Generals address Minot Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Stratton
  • 5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFPN) --  Two Air Force generals spoke to more than 1,000 5th Bomb Wing Airman May 2 here to remind them of their mission's importance to the nation and to motivate them for an upcoming Defense Nuclear Surety Inspection.

Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, and Gen. John D.W. Corley, the commander of Air Combat Command, visited the base to meet with Minot Air Force Base Airmen and let them know how critical each Airman is to the Air Force. 

They were joined in the visit by Lt. Gen. Robert J. "Rob" Elder Jr., the 8th Air Force commander, and Navy Rear Adm. Doug McClain, the STRATCOM director of global operations. The leaders addressed the crowd with a B-52 Stratofortress serving as a backdrop.

"Showing the world that we are ready and able to do our mission is absolutely essential for the nuclear deterrence force," General Chilton said. "That overall deterrence mission is such a big part of the U.S. Strategic Command. We signal our deterrence, we signal our strength and we use our bomber force to signal our displeasure. The amount of firepower we have here should give our enemies pause. You are the muscle of our deterrence force."

There are two parts to this deterrence force -- the power of our capabilities and the will to demonstrate this force, General Chilton said. "Your attitude should be, 'Just bring it!'"

Regarding the upcoming inspection, "there will be more inspectors here inspecting inspectors than there will be inspectors inspecting you," General Chilton said. "And you are going to water their eyes and show them what the 5th Bomb Wing can do." 

"You have proven your worth. I think Airmen view the world differently," General Corley said. "We are not encumbered by that next shoreline. We are not worried about that next mountain. We will either knock it down or we will fly over the top of it and that allows this great nation to flourish."

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