Why Space Matters
Military and commercial space-based systems are indispensable to modern warfare, providing the Navy and nation with an array of essential services, including satellite communications; positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT); environmental observations; missile warning; and ISR capabilities. They are integral to the Navy’s achievement of Information Dominance, contributing directly to the related missions of Assured C2, Battlespace Awareness, and Integrated Fires. The Navy’s Space Cadre delivers the vital technical expertise necessary to manage these capabilities.
Who They Are
A highly specialized group of professionals educated and trained in space operations and engineering, the Cadre is comprised of active, reserve, and civilian personnel from all career fields to include Navy Astronauts. It represents three percent of the total Defense Department Space Cadre.
What They Do
Navy Space Cadre members are assigned to joint and inter-agency commands (e.g., U.S. Strategic Command, Joint Functional Component Command for Space, NASA, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and the National Reconnaissance Office) where they are uniquely positioned to articulate Navy space requirements, influence research and development, acquire and pilot military satellites, conduct space control activities, and significantly contribute to both Navy and DoD space strategy, plans, policy, or doctrine.
Additionally, Space Cadre personnel are assigned to various Navy billets (e.g., numbered fleets, Fleet Cyber Command, carrier strike groups/expeditionary strike groups, Naval Research Laboratory, Naval Satellite Operations Center, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command) to ensure the warfighter can best leverage the full range of capabilities that national and military space platforms provide.
How Can I Join?
Navy officers can speak to their detailer regarding opportunities in space-related assignments. Space billets are identified by space operations (VS5-8) or space acquisition (VR1-3) Additional Qualification Designators (AQD).
To obtain the basic level VS5 AQD, Navy Officers must complete both the Space PQS (NAVEDTRA 43360-1A) and a minimum of 12 months in a space billet. Higher level AQDs require additional space education, and longer tours in space billets. Space acquisition billets require DAWIA certification levels 1-3 respectively.
As members of the IDC, Space Cadre can also qualify as Information Dominance Warfare Officers (IDWO) regardless of career field designator. Currently, 78 non-18xx designated Space Cadre are qualified as IDWO.
Interested in becoming a Navy Astronaut? Visit the Astronaut Candidate page at Navy Personnel Command.
Facts and Figures
- The Navy Space Cadre was established in 2003 per DoD Directive 3100.10P.
- 300+ Active and 86 Reserve space-related billets are coded with space AQDs by FY15.
- 127 Active and 81 Reserve Space Cadre members.
- 11 Active, 2 Reserve Navy Astronauts.
- For additional information, visit the Space Cadre site on Navy Knowledge Online.