Newcomers

Congratulations on your assignment to Minot Air Force Base. Contrary to some of the rumors you may have heard, Minot is one of the best kept secrets in the Air Force. Yes, it can get cold here during the winter, but it also gets very warm during the summer.

The base, located approximately 13 miles north of Minot, North Dakota, is an integral part of the local communities. The people are friendly, helpful and honestly glad to have you here. Known as the home of Team Minot, the name emphasizes the great working relationship the base has with the community.

Many people have commented, "it's nice to be able to leave your doors unlocked and feel safe while walking alone." The limited "distractions" make Minot a great place to raise a family and build a career.

Whether you like to fish or hunt, or you're an outdoor or winter sport enthusiast, you'll find facilities and surroundings of Minot and North Dakota to suit your taste.

The host unit, the 5th Bomb Wing, is one of two B-52H Stratofortress bomber bases in the Air Force. The base's other major weapons system is the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, assigned to the 91st Missile Wing.

Throughout the base, you'll find a commitment to quality in every unit encourages you to be part of the process. With quality in action, Minot people can truly boast that, as the sign over the main gate states, "Only the Best Come North."

Please use this guide as an aid to getting acquainted with Minot and the educational, recreational and service facilities available. We have made every attempt to ensure the information contained in this guide is correct. However, some things are subject to change.

Cost of Living: Compared to the rest of the country, Minot Metro Area's cost of living is 5% higher than the U.S. average.

Population:

5,551 active duty

5,584 family members

1,060 civilians

Area Population: Minot Metro Area: 77,959

Child Development Centers:

The Minot Child Development Center (CDC) provides care for children between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 years old. Programs include full time care, hourly care, and Part-Day Enrichment (PDE) program. For more information, call 701-723-3750.

Family Child Care (FCC) provides in-home child care children ranging from birth to 12 years of age by licensed, professional child care providers. Along with full-time, part-time, weekly, and hourly child care, FCC Providers offer care for weekends, evenings, shift work, newborn infants, TDY, PCS, special needs and before and after school. For more information, call 701-723-6662.

Schools: No DoD schools on base. Two elementary schools, Dakota and North Plains, and one middle school, Memorial Middle School, on base are run by Minot School District. There is one high school on two campuses in the city of Minot: Minot High School - Central Campus (for grades 9 and 10) and Minot High School - Magic City Campus (for grades 11 and 12). Bus service is available to take the high school students on base the 13 miles to Minot. The Minot Public School system operates all the public schools that the base children will be attending.

Youth Programs: Minot AFB boasts the largest Youth facility in the Air Force. The Teen Center offers programs and activities for youth ages 13-18. Teens can participate in an exciting variety of activities such as field trips, sports programs, fundraisers, community service projects, and self-directed activities. For younger youth, Tween activities include Power Hour; a variety of clubs such as Torch, Cooking, Club Zoom and Art; Fine Arts and Image Makers Contest; instructional programs such as dance, cheerleading, martial arts and tumbling. For more information, call the Youth Center at 701-723-2838 or visit their website.

Airman and Family Readiness Center: For information about the Airman and Family Readiness Center, call their office at 701-723-3950 or visit their website.

Employment: With the emphasis on the Bakken oil field, the surge in North Dakota's energy industry continues. The oilfield is seeking quality workers to meet the ever-growing demand. To view or apply for oil field jobs go to the website. For job opportunities on base, visit the Minot Human Resource office website. For federal job opportunities visit USA JOBS website. The unemployment rate for North Dakota is 2.6%. The median household income is $60,656.

Base Services:

Force Support Squadron: Recreation at Minot Air Force Base includes arts and crafts, bowling, library, auto skills, indoor children playground, theater, golf, fitness center, tennis, indoor/outdoor swimming, outdoor activities, and horse stables.

NAF Job Opportunities: If you are looking for current/open NAF job openings, please visit the following site: http://www.nafjobs.org/ and select "Minot".

Commissaries: 1 commissary on base, 701-723-4559

Exchange System: 1 exchange, a mall, 1 shoppette; 701-727-4717

Financial Institutions on base: Wells Fargo Bank and Northern Tier Credit Union

Medical Services: The 5th Medical Group is an integrated health care delivery system that provides services to active duty members, retirees, and their families. Any services not provided in the Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) will be acquired from providers in our local network. Beneficiaries will find a full range of services including Primary Care, Pediatrics, Optometry, Family Advocacy, Immunizations and Internal Medicine. Appointments: 1-866-299-4233 / 701-723-5633.

