Space Force ranks largely mirror those of the Air Force. Space Force personnel are organized into two main groups: enlisted service members (E-1 to E-9) and commissioned officers (O-1 to O-10). All are known as guardians. Enlisted guardians, who participate in and support operations, make up about half of the service. Each member has specialized training and fills a specific job role. Enlisted guardians perform much of the technical and operational work that keeps the Space Force running, from satellite operations to cyber defense and support functions. As they rise into the noncommissioned officer (NCO) and senior NCO ranks, they also take on leadership, training and mentoring responsibilities. Space Force officers, who plan and manage personnel, make up about half the service due to the fact that at its formation, the Space Force was primarily staffed with officers.Commissioned officers focus on strategy, mission planning and command. They oversee operations, make higher-level decisions and guide the force. Officers typically commission through ROTC, Officer Training School or the U.S. Air Force Academy, which also serves the Space Force.
Space Force Enlisted Ranks
Shortly after the Space Force’s creation in 2019, new members were recruited from airmen in the Air Force's space systems operations (1C6) career field. Like the Air Force, enlisted Space Force ranks are broken down into three levels:
