Military INSTALLATIONS

The military is a major presence in Colorado Springs with five major installations, numerous commands and headquarters, including the new Headquarters, Space Operations Command (SpOC) calling it home. A thriving defense industry is one of the cornerstones of Colorado Springs’ economy. The military also has a major impact in shaping the “personality” of the Pikes Peak region.

United States Space force

Space operations Command

On December 20, 2019, the President signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2020, establishing the U.S. Space Force as a new Armed Service within the Department of the Air Force (DAF). Subsequently, on October 21, 2020, the Secretary of the Air Force re-designated the former Air Force Space Command staff organization at Peterson Space Force Base as the Headquarters Space Operations Command. This re-designation aligned the Field Command responsibility for organizing, training, equipping, and presenting US Space Force forces to the staff and commander responsible for executing this mission. SpOC is one of three Field Commands within the US Space Force. The mission of SpOC is to generate, present, and sustain combat-ready intelligence, cyber, space and combat support forces and serves as the US Space Force Service Component to US Space Command.

Military Family Support Services

Fort Carson

Army Community Service

6303 Wetzel Ave, Building 1526

Fort Carson, CO 80913

Phone: 719-526-4590

Phone: (DSN) 312-691-4590

Fax: 719-526-2637

Fax: (DSN) 312-691-2637

Peterson Space Force Base/ Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station

Airman & Family Readiness Center

135 Dover Street, Suite 1203

Peterson SFB, CO 80914

Phone: 719-556-6141

Phone: (DSN) 312-834-6141

Fax: 719-556-0909

Fax: (DSN) 312-834-0909 www.21fss.com

USAF Academy

Airman & Family Readiness Center

6248 West Pine Loop

USAF Academy, CO 80840

Phone: 719-333-3444

Phone: (DSN) 312-333-3444

Fax: 719-333-7200

Fax: (DSN) 312-333-7200 www.usafasupport.com

Schriever Space Force Base

Airman & Family Readiness Center

101 Falcon Parkway

Schriever SFB, Co 80912

Phone: 719-567-3920

Phone: (DSN) 312-560-3920

Fax: 719-567-7378

Fax: (DSN) 312-560-7378 www.schriever.spaceforce.mil/AandFRC_3

Schriever Space force Base

Schriever Space Force Base boasts several mission sets, including four Space Deltas whose missions are focused on satellite control networks, cyberspace, GPS, satellite communications and protecting and defending operations. Located 12 miles east of Colorado Springs the base is home to 8,000 military and civilian employees. It is also home to Joint Task Force-Space Defense, the 527th Space Aggressors Squadron, Missile Defense Agency, Air Force Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities unit and the U.S. Navy Observatory Alternate Master Clock.

In June 1988, Falcon Air Force Station was designated Falcon Air Force Base. And on June 5, 1998, Falcon Air Force Base was renamed Schriever Air Force Base in honor of retired Gen. Bernard A. Schriever, who pioneered development of the nation’s ballistic missile programs. Schriever Space Force Base is the only Air Force base that has been named after a person who was living at the time. Gen. Schriever died June 20, 2005.

Today, Schriever Space Force Base makes up a portion of Space Base Delta 1, as part of the U.S. Space Force restructure. It operates remote tracking stations, satellite operations centers and other command and control facilities around the world. These facilities monitor satellites during launch, command and control satellites while they are in orbit, fix satellite anomalies when they occur and dispose of satellites when they reach the end of their useful life.

More information about Schriever SFB can be found at https://www.petersonschriever.spaceforce.mil/

peterson Space force Base

Located east of Colorado Springs and adjacent to the Colorado Springs Airport off US Highway 24, Peterson SFB traces its roots to the Colorado Springs Army Air Base established on May 6, 1942. On December 13, 1942, it was renamed Peterson Army Air Base in memory of 1st Lt. Edward Peterson who was killed during takeoff from the base on a training mission. Known as Pete Field the base served at varying times as a training site for photo reconnaissance, bomber, and fighter missions.

Today, it is home to Space Base Delta 1, which provides support to missile warning, missile defense, and space control missions worldwide. SBD 1 hosts more than 50 mission partners on Peterson SFB, including the 302nd Airlift Wing (Reserve), as well as several headquarters including Space Operations Command, three Space Deltas, North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Northern Command, and Army Strategic Command, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

Collectively, SBD 1 consists of a medical group, a space base group and numerous staff agencies that provide health care, mission readiness support, communication and information technology, security, civil engineering, fire protection, environmental management, manpower, personnel, logistics, contracting, base services and housing support for Peterson SFB, Schriever SFB, and Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station in Colorado, Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, New Boston Space Force Station in New Hampshire, and Ka’ena Point Space Force Station and the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing site in Hawaii. SBD 1 supports more than 18,400 personnel and has an estimated economic impact of $6.275 billion to the local economy.

