"The establishment of the USSF resulted from widespread recognition that space is a national security imperative. When combined with the growing threat posed by strategic competitors in space, it became clear that there was a need for a military service focused solely on pursuing superiority in the space domain." — United States Space Force official website

The United States Space Force (USSF) is the newest branch of the Armed Forces, established December 20, 2019. Air Force ROTC offers a direct pathway into the Space Force for cadets classified as a Space Operations Officer upon graduation. It is organized under the Department of the Air Force in a manner very similar to how the Marine Corps is organized under the Department of the Navy.