Vandenberg Celebrates the United States Space Force Sixth Birthday

U.S. Space Force Col. James T. Horne III, Space Launch Delta 30 commander and U.S. Space Force Specialist 1 Ryan Little, 533rd Training Squadron student, cut a cake during the Space Force's sixth birthday celebration at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Dec. 19, 2025. As tradition denotes, the highest and lowest ranking members at the celebration join to make the first cut of the ceremonial cake. The USSF was established Dec. 20, 2019, when the National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law, creating the first new branch of armed services in 73 years. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olya Houtsma)

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Vandenberg Celebrates the United States Space Force Sixth Birthday

U.S. Space Force Col. James T. Horne III, Space Launch Delta 30 commander and U.S. Space Force Specialist 1 Ryan Little, 533rd Training Squadron student, pose for a photo during the USSF sixth birthday celebration at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Dec. 19, 2025. As tradition denotes, the highest and lowest ranking members at the celebration join to make the first cut of the ceremonial cake. The USSF was established Dec. 20, 2019, when the National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law, creating the first new branch of armed services in 73 years. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olya Houtsma)

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Vandenberg Celebrates the United States Space Force Sixth Birthday

Published Dec. 19, 2025
By Airman 1st Class Olya Houtsma

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. --

Guardians, Airmen, and civilians celebrate the U.S. Space Force's sixth birthday after the official cake cutting ceremony at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Dec. 19, 2025. Members enjoyed the taste of cake and continued comradery which honored the Space Force's six years of on-going dedication to protecting our nation and its people. The USSF was established Dec. 20, 2019, when the National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law, creating the first new branch of armed services in 73 years.