Lt Col Derek Arnholtz Takes Over

It was the Arnholtz family’s choice to come back to Minot Air Force Base for a second time. For Lieutenant Colonel Derek Arnholtz and family, the city and base had been a special experience for them, an experience that he was sure would repeat itself the second trip back to Minot. “I was here from 2013 to 2016, and I was a weapons officer in the 742nd, and then moved over to the wing (91st Missile Wing) level for then Col. Lutton” according to Lt. Col. Anholtz.

Having been familiar with the community, when the commander assignments were released “we said that we loved it here our last time and that if we are going to be able to go back (to Minot) and have an opportunity to command, let’s go back to Minot” continues Arnholtz.

Taking over command of the 740th Vulgar Vultures is a phenomenal responsibility “for our crew members to accept responsibility of the weapons system, and even more so in my position to not only accept responsibility for the weapons system, but to be responsible for the individuals who do the mission every day; it’s amazing” according to Arnholtz.

For Arnholtz, it was always his goal to be able to command a squadron, and now that he is that position he considers himself extremely fortunate. He also considers himself extremely fortunate to bring his family to Minot. “My wife, Jen, is an RN over at the Med Group. I have two boys, Ethan who is 12 and Wesley who is nine. Wesley was actually born here (in Minot) when we were here last time” says Arnholtz.

For wife Jen, it was an opportunity to move back into basically the same job that she was doing before they left last time “different responsibility, but doing the same thing, so she was excited about that opportunity. The kids are actively involved in the community, especially with the soccer program downtown, so they are definitely enjoying it.”

For Lt. Col. Arnholtz, the administrative side of being in command was something that “I definitely did not see that. But from day one it has been absolutely wonderful how squadron members come into my office and start asking questions, and they give me their ideas on how to meet the goals of the squadron going forward.”

As with the other two missile squadrons, there are between 80 and 90 Airmen assigned to the 740th. “We get a complete cross section of the Air Force from our facility managers, mid-tier NCO’s, some of them on the verge of becoming a senior NCO, as well as those who are Lieutenants coming straight out of their commission source whether it be with the Air Force Academy or other sources, so we really have a broad-brush stroke of the Air Force” says Arnholtz.

Command of the 740th is not so much a challenge to Lt. Col. Arnholtz “but more of a learning curve. As I look back at my time as a Lieutenant and how I interacted with the squadron leadership, versus how it is now. There’s so much more with social media and electronic methods of communication. It’s definitely been more of a learning curve to learn where the younger generation of missileers are at personally. That is one of the bigger challenges I can see.”

During his last assignment at Minot AFB, Lt. Col. Arnholtz was limited to only pulling alert at five of the sites. So far, in the short time with the 740th, “I’ve been to three of the five sites right now, and I’m looking forward to getting out to the rest of the sites.”

As for the missile sites themselves, there are constantly things that are happening topside. Some of the activities are maintenance to upgrade the facilities topside “there’s always usually something happening. I know we are in the middle of remodeling the bathrooms at the missile alert facilities right now, and that’s a heavy lift when you go on site and see all of the available parking taken up with contracting vehicles and, heavy machinery, because that impacts the quality of life for our Airmen. We need to do what we can to support them while they are doing the mission.”

Lt. Col. Arnholtz understands that Minot AFB will be the last facility to receive the new Sentinel weapons system, and that there will be a continuing challenge to maintain the Minuteman III until the Sentinel takes its’ place later in this decade, or into the next. But Arnholtz knows that with the quality of the Airmen assigned to Minot AFB, that although it will certainly be a challenge, the challenge will be met head on.