Global Strike commander visits Malmstrom

  • Published
  • By Valerie Mullett
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. (AFNS) --  The commander of Air Force Global Strike Command visited the members of the 341st Missile Wing April 20 through 22.

While here, Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz met with first sergeants and chiefs; held a commander's call with officers and senior noncommissioned officers; toured the medical group for a Personal Reliability Program briefing; met with missile maintenance regarding logistics movement issues; addressed the operators during their pre-departure briefing; and attended a security forces guardmount before touring the weapons storage area.

He also spent time with Malmstrom's wounded warriors, had lunch with the Airmen and NCO's of the Year, and had dinner with senior leadership and local community civic leaders. 

The general also visited to ensure the areas of the wing slated to be re-inspected were ready.

"You have an inspection coming up very shortly in May and I wanted to come out and make sure that the wing is doing all it needs to do in order to prepare for the inspection and to see if there is anything the headquarters needs to do in order to help set the wing up for success," General Klotz said. "I need to know what that is so we can make sure it gets done."

The Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz held a conference at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., March 25 via teleconference where he told the wing commanders, spouses, command chiefs and civic leaders from across the command that they have a critical mission that requires "constant vigilance."

Continuing to strengthen the nuclear enterprise is one of the Air Force's top priorities. A part of that process has been to "provide an inspections process that uncovers things," General Schwartz said.

Even with the recent release of the new START and the Nuclear Posture Review, those priorities remain keen.

"That document (Nuclear Posture Review) revalidates the importance of the strategic nuclear triad to the defense of this nation as well as to our friends and allies," General Klotz said. "It also revalidates the importance of the intercontinental ballistic missile as part of this triad and calls for continued efforts to sustain the ICBM."

"What that means for the people at the 341st (MW) as well as the other ICBM wings is that they have a mission that is critically important to the United States and to our allies," he said. "So, they have noteworthy and honorable work to perform."