Guardians ... Are Joint Warfighters!
by U.S. Space Forces Space
November 10, 2026

Challenging the traditional view of space operations as a support function, U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. Dennis O. Bythewood told graduating Guardians on October 15, 2026 ... that they are Joint Warfighters directly responsible for securing the high ground and protecting global combat forces from space-enabled attacks.

“You don’t support the Joint Warfighters,” the commander of U.S. Space Forces–Space and the Combined Joint Force Space Component Command for U.S. Space Command declared to the graduates of the 533rd Training Squadron. “You are Joint Warfighters.”

Bythewood outlined two core responsibilities that will shape the graduates’ operational careers: delivering reliable space capabilities and protecting the Joint Force from space-enabled attacks. Critical capabilities like missile warning, satellite communications, and precision positioning connect Guardians’ daily work directly to the decisions and actions of combat forces across the globe. Those forces must be able to rely on space capabilities without questioning whether they will be available, and that assurance requires Guardians to deeply understand both their systems and the evolving threats to their missions.

Bythewood described a highly contested space environment now accessible to adversarial nations, criminal organizations, and other actors seeking to leverage space-based technology for their own interests. He also reminded graduates that these threats extend to the ground, warning that Guardians deploying to conduct electronic warfare and missile warning missions must remain prepared to operate in contested environments where adversaries can directly target them.

The 533rd TRS, headquartered at VSFB, is the premier squadron in the Space Force dedicated to training the next generation of enlisted Guardians in the space operations career field. The graduating students completed 16 weeks of rigorous foundational instruction before moving into specialized training for their respective warfighting disciplines.

Bythewood noted that he expects to see many of these graduates again soon as they join the combat squadrons and detachments within his formation. As they prepare for those assignments, he urged them to bring immediate initiative to their work.

According to Bythewood, understanding new technology, adapting to operational demands, and continuously improving mission execution are responsibilities that begin on day one of a Guardian’s career, whether those contributions come from an operational console, an electronic warfare position in the field, or the daily work of helping fellow team members succeed.

For these innovative ideas to strengthen the force, Bythewood emphasized that leaders and junior Guardians must maintain open, direct lines of communication.

“If you want to talk to me, you should feel free to walk up to me and tell me what’s on your mind,” Bythewood said. He challenged the graduates to speak up and share improvements, noting that the service’s compact size makes communication across organizational levels a vital strategic advantage. In turn, he charged leaders with responsibility to recognize useful ideas and rapidly scale them across the force.

Bythewood also emphasized dedication to the mission as graduates develop technical mastery, calling on them to expect that same level of commitment from their peers and supervisors to connect individual proficiency directly to the team’s ultimate capability to execute. That team extends well beyond a single crew or unit, requiring intelligence, cyber, and space operations professionals to seamlessly combine their expertise while understanding how their specific missions integrate alongside those of the sister military services.

The day prior to graduation, Bythewood, and U.S. Space Force Chief Master Sgt. Tina Timmerman, S4S command senior enlisted leader, met directly with the students. The energy and motivation displayed during those conversations, Bythewood said, left him highly confident in the future of the force, concluding, “I am excited for the next phase of your careers, and I look forward to seeing you in our formations.”

U.S. Space Force | U.S. Department of War

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