Military service has meant giving back to country

Published Sept. 17, 2009
By Laurie Arellano
5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Two times in his career, Maj. Gen. James Kowalski was asked where he would like to be stationed, and both times he said Minot Air Force Base. The general says although his career took him elsewhere both times, he has always enjoyed visiting the base. During one of those visits recently, the vice commander of the Air Force's newest major command, Air Force Global Strike Command, said he is particularly proud of Team Minot and the improvements made here in the past few years, not just in operations, but in the quality of life areas that transcend the base's multiple missions.

"I've always felt the morale here is good, but I'm especially heartened to see the investments in quality of life, because the best technology doesn't go anywhere without Airmen and families," said General Kowalski.

As the scheduled transfer of the missile wings approaches, the General says the command remains focused on standing up the headquarters and working with Air Force Space Command for a seamless transition. And, he says, that transition should be nearly transparent to the Airmen on the ground.

"The big steps have been taken already," the general said. "The Air Force effort to reinvigorate the nuclear enterprise has already brought major changes. In many ways the changeover will not affect most Airmen in their daily activities. However, this change is good for the Air Force and Airmen because it provides a single Air Force organization with clear lines of authority that will be responsible for maintaining excellence in our stewardship of two-thirds of America's nuclear deterrence forces."

At Minot Air Force Base, he points out, the recent activation of the 69th Bomb Squadron and the standup of the 798th Munitions Maintenance Group as well as the future standup of the 17th Munitions Squadron are visible signs of the emphasis on the nuclear mission area.

"A lot has gone on at the wings," General Kowalski said. "We're nearly there. We are working had to ensure we remain on track and achieve the next major milestones--accepting the ICBM mission on Dec.1; and, the B-52 and B-2 missions on Feb.1."

The general said the new command will now be focused on the longer term goal of "...maintaining our excellence in strategic deterrence and global strike capabilities."

General Kowalski, the grandson of Polish immigrants, spoke to Airmen at Minot Air Force Base on the occasion of the Air Force birthday last weekend, and says Air Force service has meant to him that he could not only have a meaningful career, but one that gives back to his country for the opportunities provided to his grandparents in 1916.

"I feel like I'm paying my country back," he said. "When I look back on all the great things the Air Force has given me the chance to do---like flying and working with the best professionals around the world; and, standing up the Air Force's first major command in more than 12 years (AFGSC), I'm just humbled to be a part of this incredible team. And, Team Minot is a big part of this great team."

As the Air Force's missile wings, and later the B-2 and B-52 bomb wings, transition to
Air Force Global Strike Command over the coming months, General Kowalski says the command's focus will continue to be committed to a culture of professionalism, discipline, excellence and pride----not only demanded of nuclear missions, but across all aspects of Air Force operations. And, he says, the command will capitalize on the revitalized focus on the nuclear enterprise.

"We expect to not only provide more focus to strategic deterrence today, but also to provide a framework to work deterrence issues for the future," the general said. "We face an alarming array of real and potential threats, to include non-state actors, groups and individuals, and as the Air Force component to U.S. Strategic Command, we'll help them tackle the broader challenge of deterrence in a multi-polar world."

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