A farewell to SpOC’s warfighters; CSEL recaps fundamental shift to a warfighter ethos Published June 3, 2025 By Chief Master Sgt. Caleb LLoyd PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- To the Guardians, Airmen, and Civilians of Space Operations Command, As my family and I prepare to head into the next chapter of our adventure in service to our Republic, I find myself reflecting on the extraordinary journey we have shared in forging combat-ready space power over the last two-years—a journey that has fundamentally redefined our readiness in support of national security and our approach to modern warfare. Our ability to freely exploit the ultimate high ground, which has shaped not only our nation's approach to warfare but ultimately our way of life, is no longer a forgone conclusion. The fact is our joint force, allies, and citizens depend on the capabilities we project. Our adversaries are well aware of this reliance and continue fielding systems specifically designed to deny the advantages we have come to rely on. Space superiority is no longer a given—it is a prize we must be ready to fight for. It is our solemn duty to preserve the edge we have known for so long, while denying our adversaries that same benefit. We are committed to evolving from mere service providers into highly disciplined, determined warfighters—the lives of our teammates depend on it! We will not shy away from this daunting challenge. Instead, we embrace it with purpose and determination. Our transformation has been marked by groundbreaking initiatives such as the integration of Mission Deltas—a significant effort that fully places operational action of the fielded force into the hands of a single commander, ensuring we can repurpose and optimize our capabilities to meet the demands of today’s rapidly evolving strategic environment. We have fundamentally transformed our approach to forging combat-ready space power. Our Space Force Generation (SPAFORGEN) model is a monumental advancement in how we prepare and ready each of you for combat operations. By organizing our forces into combat squadrons and detachments, we facilitate the seamless integration of intelligence operations, cyber operations, and force protection into mission execution. The model has allowed us to revolutionize training by tailoring instruction to real-world threats, focusing on our mission-specific skills to integrate and aggregate our combat force in a way not previously achievable. Investments in advanced training simulators and cybersecurity exercises further enhance our operational readiness. Prioritizing combat effectiveness over organizational efficiency, force generation allows us to provide highly trained personnel to drive combatant command operations worldwide. As space-related threats continue to evolve, SPAFORGEN provides a structured, responsive approach to maintaining combat-ready space power, ensuring the security and stability of the space domain. Based on feedback directly from our combat unit commander’s and enlisted leaders from the first two cycles, we have adjusted to an eight-month cycle to deliver the necessary readiness markers required to meet emerging challenges and mission requirements. From my visits around the globe, I've seen firsthand that you are delivering significant shifts—in spades! We know that our nation's future depends on our ability to innovate and adapt. As competitors like China and Russia grow their counter-space capabilities at break-neck speeds, our success rests on shedding legacy operating methods in favor of leaner, more resilient frameworks. To that end, we have placed incredible responsibility to lead our combat formations into the hands of our Company Grade Officers (CGO’s) and Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO’s), the mission system experts who will be the difference between victory and defeat in a future fight. This required a renewed focus on developing our CGO and NCO corps. We started with the backbone of our formation, our NCO’s, who drive the formation to success every day. 2024 was our Year of the NCO, and while there is much work to do, I believe we outlined the necessary foundation and focus to grow our NCO corps to the level our Service demands. By focusing several grassroots efforts, we delivered the Guardian and Airmen Development Program framework for regular and deliberate leadership development and mentorship. We grounded our core expectations in 10 traits each of our NCO’s is expected to embrace and distributed the initial Hunters Guide as a foundational tool for enlisted leadership development I know you will continue to improve. We expanded on these mentorship and development efforts by then focusing our CGOs. 2025 is SpOC’s Year of the CGO, underscoring the critical role of junior officers in shaping combat-ready teams and ensuring mission success. CGOs stand at the forefront of military operations, wielding decisive capabilities and leading teams in joint-force operations. We emphasized the essential partnership between NCOs and CGOs, recognizing that strong leadership mutually enhances their effectiveness. This initiative provides targeted mentorship, leadership exercises, and expert guidance to instill 10 core leadership traits tailored to CGO development, ensuring you are each equipped to lead with discipline, confidence, and strategic vision! To ensure our combat unit commanders and enlisted leaders are ready for the responsibility they have been entrusted with, we also developed a Combat Leader Development Course. Through a threat-informed, task-focused curriculum that kicks off with a FLASHPOINT exercise and includes immersions to multiple Deltas, the course ensures junior leaders understand their mission responsibilities, legal authorities, and combatant command requirements, equipping them to drive readiness and strengthen interoperability in the face of emerging threats. Our progress extends beyond the realm of space operations. By synchronizing our efforts with international partners and engaging our local, state and federal leaders, we actively promoted a culture that appreciates both the strategic imperatives of national defense and the quality of life of those who drive our mission. Through advancing access to quality childcare, medical care, education, and housing, we demonstrated that our strength is built not only on technology and strategy, but also on a shared commitment to community and our families. These efforts are not a destination, but a never-ending journey that requires constant attention, effort and focus. It has been an immense honor and privilege to serve each of you as the Space Operations Command Senior Enlisted Leader. Each of you epitomizes the very best our nation has to offer, and I am immensely proud to have played even a modest role in your journey toward excellence. Your commitment, innovation, and courage have continually pushed the boundaries of what is possible. Our work has never been more critical, and I have every confidence that the fighting spirit and hunter mentality of the Guardians and Airmen of Space Operations Command will continue to fortify our nation’s future. Thank you for your tireless service, your ingenuity, and your determination. We have created the right momentum, but it is not irreversible, and we are all responsible for improving ourselves, our teams and our formations each day. With my deepest respect and gratitude, Semper Venator! Chief Lloyd