Even before Space Force was created, those looking ahead knew it was on the way. In the quickening of the last decade when it became clear it would be created sooner more than later, there was an assumption that, naturally, the Space Force would use naval rank structures. What people did not expect was that the US Air Force would be involved … and then we knew where this was heading.

Not waiting for the enemy … I mean USAF … to strike first, smart and aggressive junior leaders such as our own Matt Hipple engaged. Hipple’s 2017 stand is already legend.

And yet, it was not enough. Yes, the leading lights in Congress were trying to act – but even there it is not known if it were enough to stand against the bureaucratic hyper-power that is the USAF and its auxiliaries.

That was, of course, until the titan weighed.

Bill Shatner has spoken. His Vulcan like logic is unassailable.

What the heck is wrong with you, Space Force?
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What are you doing to us? ? There was no Colonel Kirk; not even in the mirror universe (which is what 2020 feels like at times.)
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“Le Voyage Dans La Lune” (”A Trip to the Moon,” 1902) — the earliest known space film — had a captain in command of the rocket ship played by Henri Delannoy.

Captain Buck Rogers was a WW2 Navy pilot who awoke 500 years later to a new world.
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“2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) had a lunar shuttle captain.

In the movie “Alien” (1979). the ship Nostromo was “captained” by Tom Skerritt’s character: Dallas.

That should end the argument FOR naval ranks … but there are also equally valid reasons to avoid Army/USAF ranks.

Where in any of this rich history of inspired heroes travelling into space was there a…colonel?

Shall we have look?

Let’s start with major (two ranks below colonel).

Major Don West’s ineptness caused the space family Robinson to be “Lost in Space” on their space ship the Jupiter 2 forever.

There’s Major Anthony Nelson — who piloted a spacecraft that came crashing down next to a deserted island …
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There’s Major Anthony Nelson — who piloted a spacecraft that came crashing down next to a deserted island …
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USAF Colonel Steve Austin, an astronaut who crashed his ship and severely injured himself that cost taxpayers $6 million to put him back together …

Do we want such a foundation of sand to build Space Force on? How do we inspire young men and women to join the expansion of our species from Earth in to the universe?

…if you want the public to believe in heroes, that you should adopt the Navy ranks as they are the ones the public is most used to being heroes.

So please reconsider and name the Space Force ranks after the U.S. Navy.

A final note. Also in space, there is no Army needed … at least in the beginning. We will have to protect our colonies from piracy and the occasional tyrant that will pop up – as they always do.

To address that we will need forces transported and deployed from ships. Well, you know what those are.