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Space group to activate new unit

  • Published
  • By Maj. David Rice
  • 310th Space Group liaison to National Security Space Institute
SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFRC) --  Air Force Reserve Command’s 310th Space Group will travel deeper into the space program when it activates a new unit Jan. 7.

Headquarters Reserve National Security Space Institute will be a Reserve associate unit to active force’s National Security Space Institute in Colorado Springs, Colo. The NSSI is the Department of Defense’s focal point for educating space power application in joint warfighting.

Col. Susan Rhodes will serve as the first commandant of the Reserve NSSI.

“Our new unit will bring unique capabilities to Air Force Space Command and the NSSI – a surge capacity to complete a lot of course development across a drill weekend, additional space expertise from the civilian sector, long-term continuity and a firm knowledge base,” she said.

The reservist will join the 310th SG, a diverse organization, that’s used to taking on new missions, said Col. Jeff Ansted, who moves up from vice commander to commander of the group Jan. 7.

“Our group is made up of units that run the gamut in space missions,” said Colonel Ansted. “We have space aggressors, testers, security forces and communications units in addition to our traditional roles as space operators executing missile warning, navigation, weather, and Joint Space Operations Center missions.”

Eleven full-time and 44 traditional reservists will support the active-duty, joint-mission school, which instructs courses in space professional education, warfighter training (space mission areas), advanced space training, and space familiarization as part of the Air Force and National Space Professional Strategy. The Reserve instructors will bring unique civilian and military experience to course research and development.

Lt. Col. Frank Gallagher, NSSI commandant, looks forward to bringing in a Reserve unit to support his mission.

“Standing up the Reserve associate unit will give us the right expertise to further the development of our advanced courses,” he said. “Most active-duty (space operators) have only three years experience in a particular mission area. With the RAU that number could triple.”

In addition to the RNSSI, the 310th SG has nine other units at Schriever AFB, Peterson AFB and Buckley AFB in Colorado and Vandenberg AFB in California. The space group has more than 500 people assigned. (AFRC News Service)