CLI tour strengthens bond with Team Minot

  • Published
  • By Maj. Shane Balken
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  For many Minot residents, driving by the base gate or attending the Northern Neighbors open house here is their only glimpse into the day-to-day mission of their military neighbors 12 miles away. It's both a real and metaphoric gate that can often separate the two communities and because of this, community leaders through the Minot Chamber of Commerce have been touring the base every year to ensure the 12-mile gap doesn't widen. 

Twenty-two members of the Community Leadership Institute, comprised of new members every year chosen through the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce, toured the base last week and were hosted by several squadrons to familiarize them to the variety of missions of the base. It was the 39th tour for the CLI and through the years has hosted Minot leaders such as North Dakota Governor John Hoeven and State Senator Karen Krebsbach, just to name a few. 

"The feedback [on the tour] is just tremendous," said John MacMartin, President of the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Community leaders, ranging in ages from early 20's to late 50's and varied positions in their respective companies, started the day by meeting Col. Joel Westa, 5th Bomb Wing Commander, and talking about the wing's mission and how it pertains to the city. 

"The best thing about Minot Air Force Base is Minot. The relationship that exists here is fantastic," Colonel Westa told the group. "But that relationship doesn't exist all over the world. It's because of your support that makes this a great base, and I want to thank you for welcoming us into your community." 

Following the briefing, members toured a B-52H Stratofortress static aircraft and talked to aircrew from the 23rd Bomb Squadron. The group then headed to the 54th Helicopter Squadron for a mission briefing and helicopter tour, a meeting and mission briefing with Col. Robert Walker, 91st Operations Group commander, and rounded out lunch with an economic impact briefing from 2nd Lt. Kevin Byram, 5th Comptroller Squadron. 

MacMartin said for many of the group members, it was their first exposure to the base. Chelsea Kirkhammer, who works at the United Community Bank of N.D., said although she occasionally will talk to military members when setting up a bank account, she doesn't deal a lot with the base. 

"It was a lot of information and I really learned a lot," said Kirkhammer. "I was most impressed by the mock house battle by the security forces." 

The "battle" was a simulated close-quarter battle demonstrating the capabilities of the threat response force from the 791st Missile Security Forces Squadron. The team also demonstrated repelling techniques, a sniper display, and their heavy equipment capabilities for breaking into any number of buildings. 

And even for some of the members who have closer ties to the military, the day was still an eye-opener. Julie Troxel, who works for SRT Communications, grew up in Minot and has had 22 years of experience being around the military as her husband is a full-time guardsman. 

"Growing up with the base, I never was able to separate what the bomb wing and the missile wing did, and how different they are. This also helped me see how closely they work together," said Troxel. "This (tour program) really ties us in with the base community and has been a wonderful program."