MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. —
On May 25, the 5th and 91st Maintenance Groups hosted their Maintenance Professionals of the Year awards banquets. The events were held to recognize and honor outstanding Airmen assigned to the 5th and 91st MXGs who demonstrated exceptional performance and achievement during the previous year.

Col. Patrick Baum, 91st MXG commander, delivered the opening remarks for the 91st MXG’s MPOY awards banquet. He expressed his admiration for all the Airmen and everything they achieved over the past year in spite of obstacles they faced.
“I’m just in awe of all the Airmen here and what you’ve been able to achieve,” said Baum. “You’ve faced adversity on a daily basis and you just keep going after it every single day.”

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Andrew Kovich, former 91st MXG commander, also attended the event and addressed the crowd. He stressed the importance of the 91st MXG’s mission and commended the Airmen for their efforts in accomplishing it.
“You all are an asset of national importance and your expertise is essential to defending our country,” said Kovich. “Millions have served before you, millions will serve after you, and you all are doing your part right here and now.”

Just a few hours later, Airmen and families from across Minot Air Force Base came together for the 5th Bomb Wing’s MPOY awards banquet.
The event honored maintenance members at the Group and Air Force Global Strike Command level with awards for their contributions to the mission.

“Whether it be on a Bomber Task Force somewhere across the globe, or at home station preparing for the daily sortie with minus 47 degree wind chill,” Senior Airman Johnathan Latham, 5th Maintenance Squadron, Aerospace Ground Equipment Apprentice, said. “The men and women of the 5th MXG stand as a living, breathing personification, that only the best come north.”

“The moment you received the Air Force Personnel Center notification informing you of your permanent change of station orders to the Magic City, I can only imagine the range of emotions you went through,” Latham said. “However, what you might not have realized is that you were joining a 66-year legacy of maintenance professionals that have maintained not only our nation, but the world.”