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US Space Force establishes new garrisons

  • Published
  • By Capt. Christopher Merian

The U.S. Space Force activated two garrisons during a pre-recorded virtual ceremony today. During the ceremony, the Peterson-Schriever Garrison and Buckley Garrison installation support commands stood-up as the 21st, 50th, and 460th Space Wings were deactivated.

Col. James Smith, former 50th SW commander, assumed command of Peterson-Schriever Garrison, and Col. Devin Pepper, former 460th SW commander, assumed command of the Buckley Garrison.

“Today we take action, an important and significant step, towards the development of a 21st century service purpose-built to achieve speed, agility and unity of effort,” said Chief of Space Operations Gen. John “Jay” Raymond in the video. “This ceremony highlights the most significant restructure of space units since the establishment of the Air Force Space Command in 1982.”

The Peterson-Schriever Garrison will be headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base and will also be responsible for Thule Air Base, Greenland; Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colorado; Kaena Point AFS, Hawaii and New Boston AFS, New Hampshire. This Garrison will support 16 additional mission locations around the world.

Buckley Garrison will be responsible for installation support to Cape Cod AFS, Massachusetts; Cavalier AFS, North Dakota; Clear AFS, Alaska, and will support 10 additional mission locations around the world.

To ensure the Space Force remains lean and agile, the Garrisons will capitalize on and use existing Air Force resources for installation support. This will prevent bureaucratic growth and duplication efforts, as the USSF will capitalize on existing USAF personnel and resources at each location – to include Security Forces, Force Support, Medical Group support, chaplains, and other personnel support functions.

“We’re moving forward, and we are encouraging and embracing the ideas of our men and women in uniform to build a modern and digital Space Force,” said Space Force Senior Enlisted Leader Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman in the video.

USAF military and civilian personnel previously assigned to the 21st SW and 50th SW will now be assigned to Peterson-Schriever Garrison, and those USAF military and civilian personnel assigned to the 460th SW will be assigned to the Buckley Garrison.

No positions will be eliminated or personnel displaced with the activation of the Garrisons or deactivation of the Space Wings. With time, functions will be combined and positions will be consolidated. Those actions will occur deliberately and with due consideration of each person affected.