{"id":28115,"date":"2021-02-21T20:00:53","date_gmt":"2021-02-21T20:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/02\/21\/first-kansas-space-force-recruit-often-asked-whats-that\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:16:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:16:17","slug":"first-kansas-space-force-recruit-often-asked-whats-that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2021\/02\/21\/first-kansas-space-force-recruit-often-asked-whats-that\/","title":{"rendered":"First Kansas Space Force recruit often asked: What\u2019s that?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WICHITA, Kan. \u2014 For more than a decade, 22-year-old Valley Center native Braden Vining had plans to follow his brother into the military. He couldn\u2019t have planned on the military career he\u2019s about to have, though, because it didn\u2019t exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vining is the first Kansan to be recruited into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/space\/2021\/02\/03\/with-the-full-support-of-the-biden-adminisration-the-space-force-is-officially-here-to-stay\/\" target=_blank>the U.S. Space Force<\/a>, a branch of the military that started in late 2019 to protect the United States\u2019 interests in space. Unlike the \u201cSpace Force\u201d comedy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/off-duty\/military-culture\/2020\/06\/08\/netflix-is-beating-the-us-military-so-far-in-getting-space-force-trademarked\/\" target=_blank>starring Steve Carell<\/a>, which may be better known than the actual Space Force, the military branch isn\u2019t as much about sending rockets into space as it is about maintaining dominance and protecting what\u2019s there, such as satellites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The people doing the protecting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/off-duty\/military-culture\/2021\/02\/09\/what-space-force-should-have-called-its-members-instead-of-guardians\/\" target=_blank>are called guardians<\/a>, which is what Vining will become after basic training at Lackland Air Force Base this spring followed by technical training at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansas.com\/news\/business\/biz-columns-blogs\/carrie-rengers\/article249249410.html\" target=_blank>The Wichita Eagle<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s vital that we maintain air space and cyber space superiority,\u201d said Aric Sievers, an Air Force technical sergeant who recruited Vining.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/off-duty\/military-culture\/2021\/02\/09\/what-space-force-should-have-called-its-members-instead-of-guardians\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Wookie.png.png?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">What Space Force should have called its members instead of \u2018guardians\u2019<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Wookies, trekkies, rocketman? Yes please.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was Sievers who set Vining on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2021\/02\/03\/space-force-is-looking-for-a-few-good-soldiers-sailors\/\" target=_blank>a path to the Space Force<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to join the military,\u201d Vining said. \u201cMy brother joined while I was in middle school, and I always just looked up to him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His brother, Army Sgt. Brice Morrow, currently is stationed at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airforcetimes.com\/news\/your-air-force\/2020\/09\/29\/a-juvenile-in-a-stolen-car-causes-brief-lockdown-at-mcconnell-air-force-base\/\" target=_blank>McConnell Air Force Base<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vining originally had plans for the Army, too, but he decided the Air Force might be a better fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then he took the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s like the military version of the ACT,\u201d Sievers said. \u201cBraden scored so high.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sievers, who recruits for the Air Force and the Space Force, said he recognized that Vining could be a great match for the Space Force. He called to tell him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHey, remember how you came in my office to join the Air Force? How about joining the Space Force instead?\u201d Sievers asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt wasn\u2019t on my radar at all,\u201d Vining said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said he recognized it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI just had to jump on it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then he had a lot of explaining to do to people who not only didn\u2019t understand what the Space Force is but, in some cases, didn\u2019t quite believe it exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His parents and some of his siblings \u201cthought I was joking at first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI understand their skepticism, but they immediately got on board.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Morrow never doubted his brother\u2019s new career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe immediately got excited,\u201d Vining said. \u201cHe knew what it was.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most people have to ask what the Space Force is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYeah, it\u2019s funny every time,\u201d Vining said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u201cSpace Force\u201d TV show tends to come up, too, even when Vining is searching the internet for something related to the military branch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s immediately the first thing that pops up, so I have to dig through Steve Carell to find the actual Space Force.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vining hasn\u2019t seen the show yet even though he loved Carell in \u201cThe Office.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m actually a huge \u2018Office\u2019 fan, so you\u2019d think I have seen (\u2018Space Force\u2019), but I have not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, he may be a little busy to watch it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYeah, life\u2019s a little hectic right now,\u201d Vining said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2021\/01\/29\/here-is-the-space-forces-new-rank-structure\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"231\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/spaceforceflag.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Here is the Space Force\u2019s new rank structure<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">William Shatner is going to be so disappointed.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to preparing to join the Space Force, he and his wife, Kylie, are preparing to welcome their first child, a daughter they\u2019ll call Piper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHer due date is just a few days after I leave, so we\u2019re really hoping she comes early,\u201d Vining said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Currently, he\u2019s working as an electrician. In the Space Force, he\u2019ll be in client systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt requires a top-secret clearance, so unfortunately I can\u2019t go into a lot of detail about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Basically, it\u2019s a computer technology position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vining may not be trained in computer technology yet, but he said, \u201cGrowing up in this day and age, it\u2019s kind of second nature to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said he wants \u201cto learn more about how computers work and everything that goes into that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Though he\u2019s still only a recruit, Vining already is thinking he wants to make a career out of the Space Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m just excited to see where this takes me.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Braden Vining is the first Kansan to be recruited into the U.S. Space Force, a branch of the military that started in late 2019 to protect the United States\u2019 interests in space.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":28533,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":88,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[143,29,117,15,35,88],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3930],"class_list":["post-28115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-good-news-report","category-home","category-middle-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-military"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"Y7SMKYQHDBGAZI4HPIXNEI7CC4","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-air-force\/2021\/02\/21\/first-kansas-space-force-recruit-often-asked-whats-that\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>First Kansas Space Force recruit often asked: What\u2019s that? - Military Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Braden Vining is the first Kansan to be recruited into the U.S. Space Force, a branch of the military that started in late 2019 to protect the United States\u2019 interests in space.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"First Kansas Space Force recruit often asked: What\u2019s that?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Braden Vining is the first Kansan to be recruited into the U.S. Space Force, a branch of the military that started in late 2019 to protect the United States\u2019 interests in space.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2021\/02\/21\/first-kansas-space-force-recruit-often-asked-whats-that\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Military Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-02-21T20:00:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-07T20:16:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Carrie Rengers, The Wichita (Kan.) 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