Members of Space Force will from here on be known as “guardians.”
Vice President Mike Pence announced the name during an event to celebrate the branch’s one-year anniversary on Friday.
“It is my honor, on behalf of the president of the United States to announce that henceforth, the men and women of the United States Space Force will be known as guardians,” he said, after which the audience stood and applauded.
“Henceforth, the men and women of the United States Space Force will be known as Guardians.”
— @VP Pence pic.twitter.com/4wZgY6n4zS
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) December 18, 2020
“The opportunity to name a force is a momentous responsibility,” the Space Force said on its Twitter account. “Guardians is a name with a long history in space operations, tracing back to the original command motto of Air Force Space Command in 1983, ‘Guardians of the High Frontier.’ The name Guardians connects our proud heritage and culture to the important mission we execute 24/7, protecting the people and interest of the U.S. and its allies.”
Many on social media poked fun at the new name, remarking on its similarity to the popular Marvel franchise Guardians of the Galaxy.
Political commentator Stephen Kent, who has written for the Washington Examiner, said, “I need to go back to bed.”
i need to go back to bed https://t.co/XhSp2VG4be
— Stephen Kent (@Stephen_Kent89) December 18, 2020
New York Times columnist Ross Douthat wrote, “Prepping for the UFO reveal continues apace.”
Prepping for the UFO reveal continues apace.https://t.co/DDDxSX4dbT
— Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) December 18, 2020
George Conway, a founding member of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project and husband to former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, tweeted, “I for one would like to know what the Vulcan High Command has to say about this.”
I for one would like to know what the Vulcan High Command has to say about this https://t.co/0GiZBdRdVJ
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) December 18, 2020
Jeff Mardin, a member of the Space Force, tweeted, “Since I’m a Guardian now, there’s only one thing I can say,” and tweeted a GIF from Guardians of the Galaxy with the words, “I am Groot.”
Since I’m a Guardian now, there’s only one thing I can say. pic.twitter.com/6piNoOHAA5
— Jeff Martin (@JeffMartinFL) December 18, 2020
Along with the announcement came the induction of Space Force Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley into the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Space Force is a separate service under the Department of the Air Force, similar to how the Marines is under the Department of the Navy. Contrary to what their name might suggest, the mission of the Space Force is not to fight wars in space.
The branch describes itself as “a military service that organizes, trains, and equips space forces in order to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force. USSF responsibilities include developing military space professionals, acquiring military space systems, maturing the military doctrine for space power, and organizing space forces to present to our Combatant Commands.”
