SUMMIT TOWNSHIP, Pa. (Tribune News Service) — Space Force. It sounds cool, it's resonating with prospective recruits nationwide, and it's now the sixth and newest military service branch. Signed into law in December 2019 as part of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, the U.S. Space Force is tasked with organizing, training and equipping space forces to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to joint forces. It is the first new military service branch since the Air Force was created in 1947. "I think there is going to be a huge uptick in recruits. When everybody gets out of high school in the summer, we'll see a large surge of recruits we're looking for to fill Space Force positions," said U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. and recruiter Andrew Bergdorf, 32, a native of Akron, Ohio.