Global Thunder 16

Senior Airman Elliott Packingham, 341st Logistics Readiness Squadron fleet management analyst, shines a light for Senior Airman Zachary Simmons, 341st LRS vehicle maintenance journeyman, as he makes repairs to a Humvee during exercise GLOBAL THUNDER 16, Nov. 6, 2015 at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. The 341st LRS is part of U.S. Strategic Command’s (USSTRATCOM) Task Force 214 and supports the command’s strategic deterrence mission by operating and maintaining the Air Force’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile 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 under way for more than a year and is based on a notional scenario with fictitious adversaries. USSTRATCOM, one of nine DoD unified combatant commands, relies on various task forces for the execution of its global missions, which also include space operations; cyberspace operations; joint electronic warfare; global strike; missile defense; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; combating weapons of mass destruction; and analysis and targeting. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Collin Schmidt)

Global Thunder 16

Senior Airman Elliott Packingham, 341st Logistics Readiness Squadron fleet management analyst, shines a light for Senior Airman Zachary Simmons, 341st LRS vehicle maintenance journeyman, as he makes repairs to a Humvee during exercise GLOBAL THUNDER 16, Nov. 6, 2015 at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. Packingham and Simmons repaired the Humvee during a 12-hour shift as part of the exercise. The 341st LRS is part of U.S. Strategic Command’s (USSTRATCOM) Task Force 214 and supports the command’s strategic deterrence mission by operating and maintaining the Air Force’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile 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 under way for more than a year and is based on a notional scenario with fictitious adversaries. USSTRATCOM, one of nine DoD unified combatant commands, relies on various task forces for the execution of its global missions, which also include space operations; cyberspace operations; joint electronic warfare; global strike; missile defense; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; combating weapons of mass destruction; and analysis and targeting. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Collin Schmidt)

Global Thunder 16

A 341st Security Forces Group member prepares for a mission at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. during exercise GLOBAL THUNDER 16, Nov. 5, 2015. The 341st Security Forces Group is part of U.S. Strategic Command’s (USSTRATCOM) Task Force 214 and supports the command’s strategic deterrence mission by operating and maintaining the Air Force’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile 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 under way for more than a year and is based on a notional scenario with fictitious adversaries. USSTRATCOM, one of nine DoD unified combatant commands, relies on various task forces for the execution of its global missions, which also include space operations; cyberspace operations; joint electronic warfare; global strike; missile defense; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; combating weapons of mass destruction; and analysis and targeting. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Collin Schmidt)

Global Thunder 16

A 341st Security Forces Group Airman prepares for a mission at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., during exercise GLOBAL THUNDER 16, Nov. 5, 2015. The 341st SFG is part of U.S. Strategic Command’s (USSTRATCOM) Task Force 214 and supports the command’s strategic deterrence mission by operating and maintaining the Air Force’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile 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 under way for more than a year and is based on a notional scenario with fictitious adversaries. USSTRATCOM, one of nine DoD unified combatant commands, relies on various task forces for the execution of its global missions, which also include space operations; cyberspace operations; joint electronic warfare; global strike; missile defense; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; combating weapons of mass destruction; and analysis and targeting. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Collin Schmidt)

Global Thunder

Two B-52 Stratofortress bombers assigned to Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) taxi while three others take 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)

Gen Rand

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)