UPDATE: Feb 22, 2006
Here's a summary of
current USAFA Space Education and Training
activities for the AOG Space Group,
prepared by Lt Col Dave Swanson:
- Cadet Life - The
development of a Space Club, holding Space professional mixers yearly for those
cadets selected to enter the Space and Missile career field, the creation
of Space silhouettes within cadet sleeping quarters, inclusion of a display
within the visitor center on cadet Space activities, a plan to install a
FalconSAT-2 display in the visitor center after launch, and plans to obtain a
Titan IV launch vehicle core for permanent display on the Hill. Maybe one
day, after the Space Shuttles are decommissioned we can install a static
display of one at the south entrance.
- Leadership - The SWG and efforts to involve
our faculty and staff in Space.
- Education - Within the Dean of the Faculty,
USAFA has been addressing Space for years. Recently, Col Head
as the Vice Dean commissioned a study to determine how Space was integrated
into the curriculum. The FalconOPS program
offers satellite command and control experience to cadets while supporting
academic educational outcomes with DF. The Space Operations Education
Laboratory (SOEL) is nearing completion and will soon offer Space knowledge to
cadets enrolled in MSS 100 and MSS 400. The History Department's November
2006 symposium will be on Space. The Center for Space and Defense Policy, created by the Department of Political Science
in 2005 held its first Space and Defense Policy forum and plans to publish a reference
text on the subject in late summer 2006. The Departments of Physics and
Astronautics continue to offer research level experiences to our cadets through
the Space and Atmospheric Research Center (SPARC) and the Space Systems
Research Center (SSRC).
- Training - Deemed Project AIM HIGHER, training is the
newest foray into Space at USAFA. It leverages off the initiatives and
facilities that already exists within DF.
-- BSA:
For two summers, our 4* cadets have been required to attend a Basic Space
Awareness Day (BSA) held during "dead week"--cadets are given a
briefing by a noteworthy General Officer Space professional. A exhibition hall is created as Space units and contractors
are invited to setup booths to display various Space capabilities.
-- GE: Last summer ('05), 34EG integrated a one hour talk on Space into
Global Engagement. The talk concluded with a navigation exercise using
GPS receivers.
-- SPSP: Last summer
('05), ~130 cadets were enrolled in a 10-day Space Power Summer Program
(SPSP). Those enrolled in the program toured local Space facilities and
exposed cadets to Space missions and facilities. The highlight of SPSP
was a tour of missile systems at F.E. Warren AFB,
-- SOEL:
While the SOEL is only now coming online, plans are to include the SOEL experience
into Space summer programs. FalconOPS gives
cadets a look at tactical Space operations, the SOEL
will give them an operational view of Space.
- External Organizations: The SWG has made contact
with various external groups to include the AOG, AFSPC, and NASA. These
are the most difficult initiatives to create and therefore are taking the most
time to forge. Since summer 05 we have been talking to NASA to
determine how we can give our cadets a better understanding of civil Space.
So too, we would like to give NASA employees a better understanding of military
Space. More recently, DFAS, the 21st Space Wing and the 50th Space Wing
are working to create an MOU so that young Space professionals might interact
with our cadets in the classroom and in summer training.
USAFA
Cadet Space Badge
How did this badge come about?
To support the Commandant’s and Dean’s Space Education and Training
initiatives, the USAFA Space Working Group (SWG) developed a program called Aim
Higher to expose cadets to operational space. The program was briefed and
accepted by the Superintendent, Lt Gen Rosa. In support of the program
cadet badges were identified to signify advancement in the Aim Higher program
much like the aviation badges are earned and worn currently by the cadets.
What is the badge for?
The badge is used to identify progression of cadets through the Aim Higher
program. As a cadet demonstrates an increase in their understanding and
skill of Space, they will be awarded a higher level of badge. It begins
at the basic level with 4 degree cadets receiving basic information
through Basic Space Awareness Days and taking a basic orientation class in
either the FalconOPS ground station or the SOEL
(future). Those wishing to commit to learning more can eventually
become certified in the FalconSAT ground station or
eventually in the SOEL. Further progression would involve becoming
instructors, evaluators or assuming a leadership role in the Cadet Space
Operations Squadron that runs the ground station and eventually the SOEL.
What does a cadet need to do to be able to wear it?
Basic Cadet Space Badge:
- Attend the annual Basic Space Awareness Days held
during the summer transition week
- Pass the basic satellite command and control orientation
AKA Space for All
- and in the future, we intend to
add "Complete one simulation in the SOEL during the MSS 100 course"
Senior Cadet Space Badge:
- Award of Basic Space Badge
- Become certified as a Ground Station Crew Member or
certified as a SOEL Crew Member
Command Cadet Space Badge:
- Award of Senior Space Badge
- One of the following:
-- Ground Station or SOEL Crew Commander Certification
-- Falcon OPS Instructor or Evaluator
-- SOEL Instructor or Evaluator
-- Member of the Cadet Space Operations Squadron(CSOPS) leadership
From Jim Burling: Just so you know. The cadet space badge is the latest thing I worked with Dave. I worked the procurement, wrote all the guidance, etc for the Air Force's new Space Badge. Equal in precedence to pilot/nav wings. Very distinctive and rigorous awarding criteria. This badge will not be handed out just willy-nilly; each level will be earned. First badge where basic, senior, and command (note command similar to pilot wings, not the term "master") are tied to the Space Professional Certification Program. Dave applied much of the same rigor to the cadet badge...plus a good connection to the USAF space badge. Cadets will have to earn their version, too, as you can see by the criteria Dave developed. Jim
2006 USAFA Space History Symposium
The History Department sponsors a triennial military history symposium, and I am this year’s director. The 21st Military History Symposium, “Harnessing the Heavens: National Defense through Space,” will be held here at the Academy on 1-3 Nov 06. Invited participants, both academicians and practitioners, will explore a variety of topics ranging from reconnaissance satellites and the early militarization of space to foreign perspectives and space policy. Registration will be open to the public, but will particularly target those with an historic or professional interest in space. I will ensure that you receive a personal invitation as the event approaches, but please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like more detailed information. We rely extensively on AOG funds for this symposium series, and value your organization’s ongoing support.
PAUL G. GILLESPIE,
Asst Prof and Deputy for Military History
Phone: (719) 333-8534