Lt. Gen Burt Field (AF Retired) has an impressive biography that includes over 3,400 hours of flying either an F-16 or and F-22. He has been a wing commander and even served as Commander of U.S. Forces, Japan. Yet in that experience, Burt Field, now CEO of the Air and Space Forces Association, had not been given and up close and personal tour of a base like Minot AFB where there are two legs of the nuclear triad.
Starting the tour would be Julie Reiten, Librarian and Historian at the Minot Air Force Base library. In her window tour she was able to talk about the history of Minot Air Force Base, and some of the stories that have been written in both the Minot Daily News and the Northern Sentry, about the base and historical events like the de-activating of the 5th Fighter Squadron, referred to as the Spittn’ Kittens.
After Julie’s 1-hour tour, the Fields were able to tour the 91st Missile Wing training areas including Uniform 1. This would be the first time the Lt. General, now AFA CEO would have an up close look at a typical missile silo operated and maintained by the 91st MW. This part of the tour was led by TSgt Taylor Smith, assisted by SSgt Adam Moore and SrA Chloe Hess.
The next part of the tour was the Missile Procedures Trainer with briefers Capt. Anthony Archuleta and 1Lt David Wilder. There we no photo opportunities due to security measures.
Next would be our one on one roundtable discussion with Col Jimmy Schlabach and Col Tom Taylor. Information was shared about the work that the Air and Space Force Association does by advocating for not only weapon systems for the Air Force, but also for improved human resources for all Airmen and their families.
Once the tour was over and we had lunch at Rockers, Mr. Field commented about how amazing the missions were at Minot Air Force Base. The 5th Bomb Wing, due to staff constraints, was not able to accommodate Mr. & Mrs. Field on a bomb wing tour.
