Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Soldier one of first 50 inter-service transfers to Space Force

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Corey Hook
  • Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Public Affairs
A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to the White House Communications Agency at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., became one of the first 50 active-duty inter-service transfers to join the United States Space Force in a Jan. 25 ceremony at the Bolling Club on base.
 
The Space Force’s new addition, Army Sgt. Harly D. Gomme, WHCA satellite communications systems operator, will be taking his skillsets and experience to join Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado, as a Guardian working cyber systems operations and support.
 
“One of my biggest motivations to transfer was that I have always wanted to be in a career field that involved communication systems in addition to a career field that is space related,” said Gomme. “With this opportunity presented, I am able to still remain in the military while being in a career field that is dedicated to protecting and defending space-based communications and exploration combined.”
 
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jane Dunn, 11th Force Support Squadron commander, officiated the transfer ceremony to welcome Gomme to the new branch.
 
“This transfer is incredibly significant,” said Dunn. “Sergeant Gomme is one of the first 50 active-duty members selected from a pool of over 3,700 volunteers across the Army, Navy and Marine Corps to transfer to the Space Force. Being a part of that cohort, Sergeant Gomme is testing the process and literally paving the way for the rest of the inter-service transfers that will come after him.”
 
The Space Force, working with the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, has selected 670 active-duty service members and 259 civilians to transfer into the Space Force during fiscal year 2022.
 
Gomme’s achievement was shared at the event with his wife, Tiffany, who removed Army patches from his uniform and replaced them with Space Force patches.
“This milestone in my life and military career makes me very proud of where I have come from, the opportunities I have been afforded, as well as to the future and what it holds as I progress in my career and my family and I begin our next chapter in our lives,” said Gomme. “I'm very honored to be a part of the Space Force and look forward to where we are headed.”