Happy New Year to everyone, and I hope you enjoy this edition that highlights the Northern Sentry…i.e. 2025. I keep a library of papers at my office and just added the 51st edition which will be the end of my 2025 papers because we didn’t have a December 26th paper.
From my office the saved editions of the papers are taken to Garrison, ND and bound into historical books that are “loaned” to the Minot Air Force Base library. I receive several phone calls a year asking about previous year’s papers and I refer them to the library, and if the paper they are looking for is not there, then there is the digital copies of our papers on northernsentry.com, and finally there is the 5th Bomb Wing historian who has all of the copies of the Northern Sentry, and its predecessors, on micro film in his office.
I have had the pleasure of reviewing an older edition with him as I was looking for a historical record of a story that I was working on. The last time I used the 5th BW library was about a year ago when I was looking for information about the 5th Fighter Squadron that used to be stationed at Minot AFB.
And The Record Continues
I have on several occasions talked about the record I have going with “warm welcomes” at the front gate. Well, we have now passed 70 “warm welcomes” in a row, and a couple of those welcomes were on some pretty weather challenged days in December. On one of the days the main highway to the base was very icy. There were quite a few cars and pickups in the ditch between Minot and the base. When I arrived at the front gate and opened my window the young lady said, “Good Morning, I sure am glad you made it to the base safely this morning.” A short conversation about the road conditions and the fact that she was from Texas ended with her saying “Have a great day and a Merry Christmas.” Yep, a very, very good first impression. No complaints at all about the weather and of course her smile was a great ending to a nice conversation.
Bottineau Winter Park Welcomes You!
Several of my friends have made the trek to Bottineau Winter Park and report that the snow conditions are excellent. Never skied? No time like the present to learn how. There are ski and snowboard rentals, along with lessons to help you get started. To be honest, I only tried snowboarding once and gave up the notion that I need to snowboard in my lifetime.
And then there is the option of just renting a tube and heading for the tubing hill. The bottom line is that there is something for everyone to do, even those who may prefer the lounge area that overlooks the slopes. Hot chocolate, maybe a hot dog for lunch. The Bottineau Winter Park is truly a family destination.
Looking Ahead to 2026
First, of course, the summer of 2026 will be busy with change of Commands on base. Taking over the 5th Bomb Wing command will be The Sherrif, Col John Burrell, moving over from the 5th Operations Group. And then returning to Minot will be Col George Chapman. The Chapmans spent a year at F.E. Warren where he was Deputy Commander of the 20th Air Force under Maj. Gen. Stacy Jo Huser.
On base we continue to see progress on the new facility that will house the Greywolf helicopters and the supporting squadrons. I have been told that it will be “exceptional” to have them all in one building.
The funding for several key projects at Minot AFB, including the Sentinel Missile system, seem to remain on track thanks to our congressional delegation who are in key positions for this type of funding. 2026 could be a very important year for Sentinel, and of course the B52 H transition.
Away from the Minot AFB will be the long anticipated opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Congressional Library on a hill overlooking Medora, ND. July 4th will be the official opening of the library, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. A trip to Medora is always special, and the new TR Library will be one of those “bucket list” events.
A True Right Of Passage
I had to laugh yesterday when my son sent me a picture of my grandson who just learned to run the snowblower. He folks, it’s a true rite of passage and accomplishment to clear the sidewalk and driveway with a snowblower. True, the weather is not always great, but once it’s done there is a feeling of success.
This Week’s Chuckle
People who wrestle with their conscience usually go for two out of three falls.
