and to provide space capabilities to the joint force.” Its responsibilities include developing military space professionals, acquiring military space systems, developing the military doctrine for space power, and organizing space forces to protect the interests of the U. S. in space, to deter aggression in, from, and to space and finally to conduct space operations.
So, I surmise that if little green men from outer space finally arrive it will be the Air Force astronauts who greet them first. Beam me up Scottie! Which might not be a bad motto, considering the current one is Aim high, fight, win! But give the Air Force some credit they are still searching for something a little more snappy.
Consider this; in a little over one hundred years Americans have gone from aeronauts to astronauts. The United States Air Force protects the entire world. And not once in this entire missive did I mention The Junior Birdmen.**
Here’s a toast to the host
Of those who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send a message of the brave who serve on high.
We drink to those who gave their all of old
Then down we roar to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of those we boast, the U.S. Air Force!
*He was reduced in rank for insubordination although he resigned first. He went around saying silly things like the Navy was “incorrect” by concentrating on the building of battleships instead of aircraft carriers. (The Navy at that time took umbridge at his comments.) He also suggested that bombers should take the place of battleships and there should be a separate command for the Air Service. He also said such outlandish things like “Nothing can stop the attack of aircraft except other aircraft.” Then heavens to Betsy! he predicted that the Japanese would attack the USA at Pearl Harbor, on a Sunday morning using naval aircraft. Both the Navy and many politicians, including the President were aghast that he would have the audacity to say such a thing even though President Teddy Roosevelt said almost the exact same thing in 1906. Well, he was a president and a war hero not merely a war hero and only a general.
**For those readers unlucky enough not to be familiar with that wonderful little ditty ‘Junior Birdmen’, google “Junior birdmen” you will find a plethora of versions including Audy Murphy (WWII hero) and the movie ‘To Hell and Back’.