Spacey McSpaceface: Space Force tries crowdsourcing term for members

What do you call the people who wear the new Space Force space camouflage? That's what the service is asking its members. (credit: US Space Force )

The United States Space Force, the newest branch of the US military hewn from the Department of Defense's space-focused units under instructions from President Donald Trump, has a lot to do in order to establish itself. Among other things, the service's leadership needs to decide what to call its members and each of its ranks (which, unlike "airman" and "seaman," needs to be gender neutral).

In a Space Force email posted to an Air Force enlisted group on Facebook, Chief Master Sergeant Amber Mitchell-a senior enlisted leader on the staff of the United States Space Force-reached out to enlisted members of the nascent service for the purpose of "crowdsourcing your best ideas" on a number of topics essential to establishing the force's identity. Among those key questions:

- What should the enlisted E1-E9 ranks in the Space Force be called? Must be gender neutral.

- What should the collective group of members serving in the Space Force be called? Some names floating around already are Guardians, Sentinels, and Vanguards. Feel free to create a brand new word for those who are linguistically inclined.

CMSgt Mitchell also asked for input on enlisted rank insignia, uniforms ("all black with white nametapes," one forum member responded), and other key elements of a "Space Force culture."

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