U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Mark Natale, Space Base Delta 41 chief strategy officer, dons his MC-6 parachute before a jump on Fort Carson, Colorado, April 24, 2026. (U.S. Space Force)
Dream big Space Force! We can do anything we set our minds too.
I will try to keep this one short? but I am excited for this years budget requests, Service recongition by our Congress, Hon. Pete Hegseth, and the White House Administration.
This year marks the highest ever budget request at over a whopping 1.5 trillion dollars. Congress held a hearing on it Thursday and what I am most excited about is the Major Richard Star Act.
"under current law, those who were forced to retire early due to combat-related injuries are denied the full benefits they’ve earned and are required to forfeit part of their retirement pay." "This bipartisan bill ensures combat-wounded veterans receive both their disability benefits and full retirement pay. Supporters see this as a long-overdue fix that promotes fairness for those who sacrificed so much" -
https://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/Understanding-the-Major-Richard-Star-Act.
To add to the excitement for this measure. Defense Sec. Hon. Pete Hegseth came out Thursday in full support of the measure.
Hon. Pete Hegseth":
“As I have said in the past to other organizations, we support the Richard Star Act,” Hegseth said during questioning by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn
It currently has support with 79 members in Senate and 379 members in the House.
More on the read -
Other remarks - Space Force rapid growth.
"The Space Force, however, could see the fastest growth in 2027"
Senior leaders have been very vocal in Congressional hearings on the reality of our needs to grow, to further space enable the high quality of living for the U.S. and its space enabled defense capabilities. The good news is the White House is in unison with this message.
"Under President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense plan, the administration is requesting $71 billion for the newest military branch — a significant jump from roughly $40 billion in the current fiscal year."
Now to pay.
First, its important to reflect we are fortunate to have Senior Leaders & Congress all come together for the 15% pay increase in the past. That move to address the E/O gap was historic and set up our Junior Enlisted for the ever increasing economic challenges all of us face today. In the past I was a huge advocate for more dynamic solutions that are not fiscally responsive but that is for another time. So the good news about this years budget request? While we enter into uncharted territory with the peutro dollar being challenged against BRICS, Guardians seeing it at our grocery store, and the pump. Congress recognizes that. ECI index reflects for Congressional consideration of a 5-7.5% pay increase purposal for 2027. Again emphasis on concern for Junior Enlisted.
Closing thoughts:
More to come. But this is our year to reflect and grow in the right direction, and it looks like Congress is on our side. Space Force will likely face its hardest challenges in 2027 we have to look out for each other as a team and care. We are it, all the challenges that we face rests on our shoulders. Embrace that with pride.