Judah Officer, an Indiana native, has made history by becoming the first Black person to be accepted into the U.S. Space Force.
On Tuesday, Officer took the official oath of enlistment into the U.S. military’s freshest branch.
“I feel like being the first African American applicant in Indianapolis, and Indiana perhaps, is like really, really big,” Officer told Fox59. “I just can’t get the words for it. It feels really great to be able to do it and be able to represent myself, my family, and the people that support me.”
Officer shared that he had been dreaming of this moment since childhood. His parents are extremely proud of his accomplishment.
“His path has almost like chased him down,” his father, James Officer III, said. “So, it’s amazing to see that come to fruition, to see the pride in his face, to see the length in his gait. It just makes me very proud as a father.”
“I was like this is such an opportunity and for it to fall at your feet is such a God thing,” Patricia Officer added. “We were just so appreciative and proud that he was chosen for this opportunity. “
The Trump administration pushed to establish the U.S. Space Force culminating in the legislation signed Dec. 20, 2019, that formed the first U.S. armed force since the Air Force was established in 1947.
In December 2020, former Vice President Mike Pence announced that personnel in the Space Force would be called Guardians.
“It is my honor, on behalf of the President of the United States, to announce that, henceforth, the men and women of the United States Space Force will be known as ‘Guardians,'” Pence said.
Officer will remain at basic training in San Antonio for just under eight weeks before heading to Biloxi, Miss. for further training.
The U.S. Space Force was established in December 2019 under former President Donald Trump. The US Space Force focuses on securing and protecting space.
