USecAF, DAF senior leaders, congressional staff delegation visit Malmstrom AFB

Published Sept. 4, 2024
By Senior Airman Mary Bowers
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. (AFNS) --

Under Secretary of the Air Force Melissa Dalton, various Department of the Air Force senior leaders, and a Congressional staff delegation visited Malmstrom Air Force Base, Aug. 28-29.

An Airman talks to a group of people while standing in front of a missile maintenance vehicle. — Maj. Charles Frazier, 741st Missile Maintenance commander gives a tour of 741 MXS vehicles to Under Secretary of the Air Force Melissa Dalton, members of Department of the Air Force leadership and a Congressional staff delegation at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., Aug. 28, 2024. The 741st Maintenance Squadron supports all maintenance activities affecting the base’s Minuteman III launch facilities and missile alert facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Breanna Christopher Volkmar)

The purpose of their visit was to better understand the 341st Missile Wing’s current mission and operations and to emphasize the strategic importance of ongoing modernization efforts.

For the past 61 years, Malmstrom AFB’s Airmen have kept the Minuteman III missile program on alert around the clock, positioning it as the most responsive leg of the nation’s nuclear triad alongside bomber and submarine-launched nuclear weapons. The current Minuteman III missiles and support facilities are set to be replaced by the Sentinel program, one of the largest and most complex programs the Air Force has ever undertaken.

“For the first time in our nation’s history, we face two major nuclear powers as strategic competitors,” Dalton said. “In order to stay ahead, it’s critical we take a holistic approach to the Sentinel transition, and this includes supporting the Airmen who operate, defend, and maintain the weapon system.”

During their two-day visit, the group received extensive tours and briefings from the 341st Missile Maintenance Group, Missile Security Forces Squadrons and 341st Operations Group, as well as opportunities to connect with members of the local community.

A missileer shows a group of three people something on a screen. — Capt. Milo Otis, 12th Missile Squadron flight commander, explains the technology of the A01 launch control center to members of Department of the Air Force leadership and a Congressional staff delegation during their visit to Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., Aug. 28, 2024, For the past 61 years, Malmstrom’s Airmen have kept the Minuteman III missile program on alert around the clock. The current Minuteman III missiles and launch facilities are set to be replaced by the Sentinel Program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mary Bowers)

Four people pose for a photo in front of a launch door in a launch control center. — From left, Gen. Thomas Bussiere, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command; Andrew Hunter, the Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics; Under Secretary of the Air Force Melissa Dalton, and Gen. Duke Richardson, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, stand together for a photo at the entrance of the A01 launch control center during her visit to Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., Aug. 28, 2024. The purpose of their visit was to better understand the 341st Missile Wing’s current mission and operations, and to emphasize the strategic importance of upcoming modernization efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mary Bowers)

A group of people walk in front of a truck that says U.S. Air Force. — Under Secretary of the Air Force Melissa Dalton and various other senior leaders visit Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., Aug. 28, 2024. The 341st Missile Wing, headquartered at Malmstrom AFB, is one of three U.S. Air Force Bases that operates, maintains and secures the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Breanna Christopher Volkmar)

As a show of Malmstrom AFB’s most recent modernization efforts, Dalton and the group of distinguished visitors were given a flying tour of several launch facilities in the Air Force’s newest helicopter, the MH-139A Grey Wolf – the Air Force’s solution to the aging UH-1N Huey helicopter fleet. The group also visited a Missile Alert Facility where they joined a group of Airmen for lunch and toured a Launch Control Center.

“Malmstrom Airmen and the surrounding community play an indispensable role in our nation’s nuclear deterrence,” Dalton said. “Simultaneously maintaining the Minuteman III while preparing for Sentinel is no easy task, but these Airmen demonstrate every day that they’re up for the challenge.”