WASHINGTON — The Department of the Air Force announced May 31 it selected Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, as the preferred location for the headquarters of the Space Training and Readiness Command and Space Delta 10.
Space Delta 10 is the unit responsible for doctrine and wargaming.
The Space Training and Readiness Command, known as STARCOM, is one of three U.S. Space Force field commands, responsible for the development, education and training of space professionals. It also oversees pace warfighting doctrine and tactics, and the operational test and evaluation of Space Force systems.
Patrick Space Force Base is home to Space Launch Delta 45, the unit that manages the Eastern Range, including Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center.
Other units to be based in New Mexico and Colorado
The Air Force selected Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, as the preferred location for Space Delta 11, and Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, as the preferred location for Space Delta 12.
Space Delta 11 is responsible for training ranges and aggressor squadrons that serve as enemy units during wargames and exercises.
Space Delta 12 is responsible for the testing and evaluation of Space Force systems.
The Air Force also announced that Space Delta 15, a space defense and intelligence unit activated in March 2023, is expected to be permanently based at Schriever Space Force Base, along with the new 75th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron. The Space Operations Command plans to activate the 75th ISR Squadron in late 2023.
The 74th ISR Squadron, activated in November 2022, will be based at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.
“The Department of the Air Force’s decision to host Space Delta 15 and the two ISR squadrons came after conducting thorough site surveys which assessed the location’s ability to facilitate the missions and infrastructure capacity while accounting for community support, environmental factors and cost,” the department said in a statement.
“The decision to host STARCOM HQ and the three deltas at their respective bases 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 Department of the Air Force will conduct environmental impact analyses at each base, which are expected to be completed later this year before final decisions are made.
Reaction from lawmakers
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in a tweet said the decision to base STARCOM at Patrick is a “major victory for Florida.”
Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) said the new Space Force units to be based in Colorado bring more than 500 guardians to the state.“Colorado Springs continues to prove itself as the premier location for our nation’s space defense operations,” Lamborn said in a statement.