Minot AFB remains ready during Global Thunder 25

Submitted photo A B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 96th Bomb Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, lands to participate in Exercise Global Thunder 25 at Minot Air Force Base Oct. 16. United States Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Wesley Davies.

MIOT AIR FORCE BASE – Global Thunder 25, the latest iteration of the U.S. Strategic Command’s annual field training and command and control exercise, began Oct. 15 at Minot Air Force Base.

Global Thunder exercises are annual Department of Defense training opportunities designed to

to train forces and assess joint operational readiness, and are not held in response to current realities.

world events.

GT25 provided training opportunities and exercise scenarios for all US. Strategic Command mission areas, with a specific focus on nuclear preparedness. Airmen and B-52H Stratofortresses assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, integrated with Airmen from the 5th Bomb Wing to assess their readiness for installation, while 91st Missile Wing personnel conducted training scenarios at nearby missile warning facilities .

“Team Minot consists of exceptional, mission-oriented pilots,” said Col. Jesse Lamarand, 5th Bomb Wing commander. “The 5th BW Warbirds in concert with the 2nd BW Strikers were incredible to see during this exercise. The ability to credibly convey readiness and lethality is a key component of strategic deterrence, and GT25 has enabled us to do just that.”

During the exercise, personnel from the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing tested their ability to maintain a safe, effective and ready strategic deterrent force by conducting simulated warning operations for more than a week. Defenders, aircraft maintainers, aircrews, missiles, ordnance specialists, airfield management personnel, food service specialists and other essential mission personnel worked around the clock under heightened security conditions to achieve exercise objectives.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the efforts the Roughrider Airmen put forth during Global Thunder. They provide 24/7/365 surveillance and ensure we are available to deliver the combat capability and lethality that national leaders use to deter potential adversaries from considering an attack on the U.S. and our allies.” said Col. Jimmy Schlabach, 91st Missile Wing commander. “Deploying our full readiness capabilities to address uncertainty during exercises like these ensures that we maintain the effective and ready force needed to ensure global security and stability by identifying strengths in our force and ways to identify areas where we can improve.”