Eloise Ogden/MDN This new sign near the front gate at Minot Air Force Base with “Home Of The Global Striker,” shown Thursday, identifies the role the Minot base and its personnel have in the world. Minot AFB is “the only base in Air Force Global Strike Command that performs every core mission set that the command owns,” according to Col. Bradley Cochran, commander of the base’s 5th Bomb Wing.

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE – A new sign near Minot Air Force Base’s front gate says “Home Of The Global Striker.”

Col. Bradley Cochran, commander of the base’s 5th Bomb Wing, told members of the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee about the new sign at a recent meeting.

There are Air Force Global Strike units in eight states: North Dakota, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming, Louisiana, Texas, South Dakota and California, according to Minot AFB information.

The Minot base is the only base handling all aspects of the Air Force Global Strike missions: “…to provide strategic deterrence, global strike and combat support,” according to the information. The base utilizes UH-1 Huey helicopters for defense, B-52H Stratofortress aircraft for offensive and deterrent actions, MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected, a military light tactical vehicle) and humvee vehicles for defense, and Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles for deterrence and strike capabilities. These are all utilized in Air Force Global Strike Command bases, but are not present at all of them.

In comments provided to The Minot Daily News this week, Cochran said:

“Within the Air Force, the first thought that comes to mind for Airmen when describing Minot AFB is always.. The cold. In fact, within the Air Force it’s almost exclusively known as a cold remote nuclear capable base and nothing else. The reality is, Minot AFB does not have exclusive rights to everything cold. Every northern tier base around the world deals with cold weather. What we do have, is exclusive rights to say we are the only base in Air Force Global Strike Command that performs every core mission set that the command owns. From bombers to intercontinental ballistic missiles, from nuclear to conventional missions, and from helicopters to nuclear command and control, Minot is unique within the command because we do it all. No other base within the command can say the same. Therefore, I believe, Minot AFB is the “Home of the Global Striker” even though the command is actually located at Barksdale AFB, LA. Our new sign at the front gate says this. The new sign is a way to express our striker pride and remind our Airmen of who they are and of the devastatingly important work we do at Minot AFB every day. The sign also reminds us of the unique role we play in the world and the elite Airmen who are stationed here.

“Of course, the men and women who are stationed here also know and understand we could not do it without the support of the city of Minot and many other communities in the surrounding area. Our local communities provide astonishing support! They were recently awarded the Barksdale Trophy for their amazing contributions to our mission. This prestigious award is given to the community that provides the best support to an Air Force installation within Air Force Global Strike Command. We are ever grateful for the tremendous support we receive each day from our community partners. Said briefly, the Air Force Global Strike Command’s mission statement is “Airmen providing long-range precision strike… Anytime, anywhere!” Minot AFB and the community that supports us, define every part of that mission statement, and now we are saying it loud and proud at the front gate.”