Unic Press UK: The United States President, Donald Trump has inked an order to create a Space Command – a new branch of the United States armed forces.
In a one-page memorandum – ‘Text of a Memorandum from the President to the Secretary of Defense Regarding the Establishment of the United States Space Command’ – on Tuesday, President Trump said:
“Pursuant to my authority as the Commander in Chief and under section 161 of title 10, United States Code, and in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I direct the establishment, consistent with United States law, of United States Space Command as a functional Unified Combatant Command. I also direct the Secretary of Defense to recommend officers for my nomination and Senate confirmation as Commander and Deputy Commander of the new United States Space Command. I assign to United States Space Command: (1) all the general responsibilities of a Unified Combatant Command; (2) the space‑related responsibilities previously assigned to the Commander, United States Strategic Command; and (3) the responsibilities of Joint Force Provider and Joint Force Trainer for Space Operations Forces. The comprehensive list of authorities and responsibilities for United States Space Command will be included in the next update to the Unified Command Plan.”
President Trump had, in June, expressed his desire to establish a sixth branch of the United States armed forces for protecting American interests in outer space. At a meeting of the National Space Council on June 18, 2018, Trump told the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph F. Dunford to consider creating another branch of the U.S. armed forces, saying: “General Dunford, if you would carry that assignment out, I would be very greatly honored.”
The hitherto five branches of the United States armed forces are the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and the Coast Guard.
