News

Members of the Nuclear Weapons Council (NWC) meet Security Forces Airman at a missile alert facility at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Nov. 17, 2021. Members of the NWC visited Airmen and facilities at Minot to discuss installation-level operations and efforts impacted by the council’s decisions and guidance. Representatives from the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and National Nuclear Security Administration comprise the council and the trip to Minot AFB was the first time the NWC visited a Department of Defense installation under the current administration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Evan Lichtenhan)

Nov. 19, 2021

Minot AFB hosts Nuclear Weapons Council, focuses on strategic effectiveness, investment

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. — Members of the Nuclear Weapons Council visited Minot Air Force Base, N.D. Nov. 17, 2021, making the trip the first time the council toured a Department of Defense installation under the current administration.

NAVAL MAGAZINE INDIAN ISLAND, Wa. (211104-N-QL961-1028)Active duty and reserve officers, and senior enlisted Sailors from Commander Submarine Group Nine, Commander Submarine Squadron 17, and Submarine Readiness Squadron 33 pack around 2,000 pounds of food and supplies to be sent to a submarine participating in Global Thunder 22 (GT 22).

Nov. 18, 2021

CSG9 Concludes Global Thunder 22

Silverdale, Wa. -- Global Thunder 22 (GT22) concluded Nov. 10, after a week-long of command-post and field training that tested command, control and operational readiness.GT22 is an annual training exercise designed to train and assess joint operational readiness across all of U.S. Strategic Command’s mission areas, with a specific focus on nuclear

Every year U.S. Strategic Command holds a nuclear-command and control exercise, Global Thunder, which tests and validates the nuclear operation process, exercises like these demonstrate the readiness of the nation’s nuclear capabilities. Global Thunder 22 tested Team Minot’s 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing.

Nov. 17, 2021

Team Minot Concludes Exercise Global Thunder 22

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. — Every year U.S. Strategic Command holds a nuclear-command and control exercise, Global Thunder, which tests and validates the nuclear operation process, exercises like these demonstrate the readiness of the nation’s nuclear capabilities. Global Thunder 22 tested Team Minot’s 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing.

Nov. 16, 2021

Bomber Task Force Europe: Lancers Complete RAF Fairford Rotation, Return to Texas

The 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron’s B 1B Lancers and nearly 200 support personnel completed their Bomber Task Force Europe deployment at RAF Fairford, today, returning to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

Nov. 11, 2021

U.S. and Partner Aircrews Conduct Presence Patrol

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar — Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers flew a presence patrol mission in the Central Region that included several coalition and partner nation air forces today.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Richard Gonzales, 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron flying crew chief, performs a simulated alert response during exercise Global Thunder 22 at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, Nov. 6, 2021. Team Fairchild Airmen are on watch 24 hours a day, seven days a week, conducting operations to deter and detect strategic attacks against the United States and our allies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lawrence Sena)

Nov. 10, 2021

Fairchild showcases capability in exercise Global Thunder 22

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. — Fairchild Airmen participated in the U.S. Strategic Command exercise, Global Thunder 22, Nov. 2-10, with the fundamental mission to deter, detect and prevent strategic attack against the United States and its allies. Exercise Global Thunder is an annual command and control exercise designed to train and assess U.S. Strategic Command forces’ readiness as a strategic deterrent force.

Airman 1st Class Julian Diaz, 22nd Security Forces Squadron entry controller, secures the exercise area Nov. 5, 2021, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. Global Thunder is an annual command and control exercise designed to train U.S. Strategic Command forces and assess joint operation readiness. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Willis)

Nov. 9, 2021

Team McConnell fuels Global Thunder 22

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. — Team McConnell Airmen participated in Global Thunder 22, Nov. 2-10.

A Norwegian air force F-35A Lighting II aircraft receives fuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, during exercise Castle Forge over Norway, Nov. 4, 2021. Training with joint and combined allies and partners increases lethality and enhances interoperability, allowing U.S. forces to counter military aggression and coercion by sharing responsibilities for common defense. In addition to F-15 Eagle aircraft operations in the Black Sea Region, Castle Forge encompasses the USAFE-wide Agile Combat Employment capstone event. Castle Forge’s components will better enable forces to quickly disperse and continue to deliver air power from locations with varying levels of capacity and support, ensuring Airmen are always ready to respond to potential threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph Barron)

Nov. 9, 2021

100th ARW hones ACE concepts during exercise Castle Forge

ROYAL AIR FORCE FAIRFORD, England — U.S. Airmen assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing conducted a readiness exercise at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, RAF Fairford and Souda Bay, Greece, Nov. 1-4. During exercise Castle Forge, Airmen provided air refueling support for U.S. and allied aircraft, including U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer, MC-130J Commando II and Norwegian air force F-35A Lightning II aircraft. Castle Forge encompasses the USAFE-wide Agile Combat Employment capstone event, which will better enable forces to quickly disperse and continue to deliver air power from locations with varying levels of capacity and support, ensuring Airmen are always ready to respond to potential threats.

A B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing sits on the flight line during Global Thunder 22 operations on Nov. 3, 2021 at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. Global Thunder 22 is a USSTRATCOM exercise designed to provide training opportunities, test, and validate command, control, and operational procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Michael Richmond)

Nov. 8, 2021

Global Thunder Rolls at Minot AFB

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. — MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. – Airmen commenced participation in U.S. Strategic Command’s (USSTRATCOM) nuclear command and training exercise, Global Thunder 22 (GT22) on November 2, 2021.

A Peacekeeper Missile replica stands near F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., Gate 1 April 4, 2012. The missile was the most powerful weapon in the U.S. arsenal until its deactivation in 2005. A Peacekeeper Missile site is scheduled to be turned into a museum in Wyoming, the only state in which the missile system was active. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

Nov. 2, 2021

The pride of F.E. Warren

F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. — F.E. Warren Air Force Base has a rich history dating back to 1867 where it was originally Fort David Allen Russell. What makes F.E. Warren unique is that it is one of three strategic-missile bases, the other 2 being Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota and Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. Outside of F.E. Warren AFB is a display of three Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. The three missiles displayed are the Minuteman I, the Minuteman III and the Peacekeeper. The Minuteman I missiles were first introduced in 1961. It’s newer version, the Minuteman III, is still used to this very day. The peacekeeper missiles were produced and deployed in 1985 and were later retired in 2005.