Special Messages:

If you arrive after duty hours or on a weekend/holiday consider staying your first night at the 24 hour arrival point, the Sakakawea Inn located at 14 Summit Drive, DSN 312-453-6161 or 701-723-6161.
Minot AFB Instruction 31-203: Prohibited breeds of dogs on Minot AFB are defined as Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, English Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler (full or mixed breed), or any other breed with dominant traits geared toward aggression. These animals are not permitted on base. In cases of mixed breeds and other disputes, the base veterinarian's determination will be final and conclusive.

Defense Service Network (DSN) Dialing Instructions
The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense (DoD). Every installation has a special DSN number and the numbers vary by world-wide location. In order to place a call using DSN, the caller must be using a military phone on an installation. Cell phones cannot dial DSN numbers. When dialing a DSN number from a United States installation to another United States installation, it is unnecessary to dial the DSN 312 area code. When dialing a DSN number to/from overseas locations, the DSN area code must be included. The operator can be reached at commercial (719) 567-1110. Please note that long distance charges may be incurred.

Climate

Almost every imaginable type of weather can occur at Minot AFB. In general, conditions tend to be cold, dry and windy. The prevailing wind is from the northwest and, at times, we can have gusts of more than 50 miles per hour. Contrary to popular belief, the base does not receive a large amount of snow. Average annual snowfall is around 40 inches. Of course, winter does bring occasional blizzards in which heavy snowfall, poor visibility, high winds and dangerously low wind chill temperatures combine to make travel virtually impossible.

The base record for the most snowfall in a 24-hour period is 22 inches. Average high temperature for January is 17 degrees, average temperature is eight degrees. The average low temperature is two degrees below zero. The coldest temperature ever recorded here is 40 degrees below zero ambient, and 69 below zero with wind-chill.

Some beautiful weather phenomena are a gift of the winter. Falling ice crystals produce "pillars of light" during frigid conditions under clear skies. A radiant splash of color appears against the night sky during active displays of the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights.

Summer can provide its share of hot temperatures. The hottest temperature ever recorded on base was 107 degrees. Average highs in July are 82 degrees with lows of 57 degrees. Thunderstorms are a common sight in the summer. Rain from these storms provides the bulk of the area's yearly precipitation. On the average, our annual liquid precipitation is 17.2 inches. Tornadoes do occasionally occur in North Dakota, mostly in June, July and August.

North Dakota's climate offers a variety of weather to enjoy. You must be ready for occasional harsh conditions in order to successfully "weather" all of our seasons. The weather service operates a 24-hour weather recording which can be heard by calling (701) 453-1130.

Window Tinting

North Dakota motor vehicle law, Air Force and Minot AFB regulations state persons may not operate a motor vehicle with tinted front windows unless the tinting allows light transmissions of at least 50 percent. This does not apply to windows behind the driver if the vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on both sides.

Most likely, if your vehicle has had any tinting added to the factory-installed tinting, it will be illegal. Minot AFB security police will test the percentage of light passing through your vehicle windows free of charge. Law enforcement patrols will issue citations for illegal tinting on base, while Minot Police or Ward County Sheriffs Office cruisers will present tickets to off base violators.

Check your window tinting at the law enforcement desk. Members of the 5th Security Forces Squadron will be glad to test your windows between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please call DSN 453-4434, if you have any questions.

Household Goods

It's important to contact the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron Traffic Management Office as soon as you arrive on Minot AFB. Walk-in hours are from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and appointment-only 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

For more information or to get in contact with TMO, please call DSN 453-1848 or (701) 727-1848.

If your property arrives before you do, or you can't find suitable living quarters immediately, you're authorized 90 days of storage at government expense. You may be liable for paying that expense if you don't give TMO your delivery address as soon as you know it.

Traveling to Minot

If you're traveling to Minot in the summer, you'll find the weather is warm and pleasant. However, if you're traveling in late autumn, winter or early spring, make sure your car is in good mechanical condition and properly winterized.

Due to the sometimes harsh winter conditions, most people will find an engine block heater a necessity for their vehicle. The device, which is easily attached, will allow for easier engine turnover on cold mornings, especially if your vehicle is not kept in a garage. Block heater parts and installation are available at base and local service stations and automotive dealers as well.

Blankets and extra clothing for all passengers, along with basic survival items: matches, candles, a first aid kit, non-perishable food, fresh water and automotive tools such as jumper cables and tire chains are good ideas to pack. Studded snow tires are optional and may be used from October 15 to April 15. Minot has a mandatory seat belt policy which is strictly enforced.

Base Housing
You can find Minot AFB housing information at the following site:
www.housing.af.mil/minot/