The Department of the Air Force has announced the selection of six candidate locations for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Training and Readiness Command Headquarters. The bases under consideration are Los Angeles Air Force Base in California, which will be renamed a Space Force Base in the future, Vandenberg SFB in California, Buckley SFB in Colorado, Schriever SFB in Colorado, Peterson SFB in Colorado, and Patrick SFB in Florida.
The Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) is one of three U.S. Space Force field commands. It is responsible for the development, education, and training of space professionals, as well as the development of space warfighting doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures. STARCOM is also responsible for the operational test and evaluation of USSF systems.
The Department of the Air Force will begin site surveys in late April or early May 2022 to determine which location is best suited to host STARCOM HQ. The assessment will be based on factors related to mission, infrastructure capacity, community support, environmental considerations, and cost.
In the meantime, STARCOM HQ is operating out of a transitional location in Colorado Springs until a permanent location is selected. STARCOM’s organizational structure includes five space deltas to execute its mission.
Delta 1 – Training – provides initial skills training, specialized warfighter follow-on training, and advanced training events and courses to prepare USSF forces and designated joint and allied partners. Delta 1 is located at Vandenberg SFB.
Delta 10 – Doctrine and Wargaming – develops USSF doctrine and tactics, conducts the USSF Lessons Learned Program, and executes and supports wargames to posture USSF forces and designated joint and allied partners. Patrick SFB is the sole candidate location being considered to host this mission because of its proximity to a Department of Defense modeling and simulation capability with resident space expertise.
Delta 11 – Range and Aggressor – delivers realistic, threat-informed test and training environments through the provision of live, virtual, and constructive range and combat replication capability. Schriever SFB and Kirtland AFB in New Mexico are candidate locations to host Delta 11 and 12. These bases offer existing range infrastructure that supports test, training, and exercise activities within close distance to range and aggressor stakeholders.
Delta 12 – Test and Evaluation – will prepare USSF forces to prevail in a contested, degraded, and operationally-limited environment through the independent test and evaluation of USSF capabilities and delivery of timely, accurate, and expert information in support of weapon system acquisition, operational acceptance, and readiness decisions.
Delta 13 – Education – delivers institutional developmental education, develops U.S. Space Force officer accessions, and executes advanced education programs. Once the USSF establishes the curriculum and structure of Delta 13, it will undergo the Department of the Air Force strategic basing process to determine its permanent location.
Site surveys at the candidate locations for Delta(s) 10, 11, and 12 will wrap up in 2022 to determine which is best suited to host each Delta’s mission. The assessment will be based on factors related to mission, infrastructure capacity, community support, environmental considerations, and cost. All basing decisions are subject to the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act.
