Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum, 5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. —
Airmen from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, and the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, took part in Exercise Prairie Vigilance 25-1 (PV 25-1) here.
Exercise PV 25-1 is a routine training operation designed to bolster the safety, security and reliability of the nation’s bomber-based strategic deterrence mission. The exercise supports readiness across U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command by sharpening operational proficiency and validating long-range, global strike capabilities.
Throughout the exercise, personnel from Minot AFB and Barksdale AFB trained intensively to sharpen readiness to respond to potential threats to the U.S. and its allies. Airmen emphasized the safe and secure handling of strategic assets and the honing of mission-essential skills.
Exercise PV 25-1 offers a dynamic training environment for Global Strike Airmen, reinforcing their ability to deliver flexible, strategic airpower. The exercise also assessed the readiness of Minot and Barksdale’s Airmen conducting strategic bomber operations concurrently.
“During PV 25-1, our Airmen demonstrated the readiness, reliability and precision that defines our nation’s global strike capabilities,” said Col. Jesse Lamarand, commander of the 5th Bomb Wing. “Exercises like this show our Allies and adversaries our ability to respond decisively in support of national defense objectives.”
This exercise highlights the advantages of the resilience and adaptability of the U.S. Air Force. The collaboration fostered teamwork between squadrons and specialties and strengthened mission readiness across both wings.
“The 5th and 2nd Bomb Wings’ excellent performance is just a product of our everyday commitment to safe, secure and effective strategic deterrence,” Lamarand said.
Exercises like PV 25-1 are critical to ensuring U.S. Strategic Command forces remain organized, trained and equipped to carry out daily operations and to respond effectively to emerging threats worldwide when needed. These are regularly-planned, multi-annual exercises conducted to continuously evaluate and enhance U.S. deterrence capabilities. These exercises are not scheduled or conducted in response to any specific geopolitical conditions or situations.
