2/1/2011 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) -- While Americans face hazardous road conditions and closures this week with a major winter storm blowing across the heart of the country, it is wintertime business as usual at most Air Force Global Strike Command bases, officials said.
The command's responsibility for northern bases, which serve both intercontinental ballistic missile and long-range bomber missions, requires Global Strike Airmen to continue the mission in harsh winter weather to maintain nuclear readiness 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Sub-zero temperatures, snow and ice are nothing new for many of Global Strike Command's wings, more than half of which operate in wintry conditions for more than half the year.
"Operating in harsh winter conditions is not new to us, but we always take weather seriously," said Col. Michael Morgan, the AFGSC deputy director of operations, plans and requirements. "Global Strike base officials are managing weather conditions to ensure the safety of people and resources. It is one of the things we value as a command: safety in all things large ... and small."
(Courtesy of Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs)
Comments
2/3/2011 6:47:19 PM ET T Smith - I read your comment and I have to say that your lack of understanding of how SAC operated is apparent. Yes we are a smaller service now and the mission has changed since SAC stood down but the SAC way of doing things would do more for the AF now than ever. In SAC it was simple, follow regs without question, do your job to the best of your ability and fully understand that the mission was first and foremost. People held people accountable for their actions and they did not worry about themselves; they worried about getting the planes in the air and ensuring that the missiles were ready to go in a moments notice. Personnel carried a MOBAG around in their car with all mobility requirements and training up to date ready to go if called upon. I have been in SAC, TAC, ACC, and AMC and I can say without a doubt that SAC was the best time of a 24 year career. I think it would do the AF Leadership good to look back at the SAC days and bring some of those ways of doing things.
MSgt MS, Hill AFB UT
2/3/2011 1:14:51 PM ET T Smith, When I played peewee football and little league we didn't take the Air Force team serious based on their fathers profession and ours. If it hadn't of been for those Air Force father's profession you wouldn't be enjoying the freedoms you enjoy today. In SAC there was no gray area it was all black and white. I proudly remember my SAC years and recall how the Air Force ran when SAC was in charge.
Brit, Oklahoma
2/3/2011 12:15:59 PM ET Bedrock How sad and yes. And does anyone detest the term enterprise. Yes there is a soup to nuts process associated with all aspects of our most vital mission but that is whjat is is - a mission. I dont want to hear about NSI failures publicly - you fix the issues fire the right people and press. I dont want to read about NSI or other triumphs - the reward for a job done right is no bad PR. The Russians and Chinese know about the strengths of the mission and deterrence - they dont need to be awed by a PR blitz. You never hear about the Navy's boomers - good or bad.
CP, Colo Spgs
2/3/2011 11:55:27 AM ET Interesting that AF PA cut out the line from orig article about forward deployed bommbers on Guam not being affected by the stateside wx.... give me a break.
Retired, Colo Springs
2/3/2011 10:48:21 AM ET Those Northern Tier SAC bases were the real reason it was called the Cold War.
SAC-umcised, OCONUS
2/3/2011 7:26:11 AM ET I appreciate the sacrifices and service everyone has had to offer but I'm tired of hearing how great SAC was. That was a larger and different Air Force. Our shape and tasks have changed into a new entity. While we have some of the same missions, we have to do it differently. I also think some of our issues stemmed from the great SAC members. The degradation of standards and sense of military is something we have been fighting since before I enlisted. When I played peewee football and little league, we didn't take the Air Force team serious based on their fathers profession and ours. We have improved in many areas and are striving to be a meaner, more effective force.
T Smith, Gunter
2/3/2011 12:24:43 AM ET @CP - Yes this is part of the Revitalization of the Nuclear Enterprise PR blitz. Is anyone tired of the constant pats on the back to the nuclear enterprise by now?
Bedrock, Bedrock
2/2/2011 4:10:15 PM ET Who can forget those days of getting snowed in at Echo Flight in Eastern Montana and trying to keep those old suburbans from sliding off the road...
Old Missile Crew Dog, College Station TX
2/2/2011 12:43:27 PM ET Something you would have never seen in the SAC days - a self promotion about how the job happens 24 7 regardless of the weather. We just did it back then pulled alert maybe got snowed out a few times. AFGSCs one Northern Tier flying base Minot is no different than its AMC counterpart across the state and its former tanker mission. Is this part of the nuclear enterprise good PR spin?
CP, Colo Spgs
2/2/2011 6:17:13 AM ET I remember many of exercises and winter days at F.E. Warren AFB in Cheyenne Wyoming in the old SAC days ... 1990 - 1992. Spent fives years weathering the winter weather ... I don't remember missing one day of work due to winter weather.
SMSgt JMH, Bolling AFB DC
2/1/2011 8:27:50 PM ET Many memories of SIOP alert at Goose Bay, Altus, Whiteman, et al. The dedication is the same even if the rules and mission may have evolved.