U.S. Space Command Staying in Colorado Springs!

U.S. Space Command, a military command that oversees space operations for the U.S. Armed Forces, will remain in Colorado Springs, Colorado, per the decision of President Joe Biden. The command is part of the U.S. Space Force, which was established in 2019.

Sharing a flight line with the City of Colorado Springs allows Peterson SFB personnel to work closely with the city to ensure vital services are available when the mission requires it. The 302nd AW is the only Air Force Reserve wing with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) to aid in fighting wildfires The fire department and explosive ordnance disposal teams are also available to the airport at any time. More information about Peterson SFB can be found at their website, https://www.petersonschriever.spaceforce.mil/

United States air force academy

The mission of the United States Air Force Academy is to educate, train, and inspire men and women to become leaders of character, motivated to lead the Air Force and Space Force in service to our nation.

Authorized in 1954, the United States Air Force Academy came to Colorado in 1955 at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver. At the same time construction began in Colorado Springs on the permanent site of the Academy, which was occupied by the wing of cadets in 1958. the training ground for tomorrow’s Air Force and Space Force leaders the scenic 18,500-acre campus doubles as university and boot camp.

While many cities in the United States support colleges and universities or have military bases within their boundaries only a few have a facility that combines the unique attributes of both into one. The Academy has become a well-known landmark of Colorado Springs and a reliable contributor to the quality of life shared by all in the Pikes Peak region. With its “Commitment to Excellence” the United States Air Force Academy enjoys a rich history with its host community and looks forward to meeting the challenges of the future through the accomplishments of its cadets. www.usafa.edu.

fort Carson

Fort Carson – The Mountain Post, and home to the 4 th Infantry Division, sits on 137,000 acres just south of Colorado Springs. It owns an additional 236,000-acre training site in southeastern Colorado. Fort Carson is the state's 3rd largest employer and accounts for $2.4 billion economic impact in El Paso County

Named after the famous frontiersman Carson, the fort was established in 1942, three weeks after Pearl Harbor.

Currently the post has a population of approximately 26,000 active duty military, 31,000 Family members and is served by over 5,700 civilian employees. The post’s 4th Infantry Division has armored, Stryker, aviation and sustainment brigades. The "Ivy" Division celebrated its centennial December 10, 2017.

Throughout the years, the mission of Fort Carson has remained as it was in the past - training troops to be combat ready. It's extensive on post training range areas and Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site provide ideal facilities for large force-on-force maneuver training and live-fire training.

In 1995, the troops of the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) moved to Fort Carson. In 1999, Fort Carson became the headquarters for the 7th Infantry Division, which is in charge of training National Guard personnel. It was also home to the 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment that deployed in 2003 in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

In 2006, the 3rd ACR left Fort Carson for Fort Hood, Texas. In 2009, 4th Infantry Division once again took up residency at the Mountain Post. Additional changes are always underway at the fort, but it is safe to say Fort Carson will continue to have a significant impact on Colorado Springs and the surrounding area. www.carson.army.mil

Veterans & Military Resources

Cheyenne Mountain Space force Station

Cheyenne Mountain SFS has its origins in the Cold War as a high-tech underground complex that housed the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). NORAD provided early warning radar protection from aircraft, missiles and space vehicle threats directed at the United States and Canada. Since the end of the Cold War activities have not diminished at the Cheyenne Mountain Complex but have evolved to meet the realities of a changing world.

The 4.5 acre, 15 steel building complex, constructed in tunnels and chambers cut into Cheyenne Mountain’s rock, host multiple commands: North American Aerospace Command (NORAD), United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) and the U.S. Space Force. It is operated by Space Base Delta 1 at nearby Peterson SFB and is the central collection and coordination center for a worldwide system of satellites, radars and sensors that provide early warning of any missile, air or space threat to North America. It is also the focal point for air defense operations that would counter air, missile or space attacks on the continent.

Cheyenne Mountain is a unique facility in that it is 2,000 feet underground, has 25-ton blast doors to protect it from nuclear attack and is essentially an underground city built on springs. It is a joint and bi-national command made up of personnel from the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Canadian Armed Forces, with command centers staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.