Connor Snyder of Nesquehoning is literally setting his sights high.

The recent high school graduate has joined what is regarded as the newest branch of the U.S. military, the Space Force.

The Space Force, under the auspices of the U.S. Air Force, was created in 2019 by former President Donald Trump. Its functions, according to Congressional records, are to protect the interests of the United States in space, deter aggression in, from and to space and conduct space operations.

Snyder, 18, is the son of Terrance “Chip” and Samantha Snyder. He is a recent graduate of the Carbon Career & Technical Institute where his major was electronics.

Terrance Snyder said he was told by his Air Force recruiter that Connor is the first Carbon County resident to enlist in the Space Force. He said someone from Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, also joined.

Ready for training

Snyder was officially sworn into the service during the recent Pocono Air Show at Pocono International Speedway on the raceway in front of several thousand people. He was one of about 100 military inductees sworn-in at the show.

He will leave for Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas, on Aug. 27 where he will undergo 7½ weeks of basic training. After that, he will be sent to Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara, California, for tactical skills training.

Before leaving for basic training, the Nesquehoning VFW Post will host a send-off party and cornhole tournament 11 a.m. Aug. 20.

The Space Force is under the command of the Secretary of Air Force who is responsible for the organizing, training and equipping of the Space Force as well as the U.S. Air Force.

Snyder said he will be subjected to rigorous background checks to obtain high level clearance for participation in the service.

He said he was informed that such duties of the Space Force include space craft assistance, nuclear missile detection, piloting satellites and running various space related operations.

Love of space

“I don’t know too much about what my job will be because it’s top secret,” he said. “I have loved space and had an interest in it ever since I was a young child. Once I had this opportunity, I decided this is the way I want to go.”

He said he believes his vocational technical school experience helped prepare him for this new endeavor. At CCTI, he worked on smaller electronic items including computers and computer chips in his senior year.

Snyder also has visited the Aviation Museum at the Fort Worth (Texas) Airport.

He said an ultimate goal of his is, “I would like to assist in the launching of space craft. That would be more interesting than missiles and satellites.”

As a member of Space Force, he said he could get actively deployed in military situations.

He said Space Force will pay for any schooling or training he needs.

Snyder was a member of the National Honor Society at CCTI for two years.

He has assisted the VFW with its flag program.

A proud moment

He has been employed at McDonald’s in Nesquehoning the last two years as a crew trainer.

“I’m excited. I’m excited he wants to expand his horizon outside of staying in the area. We will miss him,” Samantha Snyder said. “He didn’t settle just for the Air Force. He wanted to join the Space Force.”

“I’m proud of him,” said his father. “I’m extremely proud.”

Connor said he always looked up to his grandfather, Gerald Snyder Sr., who is an Army veteran having served in the Vietnam War. “It’s definitely a big part of why I’m joining. I always want to make him proud.”

Another grandfather, Ralph Pettit of Lehighton, and an aunt, Heather Gonzales, who lives in San Antonio, both served in the Air Force.

Connor said he has received full support from his girlfriend of three years, Naomi Baumer of Lansford, who will be attending West Virginia University for forensics.