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By Airman 1st Class Aleece Williams / Published April 28, 2023
U.S. Space Force Col. Colonel Marcus Jackson, Space Base Delta 2 Commander, visits University of Colorado Boulder, April 27, 2023. Jackson spoke to the cadets about the importance of the ceremony and the future of the Space Force. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st class Aleece Williams)
University of Colorado Boulder Air Force ROTC Detachment 105 cadets pose for a group photo showing their new Space Force patches, April 27, 2023. The cadets were patched by Col. Marcus Jackson, Space Base Delta 2 commander, and Col. Marc Brock, Space Delta 2 commander. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st class Aleece Williams)
U.S. Space Force Col. Marc Brock, Space Delta 2 commander, speaks to cadets at the University of Colorado Boulder, April 27, 2023. Brock visited the cadets to honor the tradition of one Guardian patching another during their patching ceremony. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st class Aleece Williams)
U.S. Space Force Col. Colonel Marcus Jackson, Space Base Delta 2 commander, visits University of Colorado Boulder, April 27, 2023. Jackson joined Col. Marc Brock, Space Delta 2 commander, to replace cadets’ Air Force patches with new Space Force patches. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st class Aleece Williams)
Col. Marc Brock, Space Delta 2 commander, visits University of Colorado Boulder, April 27, 2023. Brock had the unique opportunity to place his own Space Force patch on his son’s arm. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st class Aleece Williams)
U.S. Space Force Col. Marc Brock, Space Delta 2 commander, visits University of Colorado Boulder, April 27, 2023. Brock replaced a cadet’s Air Force patch with a Space Force patch. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st class Aleece Williams)
University of Colorado Boulder cadets pose for a group photo with Col. Marcus Jackson, Space Base Delta 2 Commander, and Col. Marc Brock, Space Delta 2 commander, April 27, 2023. The cadets were patched by Guardians that came before them to honor the USSF patching tradition. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st class Aleece Williams)
Col. Marcus Jackson, Space Base Delta 2 commander, and Col. Marc Brock, Space Delta 2 commander, were afforded the opportunity to honor Air Force Cadets with Detachment 105, University of Colorado Boulder to replace their Air Force patches with Space Force patches during what is known as a patching ceremony, April 27.
As the U.S. Space Force is a developing service, it is vital that the customs and traditions are upheld to continue defining the unique USSF culture. One honored rite of passage is the patching ceremony that allows an upcoming Guardian to have their USSF patch placed on them by a Guardian that came before them.
“As we grow and develop, the Guardian spirit demands we understand the importance and value of taking care of fellow Guardians, our sister services and our allies,” said Jackson.
Ceremonies such as these allow the longer serving guardians to highlight the commitments that this branch upholds including how the service will continue to amplify the Guardian spirit.
While there were four cadets recognized in this ceremony, Col. Brock had a unique and special opportunity to recognize a new generation, Cadet 3rd Class Brock, his son, with his Space Force patch.
“This is the first time a Brock has had the opportunity to patch another Brock, so I’m going to take my own patch off and give it to him,” said Col. Brock.
In closing remarks from both Jackson and Brock they reiterated the importance of the path the cadets have chosen and challenged them in the service to the nation.
“Today we are building upon these core principles by the patching of our next generation of Space Force Guardians, by challenging them to embrace the line of efforts and our core values as their own,” concluded Jackson.