U.S. Air Force Gen. Robin Rand, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) commander, observes a B-52 Stratofortress bomber taking off from the flight line at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Nov. 8, 2015, during Exercise GLOBAL THUNDER 16. AFGSC supports USSTRATCOM’s global strike and nuclear deterrence missions by providing strategic assets, including bombers like the B-52 and B-2, to ensure a safe, secure, effective and ready deterrent force. GLOBAL THUNDER is an annual U.S. Strategic Command training event that assesses command and control functionality in all USSTRATCOM mission areas and affords component commands a venue to evaluate their joint operational readiness. Planning for GLOBAL THUNDER 16 has been underway for more than a year and is based on a notional scenario with fictitious adversaries. One of nine DoD unified combatant commands, USSTRATCOM has global strategic missions, assigned through the Unified Command Plan, which also include; space operations; cyberspace operations; joint electronic warfare; missile defense; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; combating weapons of mass destruction; and analysis and targeting. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Justin Armstong)