Lt. Gen. Kowalski visits Minot Airmen

Published Jan. 10, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Jose L. Hernandez
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The new commander of Air Force Global Strike Command reaffirmed the importance of Team Minot's mission--to provide safe, secure, and effective nuclear and global strike forces, during a visit here Jan. 10.

Lt. Gen. Jim Kowalski spoke to hundreds of Minot Airmen at an all-call and emphasized the special trust and responsibility the command has as stewards of the Air Force's nuclear forces.

"The nuclear deterrence mission is critically important," said General Kowalski. "Nuclear weapons have had, and continue to have, an immense strategic effect for our nation."

At the same time, he said, one key challenge was to pursue excellence in the nuclear deterrence mission while still maintaining effectiveness in the command's conventional-or non-nuclear-mission.

"We need to make sure we keep a balance in fully executing our nuclear deterrence mission while meeting the needs of the combatant commanders on the conventional side of the mission," General Kowalski said.

He also noted that more than 1,100 Airmen are deployed in support of conventional operations, including the continuous bomber presence in the Pacific, and direct support to conflicts in places like Afghanistan and Iraq.

General Kowalski also highlighted the need for productivity improvements.

"We have to work with Air Force headquarters and the Department of Defense effectively so we can sustain and maintain our force, yet still modernize as required to meet the challenges of the future," said General Kowalski.

The general emphasized that discipline in the work place was critical to mission success.

"Both personal and organizational discipline is vital for ensuring excellence in all we do," the general said.

General Kowalski said Minot AFB had proven its mission readiness to inspectors in several inspections in recent months.

"Team Minot had a number of nuclear surety inspections this past year," he said. "2010 has to go down in history as being one of the most demanding years for both wings at Minot."

He said he was pleased that despite the tough schedule Team Minot succeeded, as both the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing met every challenge with flying colors.

"I'm proud of Team Minot," he added. "I'm proud of all of you."