---
title: "The Space Force is sorry about this ‘clumsy’ tweet about the Space Force"
date: "2020-08-13"
modified: "2020-08-13"
authors:
  - name: "Jared Keller"
    job_title: "Former Managing Editor"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/jaredkeller/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/space-force-twitter-message/"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "Entertainment"
tags:
  - "scandals"
---

# The Space Force is sorry about this ‘clumsy’ tweet about the Space Force

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/imgonline-com-ua-frameblurred-uyura4hpxw3chw6x.jpg>)

The U.S. Space Force may have a [growing command structure](<https://www.defensenews.com/space/2020/08/07/the-space-force-is-getting-an-official-second-in-command/>) and [its first-ever doctrine](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/space-force-doctrine-space-power/>), but it's missing something critical to the sixth branch of the U.S. armed forces' success: people.

Even though more than 8,500 active-duty airmen [volunteered](<https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/2212627/8k-airmen-volunteer-to-go-to-space>) to join the Space Force from the Air Force in May alone, the new service branch is in the middle of a[ major recruiting drive](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/space-force-recruiting-video-netflix/>) that includes messages like, well, this one:

https://twitter.com/spaceforcedod/status/1293608953763463168

First of all: this makes no fucking sense.

Second of all, we're unclear exactly what "medals, achievements and honors" the Space Force is talking about exactly — namely because they don't exist yet. And the nascent service branch only started launching missions back in May with the [launch of a satellite](<https://thehill.com/policy/defense/489743-space-force-launches-first-mission>) from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

"It was a clumsy attempt to talk about the future and the significance of what a small group of people are doing, standing up our nation's newest branch of service," Maj. Nick Mercurio, a Space Force spokesperson, told Task & Purpose. "We're taking a clean sheet approach to building the Space Force."

We weren't the only ones who look at the Space Force's latest message as a giant bong rip:

https://twitter.com/miriamkp/status/1293677459137732608

https://twitter.com/Enviro_Doggo/status/1293678618069987329

https://twitter.com/andraswf/status/1293674003111043073

https://twitter.com/everywhereist/status/1293685772143300608

https://twitter.com/AriDomogato/status/1293673819828256770

Anyway, marketing is hard! But here's a word of advice to the Space Force PAOs (and I know you're reading this): If your copy could resemble that [from the Netflix series *Space Force*](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/space-force-review/>) and not the U.S. Space Force, perhaps reconsider your approach.

***Related: [Who did it better: the real Space Force recruiting spot or the trailer for Netflix's 'Space Force'?](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/space-force-recruiting-video-netflix/>)***

## Author
Jared Keller is the former managing editor of Task & Purpose. His writing has appeared in Aeon, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the New Republic, Pacific Standard, Smithsonian, and The Washington Post, among other publications.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/jaredbkeller>)  
[Facebook](<https://www.facebook.com/jaredbkeller>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredbkeller/>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/jaredbkelller/>)