“Homo Spaciens,” “Orbitons,” “Novanauts,” “Rocketeers,” and “Startans” — this is just a small sampling of the hundreds of suggested names for members of the military’s newest branch, the Space Force.
They were, of course, rejected in favor of “Guardians,” a name that folks seem to have gotten used to after it was roundly mocked for its similarities to the well-known Marvel Comics franchise, Guardians of the Galaxy. On that note, among the list of passed-over names was “Starlord” which is the main character in that comic book series, who’s played by actor Chris Pratt in the movies.
But the list of rejected submissions, first shared by Politico after it was released by the Air Force, is filled to the brim with hidden gems, and more than a few suggestions that were clearly submitted by some junior service member who, when asked what they wanted to call Space Force personnel, probably shrugged and said: “I do not know,” which is actually one of the names submitted.
A few others in that vein are: “Space Operator Located Elsewhere (SOLE),” or the slightly longer “Space Operator Located On Earth (SOLOE).”
Some pay playful homage to sci-fi movies and shows like Star Trek and Star Wars with “Trekkies,” “The Final Frontiersmen” and “Stormtroopers,” while Aliens got a small head nod with “Xenos.” Other names, had they been accepted, would surely lead to confusion like the suggestion that Space Force personnel be called “Rangers” or “Astronauts.”
At least one, “Geeks,” was just plain mean-spirited, but hey, if you’re joining the military — especially its newest and most ‘boot’ branch — getting made fun of by your peers comes with the territory.
Personally, I’m a little bummed that only one person tried to make ‘Space Marines’ happen, but they seem to have lost their nerve and went for “Spacemariners” instead.
While you’re checking out the names, let us know in the comments if you’d have preferred any of these suggestions over Space Force “Guardians.”
Feature image: Gen. John “Jay” Raymond, Commander U.S. Space Command, left, and Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman, right, hold the flag as then-President Donald Trump gestures, during the presentation of the Space Force Flag in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 15, 2020, in Washington. Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett stands far left. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)