The U.S. Space Force (USSF) will celebrate its fifth birthday next Friday, December 20. This sixth branch of the nation’s military was established with the signing of the National Defense Authorization Act by President Donald J. Trump on December 20, 2019. USSF became the first new branch of the Armed Forces in 73 years.

USSF originated as a result of widespread recognition that Space had become a national security imperative. On April 6 of this year, Jeffrey Hokett joined BVA as the organization’s first Space Force veteran while participating in the VA Winter Sports Clinic in Colorado.

Next week’s BVA Happenings will offer additional historical details about the Space Force and information about a special 2024 Space Operations Command initiative that recognizes the milestone birthday. The Space Force Motto, “Always Above,” inspired the creation of its official song “Semper Supra,” the Latin translation for the Motto. Two former service members, James Teachenor and Sean Nelson, collaborated to create the song, a process that took more than two years of research and revisions to make sure the song was ready for release in 2022.