The Army has identified about 500 military and civilian personnel that could be considered for transfer to a potential Space Force in fiscal year 2022, under the Trump administration's proposal for the new service, according to the Army's vice chief of staff.

Gen. James McConville, in a written answer to advance policy questions from senators ahead of a hearing on his nomination as the Army's chief of staff today, states the identified personnel include “satellite operators, planners, and engineers from communications, engineering, and information management career fields directly supporting global space operations,” who “are strategic-level direct or general support to Joint Forces.”

McConville notes the Army space cadre would retain about 2,000 military and civilian personnel across all components who are “organic to Army warfighting organizations,” including space operations specialty officers and air defense artillery, military intelligence and signal soldiers.

While the Pentagon does not currently have service-specific savings estimates associated with the creation of a Space Force, the transfer of 500 personnel would cost the Army $175 million over the future years defense program, McConville writes.