Why a Space Force? A Look at the U.S. Military’s Newest and Most Misunderstood Branch Contrary to what the critics say, the branch will serve an important role. It proved its worth within a month of its creation. The U.S. Space Force serves the critical role of protecting America’s space infrastructure—which enables everything from credit cards to maximizing agriculture production. But America’s newest military branch is also the most misunderstood in Washington and across the country. “Wow, Space Force. It’s the plane of today,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said when asked if the Biden administration planned to keep it.