Bill Overview
Title: Space National Guard Establishment Act
Description: This bill establishes a Space National Guard as the reserve component of the U.S. Space Force.
Sponsors: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Target Audience
Population: people currently serving in the National Guard eligible for transfer to a Space National Guard and potential future recruits
Estimated Size: 5000
- The Space National Guard will be a reserve component of the U.S. Space Force, implying that it will have direct impacts on currently serving reserve members who may be transferred or otherwise affected in their duties and roles.
- Potential recruits or future members of the Space National Guard will be impacted as this legislation will govern their service structure, duties, and obligations.
- Families of members who will be part of the Space National Guard will also be indirectly affected due to changes in deployments, commitments, or relocations.
- The broader military community may experience indirect effects as the establishment of the Space National Guard could influence budgets, resource allocations, and inter-service dynamics.
Reasoning
- The population size directly impacted by the policy (5000) is relatively small, allowing for a focused budget application.
- The budget allocation allows for recruitment, training, and transition of personnel into the new Space National Guard roles, benefiting those involved.
- Costs will primarily involve logistics, training, new uniforms, and administration costs for the establishment of the component.
- The policy's direct impact is moderate due to its focused nature, primarily affecting military personnel and their families.
- Long-term impact includes potential for career growth or reassignment within the Space National Guard.
- Public perception may influence recruitment as interest in space-related roles could attract new recruits.
Simulated Interviews
National Guard Member (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this initiative could open new career paths for people like me who are interested in space operations.
- However, it might also mean longer training periods and perhaps necessary relocations, which I am both excited and nervous about.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
National Guard Recruiter (Huntsville, AL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More students have been asking about opportunities in space-related fields and this could definitely boost interest.
- There’s potential here for me to expand my recruiting grounds, but I’d need some specialized training to talk more intelligently about space roles.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Astronomer and Part-time National Guard Member (Cape Canaveral, FL)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This scenario perfectly blends my civilian career and reserve duty, giving me unique opportunities to apply my astronomy skills in a military capacity.
- I’d jump at the chance to be part of this pioneering unit if it means more alignment with my day job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
National Guard Logistics Officer (San Diego, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The creation of a Space National Guard effort affects our budget allocations and logistics planning significantly.
- Whilst it's part of progress, there's a lot of red tape and logistical hurdles that will need to be overcome to make this work smoothly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Civilan interested in military career (Houston, TX)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've always wanted to work in space, and the Guard's Space component is thrilling.
- It's a chance to do something unique while serving my country.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Retired National Guard Member (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s an exciting development within the military framework that marks a new direction for the reserves, enhancing our capabilities in space.
- I’m supportive but cautious about how budgets might be redirected from other crucial areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
National Guard Medic (Anchorage, AK)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The potential for tech advancements could spill over to medical fields, which is exciting.
- However, I worry that resources could be pulled from essential Guard services that we rely on daily.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Software Engineer and National Guard Technology Specialist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see this as a great opportunity to merge my civilian and military skills, especially in a space-centric world.
- Cybersecurity in space operations is critical, and my role might become even more vital.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Defense Policy Analyst (Fairfax, VA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This represents a strategic shift in military priorities, and if managed well, it could enhance the U.S.'s capabilities in the space arena.
- Policy execution and financial prudence will be key to its success, amidst possible political challenges.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
National Guard Aerospace Technician (Tampa, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m enthusiastic about the possibilities of working with space technologies, even though it may require additional training and certification.
- I anticipate some growing pains as systems get refined, but the long-term rewards could be significant.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $400000000)
Year 2: $200000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $300000000)
Year 3: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $250000000)
Year 5: $100000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $200000000)
Year 10: $100000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $150000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $150000000)
Key Considerations
- Coordination with existing military branches to avoid redundancies and ensure effective integration is essential.
- Clear delineation of roles between the U.S. Space Force and the Space National Guard will be pivotal to its success.
- Long-term budgeting must factor in lifecycle costs such as equipment upgrades and personnel training.