Air Force
GalleryMinot AFB B-52s, airmen take off for exercise Agile Warbird
Stars and Stripes
July 17, 2024
A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 23rd Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., flies over Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, July 15, 2024. Several B-52s and airmen from Minot AFB came to Dyess AFB to participate in an Agile Combat Employment exercise, dubbed Agile Warbird. (Emma Anderson/U.S. Air Force)
Airmen and B-52s from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota left this week to participate in Agile Combat Employment exercises at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas; Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.; and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
The exercise, called Agile Warbird, is designed to validate the Agile Combat Employment concept and demonstrate the 5th Bomb Wing’s ability to project and generate sustained airpower while deployed to forward operating bases.
A B-52H Stratofortress takes off in support of exercise Agile Warbird at at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., July 15, 2024. (Alexander Nottingham/U.S. Air Force)
An Air crew assigned to the 23rd Bomb Squadron prepares to load gear onto a B-52H Stratofortress in preparation for exercise Agile Warbird at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., July 15, 2024. (Alexander Nottingham//U.S. Air Force)
U.S. Air Force Christian Limos, 23rd Bomb Squadron flying crew chief, reads over flight plans with a B-52H Stratofortress pilot in support of exercise Agile Warbird at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., July 15, 2024. Flying crew chiefs are specially trained maintenance personnel who attend a six-week maintenance special operations course in addition to the hundreds of hours of training it takes to become a 7-level maintainer. (Alexander Nottingham/U.S. Air Force)
A Team Minot B-52H Stratofortress crew chief performs a preflight inspection of the aircrafts bomb bay in support of exercise Agile Warbird at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., July 15, 2024. (Alexander Nottingham/U.S. Air Force)
Team Minot Airmen walk toward a passenger jet in preparation for exercise Agile Warbird at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., July 13, 2024. (Alexander Nottingham/U.S. Air Force)
Team Minot airmen board a passenger jet in preparation for exercise Agile Warbird at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., July 13, 2024. (Alexander Nottingham/U.S. Air Force)
Team Minot Airmen pack luggage onto a passenger jet in preparation for exercise Agile Warbird at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., July 13, 2024. (Alexander Nottingham/U.S. Air Force)
A 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron air transportation specialist uses a metal detector while processing passengers in support of exercise Agile Warbird at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., June 13, 2024. Air transportation specialists are responsible for securely managing cargo and passengers, and ensuring that everything and everyone on a military aircraft is transported safely and quickly. (Alexander Nottingham/U.S. Air Force)
A 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron air transportation specialist observes an X-ray security scanner monitor at the Minot Air Force Base (AFB) passenger terminal in preparation for exercise Agile Warbird at Minot AFB North Dakota, June 13, 2024. (Alexander Nottingham/U.S. Air Force)
The exercise demonstrates Minot’s ability to shift operations from centralized physical infrastructures to a network of smaller, dispersed locations that can complicate adversary planning and provide more options for joint force commanders.
Among the airmen that sharpen their skills are the air transportation specialists, who are responsible for securely managing cargo and passengers, and ensuring everything and everyone on a military aircraft is transported safely and quickly.
A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 23rd Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., sits on the apron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, July 15, 2024. (Emma Anderson/U.S. Air Force)
An airman from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, inspects the wing of a B-52 Stratofortress at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, July 15, 2024. (Emma Anderson/U.S. Air Force)
Two B-52 Stratofortresses assigned to the 23rd Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., fly over Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, July 15, 2024. (Emma Anderson/U.S. Air Force)
Two B-52H stratofortresses takes off in support of exercise Agile Warbird at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., July 15, 2024. (Alexander Nottingham/U.S. Air Force)
These kinds of exercises sharpen the ability to mobilize quickly and ensure airmen can operate bombers from anywhere at a moment’s notice.
Training out of diverse locations increases the readiness of bomber units to respond if needed in a rapid and flexible manner while continuing 24/7/365 deterrence. It also gives the other bases the opportunity to integrate and train with B-52 aircraft and personnel.
A B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 69th Bomb Squadron prepares to land at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., July 15, 2024. (Morgan St Marks//U.S. Air Force)
A B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 69th Bomb Squadron taxis at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., July 15, 2024. (Morgan St Marks/U.S. Air Force)
A B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 69th Bomb Squadron lands at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., July 15, 2024. (Morgan St Marks//U.S. Air Force)