Space Force

WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  The launch of an artificial intelligence-powered platform for uncovering and matching talent across the joint force is an important step in tackling what Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., has described as the current “war for talent.”Combining the eagle from the Defense Department's iconic heraldry with the term for a short-term work opportunity, the GigEagle platform is one of the Defense Innovation Unit's transformational projects. It works to match members of the Reserve and National Guard with gigs based on their full set of skills, including in-demand talents gained from civilian careers. The gigs range from four hours to 90 days across DoD.Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael T. McGinley, GigEagle's...

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --  In an effort to codify the success and significant gains made in line with the Operational Imperatives, Department of the Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall stood up the Integrated Capabilities Office July 19.Driven by the need to rapidly modernize the DAF to meet emerging challenges in an era of Great Power Competition, the ICO seeks to institutionalize the speed, agility and rapid innovation that the Operational Imperatives have brought to the force.“The Integrated Capabilities Office will directly support the Department of the Air Force senior leadership team as we develop our integrated modernization plans for the Air Force and Space Force,” Kendall said. “China, our pacing challenge, is modernizing its military with the in...

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --  The Space Force released its Fiscal Year 2024 Selective Retention Bonus list, effective July 22.The FY24 SRB program consists of seven Space Force specialty codes. None were removed from last year.The SRB program serves as a retention tool, targeting experienced enlisted personnel in critical career fields, particularly those with lower manning or retention rates. Additionally, specialties involving extensive initial skills training and stringent qualification requirements are considered. An update to policy now enables the maximum bonus allowable per zone to be up to $180,000, an increase of $80,000 over previous years, with a career cap set at $360,000.If a Guardian’s SFSC is included in the FY24 list, they are eligible for ...

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AFNS) --  Military service members are expected to be fit – it’s all a part of making sure a fighting force is ready for duty and the U.S. Space Force is no exception.Guardians may spend more time tracking satellites and space debris and staying alert for hostile missiles than engaging in hand-to-hand combat, but that doesn’t mean they can slack off when it comes to physical training. As the newest military service, the U.S. Space Force is taking a more holistic health approach to fitness standards.“Regular exercise isn't just about building physical strength; it's about optimizing our potential,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jacqueline Sauvé, Space Systems Command senior enlisted leader. “Research consistently affirms that exercise isn'...

BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) --  Every year, monarch butterflies make a multi-generational migration across North America to overwintering sites in Mexico and California, with many passing through Colorado along the way. Buckley Space Force Base is one of many locations across the Department of Defense where wildlife biologists are working to monitor and restore habitats for monarchs to help facilitate this migration.Monarch populations have declined by over 90% in recent years due to multiple threats including habitat loss. Currently, the monarch is a candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species Act."Monarch butterflies are an important indicator species for the health of our environment," said Veronica Reed, Buckley’s U.S. Fis...