NewsMilitary Matters

Actions

Malmstrom Air Force Base participates in Global Thunder exercise

Posted at 5:48 PM, Oct 31, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-01 13:06:17-04

If you live in north-central Montana, you may have noticed more airmen from Malmstrom Air Force Base out in the community.

Exercise Global Thunder 2019 kicked off earlier this week. It is the United States Strategic Command’s (USSTRATCOM) annual command post and field training exercise.

The exercise provides training opportunities and exercise scenarios for all USSTRATCOM mission areas with a specific focus on nuclear readiness.

During the exercise, community members may notice an increased presence of emergency vehicles, sirens, and simulated gunfire.

USSTRATCOM conducts global operations in coordination with other combatant commands, services, appropriate U.S. government agencies, and allies to deter, detect and, if necessary, defeat strategic attacks against the United States and its allies, according to U.S. Strategic Command Public Affairs.

Large-scale exercises, like Global Thunder, involve extensive planning and coordination to provide unique training for assigned units and allies.

USSTRATCOM has global responsibilities assigned through the Unified Command Plan that include strategic deterrence, nuclear operations, space operations, joint electromagnetic spectrum operations, global strike, missile defense, and analysis and targeting.