Volunteers Plant Roots for Military Families
On a prairie where trees are often sparse, volunteers spent Friday morning planting something that will grow for decades: a stronger sense of home. Volunteers equipped with shovels, gloves, and determination from across Minot Air Force Base joined community partners and volunteers from Chevron Corporation to plant 82 trees throughout base housing neighborhoods. The project […]
Beyond the Fence Line: One Mission, One Community
The Compatible Use Study (CUS) Team gathered on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at Minot City Hall for an open house to discuss the launch of the Minot Air Force Base Compatible Use Study, a collaborative effort designed to strengthen the relationship between military operations and surrounding communities while supporting future growth and development. The CUS […]
Answering the Call: Daniel Baranick’s Air Force Journey
JoAnne Rademacher, Northern Sentry Contributor Daniel Baranick was born on August 17, 1930, to Samuel and Anna Baranick. He was raised with three brothers on a rural Wilton, ND farm until their dad died when Dan was in 7th grade at his rural school. His mother soon sold the farm and moved the family into […]
When the Assignment Became Home
For Air Force members, the words “Minot Air Force Base” have often been met with mixed reactions. Located on the northern plains of North Dakota, Minot has long carried a reputation as one of the assignments many service members hope to avoid. Harsh winters, geographic isolation, and distance from major metropolitan areas have fueled perceptions […]
A New Chapter for the B-52 Mission in North Dakota
119th Wing Public Affairs, North Dakota Air National Guard Leadership from the North Dakota Air National Guard hosted two open houses with the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base to educate Airmen and the local community about the new B-52 classic association between the 5th Bomb Wing and the 119th Wing. In addition […]
STARBASE ND Director Retires
Mr. Jon Dawson has devoted 12 years to the STARBASE ND program on Minot Air Force Base. This program provides 25 hours of hands-on STEAM training to 5th graders on base and within the local community. These students are given a unique opportunity to “engage with positive role models and the technological environment found on […]
North Dakota Pride: Step Outside Your Window (Indoors!)
Magic City Discovery Center While the upper floors of the Magic City Discovery Center are packed with high-energy physics and sprawling regional views, we’ve carved out a special, sunlit sanctuary on the first floor just for our youngest explorers.Welcome to Outside My Window, our immersive gallery designed specifically for children ages six and under. Tucked […]
Airmen Receive Bronze Star Medal
119th Wing Public Affairs, North Dakota Air National Guard Four North Dakota Air National Guard Airmen were awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in a combat zone, during a ceremony at the Fargo Air National Guard Base June 5. Senior Master Sgt. Joseph Solberg, Master Sgt. Zak Bergstrom, Master Sgt. Daniel Mark and […]
It’s not summer, it’s construction season
We’ve all heard the phrase North Dakota has two seasons, winter and construction season. We all complain about it because let’s face it, construction can sometimes instantly screw up your day. And it seems to be happening everywhere; city streets, county roads, state highways, federal highways, bridges, approaches, shoulders, you name it, some of us […]
California Dreamin’
You can’t really define 1,562 miles on the road until you’ve done it 6 months after major back surgery, but here we are in San Clemente, California. In the morning we can kind of see the Pacific ocean. We are less than a mile from the beach, but between us is a couple of rows […]