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Even fewer Air National Guard space professionals are willing to transfer to a single-component Space Force than last year, according to a recent survey.
The Colorado Air Guard questionnaire of its space professionals found that only 8% would be willing transfer, nearly 80% would not, with the rest undecided.
A similar survey last year found 21% willing to transfer, 47% unwilling and the rest undecided.
This trend is significant because a provision in the fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act calls for the transfer of up to 578 Air Guard space professionals to the Space Force.
Air Guard space professionals do not have to transfer ─ just their positions. They can opt to stay in the Guard and retrain in a different specialty. That means the moves, if carried out, would result in the transfer of empty billets.
The language came from the Department of the Air Force’s Legislative Proposal 480, which aimed to transfer Air Guard space professionals to the Space Force without the legally required consent of their governors.
LP480 was opposed by NGAUS, all of the nation’s governors and many in Congress.
Air Guard space units provide 30% of the military's space operations squadrons and 60% of its electromagnetic warfare capabilities.
“The Department of the Air Force and the Space Force carry out these transfers at a tremendous cost to the nation’s space capabilities and readiness,” said retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the NGAUS president.
“These are some of the most skilled and experienced space professionals in the U.S. military,” he added. “They have chosen where they want to live and serve. They don’t want their families to be subject to moving. They are also concerned about the unknowns of service in a new and evolving component.
“The survey also shows that the more Air Guard space professionals consider the possibility of transferring to the Space Force, the less interested they are in doing so,” McGinn said.
Current Air Guard contributions to space operations could be rebuilt in the Space Force. The National Guard Bureau estimates it would cost nearly $900 million and take up a decade.
President Donald Trump said last year he prefers to the creation of a Space National Guard from the 14 Air Guard space units across seven states.
The units are in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, New York and Ohio.
NGB estimated the cost of creating a Space National Guard at $250,000. That’s the cost to change name tapes, signs and unit flags.
Legislation introduced in the House and Senate earlier this month would create a Space National Guard.
The bill would allow Guard space units to continue supporting Space Force missions uninterrupted without any new personnel, units or facilities.
─ By John Goheen
