US Army Activates Specialized Enlisted Space Force
The US Army has formally established the 40D Tactical Space Operations Specialist MOS, ending its reliance on temporary assignments by creating a permanent corps of enlisted orbital warfighters.
Terminal Entry: Operational Update
The US Army has officially activated its first dedicated cohort of permanent enlisted space warfighters. As of October 1, over 600 soldiers have transitioned into the newly designated 40D Tactical Space Operations Specialist military occupational specialty (MOS).
According to Payload, the move marks a significant structural shift for the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC). Previously, the service filled orbital operations roles by temporarily drafting soldiers from other branches. This often led to a "brain drain" effect where hard-won expertise was lost when personnel returned to their original units. The 40D designation ensures that space-domain knowledge remains consolidated and permanent.
Command Sgt. Maj. Rickey Jackson confirmed that the initial 600 specialists were selected from a pool of nearly 3,000 applicants. These soldiers will serve as the enlisted counterparts to the Functional Area 40A Space Operations Officers, a role that has existed since 1999. Both groups now reside within the Army’s formal Space Operations Branch, established earlier this June.
Mission Profiles
Training is centralized at the Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence in Colorado Springs. The curriculum focuses on high-stakes domain integration and interdiction, including:
Counter-SATCOM operations
Navigation warfare and signal jamming
Stratospheric warfare
Counter-sensing technologies
Strategic Outlook
The US Army expects this force to grow to approximately 1,500 personnel by 2032. Deployments are already being slated for the 1st Space Brigade and major regional commands spanning the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and Europe. This expansion fulfills the directives of the 2024 Army Space Vision, focusing on the protection of friendly forces and the disruption of adversary space assets.