Jim Warner

Members of the Association of Air Force Missileers are making plans for the organization’s national meeting to be held Wednesday-Sunday, Aug. 5-9, 2026, in Minot.

The cornerstone of the event will be the induction of missileers into the second class of the Air Force Missileer Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, at the Clarion Hotel in Minot, according to Jim Warner, executive director of the Association of Air Force Missileers (AAFM) from Thornton, Colorado.

AAFM members gather once every two years at a location related to the Air Force’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) mission to share their heritage and learn what is new in the missile business.

Guest speakers related to the ICBM mission will join the group throughout the week in Minot and will be announced at a date closer to the event. Events will include a trip to the International Peace Garden, a visit to Minot Air Force Base’s 91st Missile Wing and the 5th Bomb Wing, as well as several downtown activities.

The AAFM will host a general membership meeting on Saturday morning, with several speakers on current Air Force ICBM activities, and conclude on Saturday night with the Hall of Fame class induction. The new members for the 2026 class will be announced to the public in May 2026.

“We expect upwards of 200 missileers and their spouses will visit Minot during this event in addition to participation by missileers from the 91st MW and local retirees and civic leaders,” Warner said.

Membership in AAFM is open to those who in the past or currently operate, maintain, defend, test and support the Air Force nuclear missile systems.

Founded in 1993, the association’s mission is to retain the heritage of these missile systems, educate the public on the importance of the ICBM mission in the nation’s defense and advocate for the airmen who serve this mission.

In 2024, the AAFM published a 324-page coffee table book titled “The Silent Sentinels: Major Artwork Revealed” to preserve the history of Minuteman before being replaced by Sentinel in the early 2030s. A copy of the book can be viewed at the Minot Area Chamber EDC office, according to Warner.

For more information about the national meeting, contact AAFM. Visit Minot and the Minot Area Chamber EDC are assisting the organization with planning the event.