Editing Colorado Springs, Colorado (section)

===Military===
[[File:PetersonAFB.jpg|thumb|[[United States Space Force]]{{snds}}[[Peterson Space Force Base]] Building{{nbsp}}1]]

{{As of|2021}}, there are nearly 45,000 active-duty troops in the Colorado Springs area. There are more than 100,000 veterans and thousands of reservists.<ref name="Roeder" /> The military and defense contractors supply more than 40% of the Pikes Peak region's economy.<ref name="Roeder" />

Colorado Springs is home to the [[Peterson Space Force Base]], [[Schriever Space Force Base]], [[Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station]], U.S. Space Command, and Space Operations Command— the largest contingent of space service military installations. They are responsible for intelligence gathering, space operations, and cyber missions.<ref name="Bitton">{{Cite news |last=Bitton |first=David |date=August 27, 2021 |title=New missions equal new names for Peterson, Schriever and Cheyenne Mountain military installations |language=en |work=The Gazette |url=https://gazette.com/military/new-missions-equal-new-names-for-peterson-schriever-and-cheyenne-mountain-military-installations/article_574a0ea2-ea49-11eb-a10f-4f8d59a4313b.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-date=January 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125114624/https://gazette.com/military/new-missions-equal-new-names-for-peterson-schriever-and-cheyenne-mountain-military-installations/article_574a0ea2-ea49-11eb-a10f-4f8d59a4313b.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Peterson Space Force Base is responsible for the [[North American Aerospace Defense Command]] (NORAD) and the [[United States Northern Command]] (USNORTHCOM) headquarters,<ref name="NORAD" /> Space Operations Command, and Space Deltas 2, 3, and 7.<ref name="Bitton" /> Located at Peterson is the 302nd Airlift Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit, that transports passengers and cargo and fights wildfires.<ref name="Bitton" />

Schriever Space Force Base is responsible for Joint Task Force-Space Defense and [[Space Delta 6|Space Deltas 6]], 8, and 9.<ref name="Bitton" /> The NORAD and USNORTHCOM Alternate Command Center is located at the [[Cheyenne Mountain Complex]].<ref name="NORAD" /> Within the mountain complex, the [[Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station]] has been operated by [[Space Operations Command]].<ref name="NORAD" /> On January 13, 2021, the Air Force announced a new permanent home for Space Command, moving it from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama in 2026, but the decision could be reversed by Congress.<ref name="Roeder" /><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2021/01/13/us-space-command-site-to-be-located-in-huntsville-alabama/|title = US Space Command site to be located in Huntsville, Alabama|date = January 13, 2021|access-date = January 25, 2021|archive-date = August 2, 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230802195357/https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2021/01/13/us-space-command-site-to-be-located-in-huntsville-alabama/|url-status = live}}</ref>{{efn|Political leaders in Colorado plan to ask President Biden's administration to review the merits of the decision.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://krdo.com/news/top-stories/2021/01/22/chamber-of-commerce-and-state-officials-fight-to-keep-u-s-space-command-in-colorado-springs/|title = Chamber of Commerce and state officials fight to keep U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs|date = January 22, 2021|access-date = January 25, 2021|archive-date = January 25, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210125213209/https://krdo.com/news/top-stories/2021/01/22/chamber-of-commerce-and-state-officials-fight-to-keep-u-s-space-command-in-colorado-springs/|url-status = live}}</ref> Huntsville also has to pass an environmental review before the decision is final.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/2021/01/13/956633450/u-s-space-command-headquarters-may-land-in-alabama | title=U.S. Space Command Headquarters May Land in Alabama | website=[[NPR]] | date=January 13, 2021 | last1=Jones | first1=Dustin | access-date=January 25, 2021 | archive-date=January 25, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125183449/https://www.npr.org/2021/01/13/956633450/u-s-space-command-headquarters-may-land-in-alabama | url-status=live }}</ref> Air Force documents show Alabama ranked higher than Colorado in 11 of 21 comparisons used by the government in seeking the best site for the new U.S. Space Command's permanent headquarters. In the Space Command headquarters comparison, Alabama ranks in top third in nine of the 21 categories. Colorado ranks in the top third in five categories. Alabama ranks in bottom third in three of the 21 categories and Colorado ranks in bottom third in 10 of the 21 categories.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/2021/04/opposition-grows-to-putting-space-command-hq-in-alabama.html|title = Opposition grows to putting Space Command HQ in Alabama|date = April 2, 2021|access-date = April 21, 2021|archive-date = April 21, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210421233457/https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/2021/04/opposition-grows-to-putting-space-command-hq-in-alabama.html|url-status = live}}</ref>}}

[[File:President Richard Nixon Gives a Commencement Ceremony Speech at Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs (cropped).jpg|thumb|President [[Richard Nixon]] gives a commencement ceremony speech at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, June 4, 1969.]]
Army divisions are trained and stationed at [[Fort Carson]]. The [[United States Air Force Academy]] was established after World War II, on land donated by the City of Colorado Springs.<ref name="Roeder" />

{{Further|History of Colorado Springs, Colorado#Military installations}}