72nd ISRS – The 72nd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron (ISRS) conducted a comprehensive readiness exercise focusing on mission-essential tasks, training Guardians in a controlled, low-threat environment, and validating the unit’s readiness for potential deployments. This exercise underscores the ongoing commitment of the U.S. Space Force to prepare its personnel for high-intensity combat environments.
The readiness exercise, according to 1st Lt. Wyatt Packard, the 72nd ISRS operations flight commander, aimed to ensure that Guardians experience the entire deployment process. “Our Guardians will be able to go through the entire deployment process, from required training to using equipment, as they exercise our mission-essential tasks,” Packard explained. “This will validate the previous training they undertook in their ‘Prepare Phase’ of [Space Force Generation].”
Understanding SPAFORGEN
The exercise is part of the broader framework known as Space Force Generation (SPAFORGEN), designed to present forces to combatant commands effectively. SPAFORGEN tailors force element packaging to meet the specific requirements of combatant commanders. Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman elaborated on SPAFORGEN in his 26th CSO Notice to Guardians, published on April 19: “SPAFORGEN is the model we use to build readiness. It is based on the straightforward observation that day-to-day space operations do not prepare Guardians for the challenges they will face in a high-intensity combat environment.”
Saltzman outlined the rotational phases within SPAFORGEN, stating, “Under SPAFORGEN, the force elements that comprise combat squadrons and detachments rotate through three phases. During the Prepare Phase, Guardians build expertise in assigned roles. Next comes the Ready Phase where Guardians participate in advanced training to equip them for high-intensity conflict.
Guardians then rotate into the Commit Phase as part of a combat squadron or combat detachment. Once complete, they rotate back into the Prepare Phase and begin the process again.”
Operational Structure and Goals
Tech. Sgt. Matthew Hahnrauch, the exercise lead and 72nd ISRS operations flight chief, provided insights into the organizational structure and operational goals of the unit. “The goal is to collect radio frequencies, provide electromagnetic support, and then conduct reporting,” Hahnrauch stated. He emphasized the design of the six-person crew, which prioritizes mobility and survivability, enabling 24/7 operations with minimal support from other military forces.
The 72nd ISRS employs Deployed ISR Support Crews (DISCs), modular and agile teams tailored for global deployment and operations. Hahnrauch elaborated on their composition, highlighting five critical components: collection apertures, processors, communication suites, data relay, and temporary Secure Compartmentalized Information Facilities (SCIFs).
“Each variation of DISC is trained on slightly different equipment and DISCs are scaled up or down depending on the systems they are operating,” Hahnrauch added.
Adapting to Technological Advancements
In the rapidly evolving landscape of communication technologies, the U.S. military recognizes the need to advance its collection systems. Hahnrauch noted that the barriers to entry in cyberspace have significantly decreased, allowing more actors to enter the domain with relative ease.
Consequently, military systems have become increasingly disconnected, relying on dedicated military satellite communications when necessary. This presents new opportunities for cyberspace, electromagnetic warfare, and space operations.
Packard stressed the importance of fielding and employing expeditionary, mobile collection systems to maintain a strategic advantage. “Failure to field and employ expeditionary, mobile collection systems will place the joint force at a disadvantage in cyberspace operations, electromagnetic warfare, and space operations and degrade our ability to produce the intelligence necessary to drive operations across the spectrum of competition and conflict,” he said.
Future Training and Mission Rehearsals
The 72nd ISRS plans to continue these training iterations, incorporating more austere components to enhance dynamic and mobile collection capabilities. This approach aims to ensure rapid deployment, maneuverability, and effective communication in high-end combat scenarios.
“We will continue to execute iterations of this training event with the intent of mission rehearsal for contested environment operations,” Packard emphasized. “Our capabilities continue to grow and expand.”
Mission and Global Reach
The 72nd ISRS, a unit within Space Delta 7, is dedicated to providing expeditionary ISR and electromagnetic support to joint and allied partners worldwide. This readiness exercise highlights the unit’s commitment to maintaining high standards of preparedness and operational excellence.
As the U.S. Space Force continues to evolve, exercises like these are crucial in ensuring that its Guardians are ready to face the complexities of modern warfare. The dedication to continuous improvement and adaptation to emerging threats and technologies is a testament to the Space Force’s resolve in securing the nation’s interests in the space domain.