Minot Airmen participate in GT 2012 Published Nov. 2, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Jessica McConnell Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The 91st Missile Wing and the 5th Bomb Wing participated in the U.S. Strategic Command worldwide exercise, GLOBAL THUNDER 2012, from Oct. 19 - 27. Exercise Global Thunder 12 is U.S. Strategic Command's annual field training and battle staff exercise, designed to exercise all mission areas with primary emphasis on nuclear command and control. Global Thunder provides training opportunities for forces to deter, and if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States - employing forces as directed by the President. "Strategic deterrence, nuclear force employment, and command and control remain core missions for the Department of Defense," said Col. James Dawkins, 5th Bomb Wing commander. "This exercise demonstrates USSTRATCOM's , as well as Minot Air Force Base's, ability to carry out its strategic nuclear deterrence mission." The Global Thunder exercises are designed to reflect the ongoing evolution of USSTRATCOM and its components providing opportunities to incorporate the most current technology and techniques in support of these efforts.