Kathrine Frich
The U.S. Army is gearing up for its boldest frontier yet.
The U.S. Army is gearing up for its boldest frontier yet.
Officials confirmed that by October 2026, the Army will launch its first-ever space-focused career path for enlisted personnel.
The new role, designated as Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 40D, marks a major step toward preparing soldiers for warfare beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Space Force Isn’t Enough
While the U.S. Space Force, launched by President Trump in 2019, already handles military operations in space, the Army is building its own path.
This move is intended to ensure the Army can maintain combat advantages in all warfighting domains: land, sea, air, cyber and now, space.
A Tactical Mission Beyond Earth
Lieutenant General Sean A. Gainey, head of the Army Space and Missile Defense Command, explained that 40D specialists will be trained to disrupt enemy satellite networks and ensure U.S. troops on the ground have a strategic edge.
“These soldiers will become the experts we turn to during the next conflict,” Gainey said.
From Temporary Assignments to Permanent Space Roles
Until now, enlisted personnel supporting Army space missions typically came from other fields like engineering or air defense, rotating back to Earth-bound units.
With the introduction of MOS 40D, space warfare becomes a permanent specialty with dedicated experts staying in orbit, figuratively speaking, for the long haul.
Preparing for 21st Century Conflict
Modern warfare is no longer limited to physical battlegrounds.
As satellite and GPS systems play pivotal roles in surveillance, targeting, and communication, space is now a legitimate and contested military domain.
The Army’s new space soldiers will train to meet those threats head-on.
Training Ground in Colorado
Selected recruits will train at the Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs.
This facility will become ground zero for America’s future space combat readiness, where tactics are refined and tech-savvy warriors are forged.
A Different Mission Than the Space Force
Though both branches will operate in the space domain, their missions differ.
Gainey emphasized that the Army’s focus is tactical, supporting ground forces in real time using space-based assets.
“There’s more than enough work for all of us on the battlefield today,” he noted.
Competition Will Be Fierce for Space Roles
With rising interest in space-related defense roles, the new 40D specialty is expected to attract intense competition.
“It’s going to be very competitive,” Gainey warned, encouraging motivated soldiers to prepare early if they hope to join the Army’s elite space cadre.