PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Thursday, five members of Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense transferred from the U.S. Air Force to the still growing U.S. Space Force during a ceremony here.
Lt. Gen. Daniel L. Karbler, JFCC IMD commander, presided over the ceremony in honor of Maj. Brady Behrendt, Maj. Christopher Ewald, Senior Master Sgt. Michael List, Master Sgt. Matthew Zornes, and Staff Sgt. David Ruesche.
Their journey began a few months ago, when the USSF encouraged Air Force professionals in space-related career fields to apply for transfer. More than 8,500 airmen answered that call, and these five were among the 2,400 selected.
“You are volunteers and now you are plank holders who have taken advantage of the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of Space Force standing up our newest uniformed service,” said Karbler. “I think about your experience in JFFC IMD where we are a small organization but we have a huge strategic impact. You’re going to fit right in the vision and model that Gen. (John W. “Jay”) Raymond has laid out for the Space Force. Your IMD experience is going to set you up for success within the Space Force. We will continue to be strategically important to the nation as we continue to build up the Space Force.
“I just want to tell you thank you very much and express my gratitude to you for being one to step out and continue to lead from the front being plank holders in Space Force and being great members of the JFFC IMD team,” Karbler said.
Karbler then administered the Oath of Office and the Oath of Enlistment and presented each newly appointed Space Force service member with a plaque. The plaques identify each of these teammates as an official plank holder of the USSF and one of the first to join its ranks.
Following the ceremony, Behrendt said he is happy and excited to participate in such a momentous occasion.
“As a graduate from the United States Air Force Academy, that was always the initial direction for me, but I believe space is a critical part of our future as a nation,” Behrendt said. “I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to embark on this adventure, to push the boundaries of technology and to contribute to the Space Force’s success.”
The USSF, officially activated Dec. 20, 2019, is a military service that organizes, trains and equips space forces to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force.
USSF responsibilities include developing military space professionals, acquiring military space systems, maturing the military doctrine for space power, and organizing space forces to present to the United States’ combatant commands.