Schriever Reserve unit celebrates 10 years in space

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Col. Karen Rizzuti,10th Air Force vice commander, speaks to an audience of current and past members of the 19th Space Operations Squadron during their 10th anniversary celebration Feb. 4 at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, Colo. Colonel Rizzuti was the first 19 SOPS commander, as well as the first commander of the 310th Space Wing. (Photo courtesy of the United States Air Force Reserve)

By Tech. Sgt. Scott P. Farley

310th Space Wing Public Affairs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.  —  The 19th Space Operations Squadron marked a milestone in their history during a celebration Feb. 4 at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort.

The 19 SOPS, the Reserve associate unit to the 2nd Space Operations Squadron assigned to Schriever, is the 310th Space Wing’s first space squadron and it celebrated its 10th anniversary in a military ceremony that included not only the current members of the squadron, but past members and commanders and plank holders of the unit.

“It meant a lot to see the past commanders and plank holders (at this event),” said Maj. Jason King, 19 SOPS assistant director of operations. “It was neat to see all of that history. To see these people come back and be a part of this was pretty awesome.”

Master Sgt. Jason Gravitt, who planned the anniversary celebration, said he was pleased with the outcome of the celebration.

“The evening was perfect,” said Sergeant Gravitt, who made the move from 2 SOPS to 19 SOPS training and evaluation in 2007. “It was the right mixture of people with military, contractors and spouses making up a 19 SOPS family environment.”

The ceremony’s guest speaker, 10th Air Force Vice Commander and the first 19 SOPS commander Col. Karen Rizzuti, provided a nostalgic look at the humble beginnings and accomplishments of the past decade, including the numerous personal and unit awards bestowed on 19 SOPS, as well as the bright future ahead of the squadron.

“It was a really exciting event for 19 SOPS,” said Colonel Rizzuti. “It was a great celebration of a whole decade of excellence. They have forged an incredible relationship with 2 SOPS and have had a lot of successes.”

Colonel Rizzuti added that the accomplishments of 19 SOPS are a great source of pride.

“I am extremely proud of the contributions (19 SOPS) has had over the past 10 years,” said Colonel Rizzuti. “I am excited to see what the next decade holds.”

“We’re evolving so we can continue to stay relevant,” said Major King, who said that 19 SOPS is in the GPS business for the long haul, working in not only the launch aspect, but also modernization.

The unit performs launch, on-orbit, anomaly resolution, and disposal operations of the GPS constellation, and provides 24-hour, highly accurate navigation, timing and nuclear detonation information to users worldwide.

It provides both an operational and strategic reserve capability by supporting daily operations while simultaneously maintaining a substantial call-up force.

The 19 SOPS provides position, navigation and timing system expertise to national command authorities for Defense Support to Civil Authority functions, and navigation warfare planning and operations expertise to combatant commanders world-wide.