310th Space Group activates new unit

  • Published
  • By Maj. David Rice
  • 310th Space Group liaison to National Security Space Institute
SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFRC) --  The 310th Space Group activated a new unit, the Headquarters Reserve National Security Space Institute, on Jan. 7. 

The RNSSI is the reserve associate unit to active duty’s National Security Space Institute, located here. The NSSI is the Department of Defense’s focal point for educating space power application in Joint Warfighting. 

Col. Jeff Ansted, 310th SG vice commander, noted, “The 310th Space Group is uniquely qualified in performing this mission” as the sole space unit in Air Force Reserve Command. “Our group is made up of units that run the gamut in space missions. We have space aggressors, testers, security forces, and communications units in addition to our traditional roles as space operators executing missile warning, navigation, weather, and Joint Space Operations Center missions.” 

Utilizing 11 full-time and 44 traditional reservists, the RNSSI supports the active duty joint mission school which instructs courses in Space Professional Education, Warfighter Training (space mission areas), Advanced Space Training, and space familiarization as part of the Air Force and National Space Professional Strategy. The RNSSI reserve instructors will further enhance NSSI skill sets by bringing additional, unique civilian and military experience to course research and development.
Lt. Col. Frank Gallagher, NSSI commandant, looks forward to a Reserve unit supporting his mission. 

“Standing up the RAU will give us the right expertise to further the development of our advanced courses,” he said. “Most active duty (space operators) have only three years experience in a particular mission area. With the RAU that number could triple.”
Col. Susan Rhodes, the first commandant for the Reserve NSSI, agreed with Colonel Gallagher. 

“Our new unit,” she said, “will bring unique capabilities to Air Force Space Command and the NSSI: a surge capacity to complete a lot of course development across a drill weekend; additional space expertise from the civilian sector; long-term continuity and a firm knowledge base.” These are recognized capabilities, she added, that the Reserve brings to any mission area. 

After a formal activation ceremony in February, the addition of the RNSSI brings the total number of 310th SG units to 10, located at Schriever Air Force Base, Peterson AFB, Buckley AFB and Vandenberg AFB, Calif., with over 500 members.