Although the headquarters for the growing Space Force Space Training and Readiness Command has been located for the last nearly 2 years in Colorado Springs, a permanent location is now set for a base across the country in Brevard County, Florida.
After months of uncertainty, the Air Force Department has announced that the Patrick Space Force Base in Florida along the Atlanta coast, will be the permanent home for what is known as STARCOM.
STARCOM’s mission is to prepare combat-ready Guardians belonging to the U.S. Space Force to fight and win in what is described as an “operationally limited environment,” with an emphasis on space warfighting doctrine, tactics, and procedures.
An Air Force press release also indicated that the Kirtland Air Force Base, just to the southeast of Albuquerque, is the “preferred location” for the Space Delta 11; with the Schriever Space Force Base, 10 miles to the east of Colorado Springs, tabbed as the Space Delta 12 location.
The selection of the three sites, notes the Air Force in a statement, “came after conducting site surveys at each location to assess their ability to facilitate the mission and infrastructure capacity, while accounting for community support, environmental factors, and cost.”
The Air Force announcement came after intense lobbying on the part of several Colorado officials to keep STARCOM in Colorado Springs. STARCOM began its operations in the Centennial State’s second largest metro area in the late summer of 2021.
Although many of those officials expressed disappointment that STARCOM will not remain in Colorado Springs, the selection of Schriever for Space Delta 12 was applauded.
“Colorado is the epicenter of our nation’s intelligence and national security space operations,” remarked Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper in a statement, “and basing these new units permanently in Colorado Springs only underscores that point.”
Delta 12, operating under the direction of STARCOM, is tasked with testing and evaluating space systems to determine both their survivability and suitability.
By Garry Boulard
