Training and Education as US Army SMDC Foundations

US Army Space and Missile Defense Command, as the service component command to US Space Command in addition to other responsibilities, is on a trajectory for growth in its force structure and mission portfolio well into the future years defense budget.

While the numbers of SMDC individuals, units and staffs, and specific missions are beyond the purview of this article and the broader MS&T program, what is important is how training and education are being eyed to help establish mission readiness across this Army’s enterprise. Insights on training and education’s role in the Army’s expanding space and missile defense programs were gleaned during a Warrior’s Corner Day 2 event during AUSA 2024.

Common Space Understanding

Col. Don Brooks, Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence commandant, initially noted his command is advancing its ability to deliver relevant, timely content in an international context – institutionally and operationally.

From an institutional perspective, the center has in one case been forming a partnership with the UK Space Academy and UK Army. “Next summer we’re looking to begin an exchange program where a UK Space Command officer will come to my school house and be one of my instructors. We look to do the same from our Army’s space community to begin that joint endeavor.” This instructional aperture will soon expand as the commanding officer noted, “The Australians and New Zealanders are not far behind as we have been having discussions with them as well. This is a fledgling relationship but one that we’re moving on quite fast to bring to fruition.”

The US Army has also sent its space and missile defense force soldiers to discuss similar tactics, techniques and procedures with their UK counterparts given the commonality of materiel in the two services’ equipment inventories. “We talk with them on how they can employ their systems much like we utilize ours so we can build that ‘common space understanding’ with our partners and allied forces, and best operate in the joint force to complete our tasks,” Brooks pointed out.

Further, of the center’s 21 courses across space, operations and global missile defense missions, “several of the courses are joint certified and Five Eye [Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK and US] certified to begin that international and joint partnership in the Army space and missile defense schoolhouse,” according to the commandant.

Building the Indo-Pac Command Formation

The US Army envisions establishing a SMDC formation in US Indo-Pacific Command in about 2027. To create a seamless formation stand-up, program members are noting lessons learned and other outcomes from major exercises in other combatant command areas of responsibility. One recent event was the Joint Warfighting Assessment 2024 in US European Command’s AOR. A representative lesson learned from observing JWA missions in the multi-domain operations environment that will be applied to the Indo-Pac theatre and in other AORs was in space electronic warfare.

Focus on Expanding Training and Education

The US DoD and its allies will continue to expand their capabilities in space and global missile defense. MS&T will continue to follow and comment on training and education developments supporting the expansion of US Army capabilities and capacities in this mission.