Minot supports continuous bomber presence

Airmen from the 5th Maintenance Group and 5th Operations Support Squadron sit in Dock 9 at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., March 5, 2014, waiting to board their plane headed to Andersen AFB, Guam, for a six month deployment. Movement of U.S. Air Force bombers into the Western Pacific has been ongoing since March 2004, as the U.S. Pacific Command adjusts its force posture to maintain a prudent deterrent capability. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittany Y. Auld)

Minot supports continuous bomber presence

Airmen from the 5th Maintenance Group and 5th Operations Support Squadron board their plane headed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, for a six month deployment at Minot AFB, N.D., March 5, 2014. This deployment demonstrates the U.S.’s continuous commitment to stability and security in the Asia-Pacific Region. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittany Y. Auld)

Minot supports continuous bomber presence

Published March 5, 2014
By Senior Airman Stephanie Sauberan
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Six B-52H Stratofortresses and approximately 300 Airmen from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., are set to deploy to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, March 5, 2014 with 17.3 short tons of cargo for the deployment being shipped on March 4.

This deployment demonstrates the U.S.'s continuous commitment to stability and security in the Asia-Pacific Region.

"Over the last several months, we've been working on our conventional skill set in addition to the nuclear enterprise that we've been working with all the exercises and inspections," said Lt. Col. Matt McDaniel, 69th Bomb Squadron commander. "We've been preparing ourselves to make the transition from the cold Minot weather out into the tropics of Guam."

In addition to the operators of the 69th Bomb Squadron, a wide variety of base organizations will work in tandem to meet the requirements for the deployment, to include the 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, the 5th Munitions Squadron, the 5th Maintenance Squadron and the 5th Operations Support Squadron.

Air Force Global Strike Command continues to provide support to the U.S. Pacific Commands' continuous bomber presence in the region.

"As part of the continuous bomber presence mission, this is routine for us," said McDaniel. "However, it does continue to say that the U.S. is still very much involved in the Pacific, with our allies and the coalition that we have out there."

Movement of U.S. Air Force bombers into the Western Pacific has been ongoing since March 2004, as the U.S. Pacific Command adjusts its force posture to maintain a prudent deterrent capability.