Year in Review: January to June

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kristoffer Kaubisch
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
Dateline: MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The year 2015 has been a busy one for Minot Air Force Base. From various construction projects to numerous exercises, MAFB Airmen work hard year round to get the job done.

To kick off the year, the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron built a refueling station to help with difficulties they were facing whenever they needed to re-fuel their machines. After approximately two weeks of working in below zero temperatures, the re-fueling station was finally completed.

February was another busy month as Team Minot hosted the Nuclear Oversight Board. The NOB is a quarterly meeting that brings together approximately 40 of the top Air Force leaders for one purpose: to focus on the Air Force's nuclear enterprise.

In the same month, the 91st Security Forces Squadron received operational camouflage pattern uniforms for their missile field defenders. The OCP includes cold-weather gear, which provides seven levels of protection against the extreme conditions encountered at northern-tier bases, as well as new duty gear and personal protective equipment that has been redesigned with the missile field mission in mind.

MAFB made history in March with the 582nd Helicopter Group being activated. The 582nd HG stood up under 20th AF to improve mission effectiveness and standardization at all three missile wings at Malmstrom AFB, Montana; Minot AFB, North Dakota; and F.E. Warren, Wyoming,; which also fall under Air Force Global Strike Command.

In addition, Dock 8 was opened in the end of March and has been a big asset for MAFB. The 80,000 square foot double hangar has the capacity to hold two B-52H Stratofortresses fully enclosed and is energy efficient. Because the weather at MAFB can be a challenge, this new, state of the art facility provides 5th Bomb Wing maintenance crews an increased capacity for keeping our B-52s operational throughout the year.

Base leadership and project contractors broke ground for a new temporary lodging facility in April, which is slated for completion in August 2016. The new facility will effectively double the base's lodging availability for Airmen and their families transitioning onto and off of base.

Also in April, MAFB conducted an end-to-end operational nuclear weapons system evaluation, demonstrating the strategic bomber force's ability to configure, load, fly and deliver a nuclear capable air launched cruise missile.  The B-52H aircrews flew three simulated combat missions from MAFB to the Utah Test and Training Range and launched three unarmed AGM-86B Air Launched Cruise Missiles.

In May, Air Force Global Strike Command bomb wings participated in a major exercise, demonstrating the command's flexibility and global reach while testing its tactics, techniques and procedures. The annual AFGSC exercise, Constant Vigilance, is designed to train and assess the command's ability to perform its conventional and nuclear missions.

With the year halfway over, MAFB had yet another exercise--Prairie Rampart. The exercise ensured that first responders and base personnel are properly trained to clean up and decontaminate potential hazardous situations such as a chemical spill.

Lastly, in June, MAFB trained with our allies overseas. Air, maintenance and support crews from bases around Air Force Global Strike Command forward deployed to Royal Air Force Fairford to participate in the multi-national Baltic Operations exercise and Saber Strike exercises.