American way of life.
“In, from, and to space” references the three core functions of the Space Force, which include securing the Nation’s interests:
In space, through space superiority activities that protect the joint force and nation from space and counterspace threats.
From space, by delivering global mission operations like satellite communications, positioning, navigation and timing, and missile warning activities.
To space, by assured space access through the service’s launch, range and control network infrastructure.
“Our mission statement is a call to action that concisely encapsulates our purpose and identity as Guardians and members of the profession of arms,” Saltzman said.
https://www.spacehttps://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3517324/space-force-announces-new-mission-statement/
Manhattan Project Philadelphia Experiment > Montauk Project >>>
National Archive digitizes thousands of UFO records
Updated: SEP 5, 2023 / 08:56 PM CDT
The records from previous investigations have been available in person
Documents include video from the famous Roswell incident in 1947
It's not clear how many UFO documents remain classified
(NewsNation) — Congress and citizens around the nation are taking a renewed interest in UFOs as documents from previously classified investigations are being brought to light.
NewsNation got an exclusive look at once-secret government records now being made available as the National Archives has been working to bring old paper records online.
The records include images dating back decades, like a 1950s amateur sketch of egg-shaped discs flying over the Baltimore night sky. The sighting was seen by a whole neighborhood over two hours and remains unexplained decades later.
Another black and white photo from 1969 shows what looks like an alien spaceship straight out of a sci-fi movie. It was later determined to be a rare type of cloud.
So far this year, the National Archives has digitized tens of thousands of pages related to UFOs. The effort starts in the stacks and then moves to a lab. An employee preps the materials for the camera, and they end up on your computer screen.
Some documents include a look into previous government investigations like Project Blue Book.
“Project Blue Book was a U.S. Air Force program from 1947 to 1969, which was responsible for receiving documenting and investigating UFO reports,” said Chris Naylor, research services executive.
There are also records from the famous Roswell incident. Original films, once only available at an archives facility just outside Washington, D.C., are now transformed into digital video that can be played anywhere.
The once-clandestine Air Force video supporting the official government conclusion that the 1947 discovery of debris in New Mexico was from Air Force tests of covert weather balloons is one of many records being brought online.
Tens of thousands of government UFO records are expected to be available online by 2024.
“So when we identified this project this year, the first step was to identify the records in our holdings that relate to UFOs. And to determine the scope. And with that, to begin the digitization of the records that were not already digitized from our holdings. And based on that analysis, our goal is to have those records digitized by the end of this year,” Naylor said.
The documents already online can be viewed by searching “UFO” in the National Archives online catalog.
This is just a small sample of the government’s UFO reports. The ones in recent years have been collected and investigated by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, a department inside the Pentagon.
It’s unclear how many UFO reports are still classified.
https://www.newsnationnow.com/space/ufo/national-archive-digitizes-thousands-ufo-records/
https://catalog.archives.gov/search?page=1&q=ufo