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Partners in deterrence: “Sister base” Airmen visit Whiteman

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Michaela R. Slanchik
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Members of the 90th Missile Wing (MW) at F.E. Warren Air Force Base (AFB), Wyoming, visited Whiteman AFB, Missouri, to observe how the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings (BW) execute vital strategic deterrence missions on a day-to-day basis and during heightened-alert operations.

The 90th MW and the 509th and 131st BWs are participating in a "sister-base" partnership, officially named the Bomber Missile Exchange Course, which allows the organizations to learn from each other through scheduled visits.

The visits help the units to broaden their knowledge of one another's processes and the components of each base's mission, both during exercises and in real-world operations. This sharing also enhances crucial communications and interoperability between the wings.

"There is always something we can learn from each other," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Thomas B. Vance Jr., the 90th Maintenance Group deputy commander. "This opportunity gives us a chance to learn different ways to accomplish parts of the mission, and in turn, we can then take those practices back to our base, making our mission more effective."

Airmen were selected from various units throughout the 90th MW to travel to Whiteman for a week. While they were on station, the group broke off with their 509th functional counterparts and observed the way they operate here. The Airmen also visited the retired Oscar-1 missile alert facility and toured the A-10 Thunderbolt II and B-2 Spirit aircraft.

Airman 1st Class Treveyon Young, a 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron response force leader, said that even though he may have the same duty title as his Whiteman counterparts, he performs different duties due to the nature of his wing's mission.

"It was an eye-opening experience to go to another Air Force Global Strike Command base that executes a different mission and get a better feel for how they accomplish it," said Young.

In the future, members of Team Whiteman plan to visit F.E. Warren and observe their missile operations.

"I think exchanges like this are valuable tools," said Tech. Sgt. Dexter Gore, a 509th Communications Squadron NCO in charge of the intrusion detection systems work center and exchange course participant. "A visit to the 90th Missile Wing will really give Whiteman Airmen a great opportunity to broaden their perspectives. I can't wait to see what we can take away."