From Earth to Orbit…A Guide to Becoming a Guardian!

Published May 8, 2024
By Ralph E. (“ET”) Taylor Jr.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- So, you want to be a U.S. Space Force Guardian?

Would you like to be part of a team that guides satellites that provide Global Positioning System (GPS) support? Or maybe you want to be a cyber intelligence officer, helping keep the Nation safe from adversaries? Maybe you’re more interested in working with operational tactical command-and-control communications or tracking objects for space domain awareness? Perhaps you’re good at research and want to be involved with space innovation and prototyping of systems?

Do you have strong project management skills? Can you picture yourself working with a team to design, purchase, and launch the next space-based missile tracking system? Would you like to be part of working on and launching a ground station that can receive, interpret, analyze, and send that information to warfighters at the speed of the fight?

If any of this is resonating with you, you’re not alone. The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is a very exciting organization and celebrates its 5^th Anniversary this year. The Space Force has met its military recruiting goals every year since its creation in 2019. America’s newest military service is also the Nation’s smallest – about 4,200 enlisted and 4,300 officer Guardians, with another 8,000 government civilians, so there are limited opportunities, but there are great opportunities, both military and civilian!

Consider some of the expertise we’re looking for: cyber operations, geospatial intelligence, acquisitions, information technology, space operations, astronautical engineering, human factors engineering, and human systems integration. These fields, along with many other USSF specialties, require STEM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Also, serving in these fields requires education combined with experience, so any valuable work in the aerospace field with other companies, including internships, will likely put you ahead of the pack if applying.

In addition to STEM skills, ask yourself if you have what it takes to succeed in the Space Force. Are you a problem-solver? Do you have strong critical thinking and analytical skills? Is the idea of public service important to you? Can you work well with others and follow a chain of command?

We’re looking for people who can connect in a collaborative environment; can master digital competencies ranging from agile software development to product lifecycle management and cyber defense; are resilient and proactive; are team-minded and can be a team player/leader when required.

As a Guardian, you’ll be part of an elite team protecting our Nation and the American way of life. We are a team – military, civilian, and contractors, and we’re all mission-focused and in the fight together. Our core values of Character, Connection, Courage, and Commitment drive us to greatly value our people, resiliency, and a bias towards innovation and action. You’ll have leadership opportunities on projects that matter and can be tied, directly or indirectly, to the overall Space mission. As a bonus, we have some very exciting working locations to include California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, and some overseas locations as well!

If you are excited about space, have a passion to serve your country, and want to be a Guardian, how you go about it depends on what stage of life and career you’re in.

If you are in high school, you can go to your local recruiting office and enlist as a high school graduate/GED holder. The USSF falls under the Department of the Air Force, so it’ll be an Air Force recruiter you talk to. You can find more information and even apply online at https://www.spaceforce.com. Click the “How to Join” button at the top.

Competition for these positions is fierce – so to be accepted, you will have to make sure you stand out from other applicants. If you’re in high school, its recommended that you focus on STEM classes and possibly taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses to help your academic pedigree. Once accepted, enlisted Guardians go through Basic Military Training (BMT) and job-specific training (tech school) before being assigned to an operational unit.

If you are in college or already have an undergraduate degree, it’s possible to serve in the USSF as an officer. Commissioning opportunities exist for those with bachelor’s degrees through a program called Officer Training School (OTS) and those pursuing degrees in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. For more information on becoming an Officer Guardian, you can also visit https://www.spaceforce.com.

Back to high school real quick. The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is also an option if you want to serve as an Officer Guardian. Admission to USAFA, like any service academy, is extremely competitive and requires a nomination from a legal nominating authority, the two main ones being congressional and vice-presidential. While in high school, a focus on STEM and AP classes along with academic excellence and leadership experience will help your application to USAFA stand out. For more information on applying, go to https://www.spaceforce.com and https://www.usafa.af.mil. On USAFA’s website, click on “Admissions” towards the bottom.

If you are in another military branch and interested in becoming a Guardian, the Interservice Transfer (IST) program is an avenue for you. You can only apply when the IST application cycle opens. When that happens, you’ll need to fill out an application on MyVector. Not everyone is eligible for transfer – for example, the USSF doesn’t have warrant officers and keep in mind some career fields are more sought after than others. We value our ISTs and the experience they bring with them, so if interested, please check it out! Here’s a link to an FAQ with more information: USSF IST Program FAQs (spaceforce.mil)

Now, let’s say you’re a working professional with experience in the aerospace industry or another field. Maybe you’re looking for a career change – a way to do more meaningful work and serve on a team with unified goals. Maybe you never considered government service when you were younger, but now the idea appeals to you. Opportunities exist to work for the USSF as a government civilian or contractor, and many of our positions are remote-eligible, meaning they can be done from anywhere. Where possible, we believe in hiring the talent where it is! Of course, not all our positions are remote, however, we do have those opportunities.

Government civilians are employed by the federal government and work alongside our military and contractor counterparts as a team. You can find job opportunities and requirements listed at https://afciviliancareers.com/space-force and we also advertise many of them on LinkedIn. If you have a LinkedIn account, go to your main LinkedIn page and type “Space Force” in the search field, then click on the “Jobs” button.

Internships are also a great way to join as a civilian! There are internships for college graduates and some for those still in school. Here are just a few of the programs the USSF participates in: Palace Acquire (PAQ), Premiere College Internship Program (PCIP), COPPER CAP, and DoD SMART program for STEM career fields. Internship positions are in a variety of career fields to include engineering, contracting, and human resource management. For more information and to see what internship opportunities are out there, check out the following links: https://www.spaceforce.com/education/civilian and https://intern.usajobs.gov

Finally, you can serve in support of the Space Force as a contractor. We greatly value what our contractors bring to the table and couldn’t accomplish our mission without them! If interested, you will need to research companies that support the Space Force and investigate the specifics to apply.

Regardless of where you are in life, if you are interested in serving as a Guardian in the United States Space Force, the opportunities are here for you. STEM skills are in demand, and we are seeking candidates with those skills and the desire to serve on a world class team. If you don’t have a STEM background or maybe have interest in other fields, don’t fret. We have many other support opportunities as well. With the U.S. Space Force, the sky truly isn’t the limit!