Beyond the stars

The night sky above Michigan State University is often filled with stars, but also crowded in ways most people never imagine.

Thousands of satellites trace paths across the sky, threading invisible lines of communication, navigation and defense. Somewhere drifts the debris of past space missions — scraps of metal, fragments of rockets, all tumbling at thousands of miles per hour.

When Austin Smith looks up, he doesn’t just see the stars. He sees a future he hopes to join — a place in the U.S. Space Force, the branch charged with protecting America’s vital assets in space.

Smith, an incoming junior studying international relations in James Madison College, joined Michigan State University’s Air Force ROTC as a freshman. Established in 1946, Detachment 380 has long prepared students to become Air Force officers. Since the 2019 launch of the Space Force, a separate branch of the U.S. military organized under the Department of the Air Force, it also now trains future Space Force Guardians.

At MSU, cadets balance their training with hundreds of majors, minors and specializations to choose from, an academic range that allows them to pursue their personal and educational interests while preparing for service. This flexibility helps student cadets find the right fit between their studies and ROTC commitments, making MSU a strong place to launch both academic and military careers.

Once the newest military branch was established and announced, Smith immediately became interested. As he studied the Space Force, he grew intrigued and saw an opportunity to protect American assets in space – assets of paramount importance to the nation that he couldn’t see and rarely thought about.

“I want to serve, and I want to become a part of something bigger than myself,” Smith said. “Space Force checks all of those boxes.”

Air Force ROTC incorporated Space Force training and education into the curriculum after the new military branch was created. When students graduate, they now can be commissioned as officers in either the Air Force or the Space Force.

While the interest remains low among cadets in the MSU Air Force ROTC detachment — no more than 5% have committed to pursuing the Space Force trajectory through the Air Force ROTC program, according to Capt. Desirae Morrison, recruiting officer for Detachment 380 and associate professor of aerospace studies – students and prospective cadets still come up to the detachment’s information table at recruitment events to inquire about the new Space Force symbol and learn more.

“A lot of people come up to ask, ‘Space Force? What do you even do? Do you send people to outer space?’ No, it’s not that,” Morrison said. “It’s defending people in space and cyberspace, which is the biggest threat that we are facing now and into the future with technological advances. Space and cyberspace are our biggest threats.”

The resources at MSU help cadets in that balance. With support from President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education Mark Largent and other faculty, as well as working closely with advisors, cadets receive the help they need to ensure their academic plans are in line with Air Force ROTC expectations while thriving at the same time as MSU students.

Once cadets commit to a future of serving, the Space Force offers a variety of specialized career paths, ranging from satellite operations and space intelligence to cybersecurity and research. These roles are critical to maintaining U.S. safety in the increasingly contested space domain.

Following this path includes cadets entering the designated Space Force trajectory within Air Force ROTC. It encompasses coursework tailored to space operations alongside standard Air Force ROTC leadership and fitness requirements. Cadets must maintain academic standards, physical fitness, and demonstrate leadership abilities to remain eligible for commissioning. As sophomores, they can choose to be commissioned as officers in the Air Force or the Space Force.

Interest among Detachment 380 cadets has gradually grown over the past five years, with some seriously considering the Space Force trajectory and a potential future career, like Hope Wegmann.

Wegmann, a junior studying astrophysics and physics in Lyman Briggs College, chose a challenging major, and she’s quickly learning that balancing ROTC’s demands with her studies tests her physical, mental and emotional endurance.

Her experience reflects one of the strengths of MSU’s Air Force ROTC program — with support from their detachment and the university, cadets are encouraged to pursue rigorous majors, knowing they have the tools and support needed to balance the demanding schedule. In Wegmann’s case, her passion for astrophysics complements her ROTC trajectory and gives her perspective on the science driving the very missions she may one day help defend.

The decision to pursue a future in the Air Force or Space Force is deeply personal for cadets like Wegmann. She comes from a family with military service history, and she hopes to serve as well. If she does choose to enter the Space Force, Wegmann hopes for a role in operations, acquisitions, and cyber security, among others.

Outside of her academic and ROTC commitments, Wegmann recently activated MSU’s chapter of i5 Space, a national student organization that partners with the U.S. Space Force’s Space Training and Readiness Command, once enough students had signed up to meet the i5 club guidelines. The organization connects students nationwide, providing educational resources, mentorship, and professional development opportunities tailored to those interested in Space Force careers.

“I come from a family that has served in the military. That was big in my childhood and it’s what made me the person I am today,” Wegmann said. “If I am going to be doing research or doing anything security related in space, I would much rather do it for the U.S. than for my own personal gain. I am trying my best to leave a positive mark on this place – if I can do that through the Space Force, then I think that is the best option for me.”

Balancing the demands of academics and military training presents significant challenges, but both Smith and Wegmann, with the support of their MSU Air Force ROTC peers, instructors and resources, are navigating their paths toward potential service as the next generation of Guardians.

Learn more about Space Force and Air Force ROTC at afrotc.msu.edu.