MINOT, N.D. - Minot Air Force Base says its 91st Missile Wing received thehighest possible grade of "satisfactory" during recent inspections. The inspections dealt with the unit's readiness to handle nuclearoperations.
The missile wing, led by Col. Chris Ayers, maintains and operates a fleet of150 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles in underground silosin north central and northwest North Dakota.
The Minot base has been involved in nuclear missteps in recent years. Theyinclude 2008 incidents in which three ballistic missile crew members fellasleep while holding classified launch code devices, and a vehicle carryinga rocket booster for an unarmed Minuteman III missile tipped over.