US Army Launches New Space Operations Career Field to Counter Global Threats
The US Army has launched a new career field dedicated to space operations. Called 40D Tactical Space Operations Specialist, the role aims to fill 1,000 positions by 2025, expanding to 1,500 by 2032. Training for the first recruits began in February 2026 at the Army's Space and Missile Defense School in Colorado.
Unlike the Space Force, which handles on-orbit warfare, the Army's focus will remain on ground-based electronic warfare and satellite communications. These soldiers will support and protect ground forces while coordinating with other military branches to counter threats from Russia and China.
The new Army space soldiers will join various units, including combatant commands, multi-domain task forces, and the Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) center of excellence. Their duties will cover early missile detection, high-altitude navigation warfare, intelligence gathering, and counter-surveillance missions. They will also train other soldiers in space-related operations.
Colonel Felix Torres, commandant of the SMDC Center of Excellence, clarified that this initiative will not overlap with the Space Force's responsibilities. Instead, the Army's role will focus on terrestrial effects, target development, and 'weaponeering'—integrating space capabilities into ground combat. Most recruits will come from existing units with experience in aerial threat detection, satellite communications, and space-based intelligence.
Training for the 40D MOS officially started in October 2025, with the first selections made in summer 2025. The Army has not released exact admission numbers yet. Soldiers in this field will range from ranks E-4 to E-9, and no prior space-related background is required.
The Army will continue working with the Space Force and other services to ensure space superiority. Their combined efforts aim to defeat adversarial threats, particularly from Russia and China, by synchronising space and ground operations.
The Army's new space specialists will strengthen ground forces through electronic warfare and satellite support. With 1,000 positions already planned and training underway, the programme marks a significant expansion of the Army's space capabilities. Collaboration with the Space Force and other branches remains key to countering global threats effectively.
