Army's Strategic Role in the Future Force

The U.S. Army is in the midst of perhaps the most remarkable changes since World War II--changes affect the very way that we think about, prepare for and conduct war. What we are witnessing is a clear paradigm shift, and the pace of this change is being driven forward due in great part to the extraordinary capabilities provided by Space-based products and services. The strategic role the Army has had with Space has evolved considerably since its involvement with the nations first successful missile launch into Space in February 1949. Today, Space is an integral and essential element of joint warfighting. Advanced communications position, navigation and timing data weather, terrain and environmental data intelligence, surveillance and ISR data and missile early warning data are now available to our joint forces through the use of Space. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld recently noted this increased importance of Space. In his remarks to attendees of an Association of the United States Army-sponsored Space and Missile Defense Symposium in El Paso, Texas, in December 2003, the Secretary noted, Over the past few years we have recognized that Space and information are not only enablers, but core warfighting competencies. The Army views Space as a vertical extension of the battlefield and an integral part of the battlespace, one that has been especially instrumental during the ongoing Global War on Terrorism. The Armys transformation also integrates Space as a core element of that process. The Armys future force, serving as part of the joint force, will be even more adaptable and lethal, leveraging the capabilities of the ultimate high ground. Clearly, the very nature of warfighting is changing rapidly, and the Armys strategic role in Space is evolving as a result.