MAFB’s Newest Chief Master Sergeants
Congratulations to the newest Chiefs on base! Chief MasterSergeant Mary Grace Martin: https://northernsentry.com/2026/03/19/chief-martins-journey-leading-with-care/ Chief MasterSergeant Tiawanna Dunn: https://northernsentry.com/2026/03/19/chief-dunn-taking-the-scenic-route/ Chief MasterSergeant SelectJansen Velante: https://northernsentry.com/2026/03/19/the-lessons-that-built-chief-velante/ Chief MasterSergeant SelectJimmy Johnson: https://northernsentry.com/2026/03/19/chief-jimmy-johnson-family-is-everything/ Chief MasterSergeantJonathan Panchal: https://northernsentry.com/2026/03/19/chief-panchal-a-family-inspired-career/
Chief Martin’s Journey: Leading with Care
Chief Master Sergeant Mary Grace Martin, newly selected for the rank of chief master sergeant with the 5th Force Support Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, credits her family, the people she serves, and a commitment to caring for others as the driving forces behind more than two decades of service in the U.S. Air […]
Chief Dunn: Taking the Scenic Route
After more than two decades in the U.S. Air Force, Senior Master Sgt. Tiawanna Dunn assigned to the 23rd Bomber Generation Squadron has built a career defined by perseverance, mentorship and a commitment to taking care of Airmen. SMSgt Dunn, who enlisted in February 2004, originally joined the Air Force with a simple goal, to […]
The Lessons That Built Chief Velante
Chief Jansen Velante, Operations Flight Chief at the 5th Communications Squadron, is proof that one mistake or hardship does not have to define a career. Enlisting at age 27, later than many service members, he said becoming a chief was never his primary goal. “I always did my best, abided by the Air Force Core […]
Chief Jimmy Johnson: Family Is Everything
“I’m not a big fan of talking about myself, and if anything, this experience has taught me I won’t be writing an autobiography!” joked Chief James “Jimmy” Johnson of the 705th Munitions Squadron after this interview when this writer encouraged him to share more about his military career and what led him to where he […]
Chief Panchal: A Family-Inspired Career
The idea may have first come from his older brother, but from the moment Chief Jonathan Navnit Panchal enlisted in the Air Force in 2006 at the age of 20, he knew he wanted to make it a career. Although he experienced immediate personal growth right away, the only thing he was apprehensive about was […]
North Dakota Civic Leaders, Legislators Observe Launch of Unarmed Minuteman III Missile at Vandenberg Space Force Base
Minot Area Chamber EDC Minot, N.D. – Members of Task Force 21, the Minot Area Chamber EDC’s (MACEDC) initiative to support the long-term vitality of Minot Air Force Base, led a delegation of North Dakota lawmakers to California to witness a display of the readiness of the U.S. Air Force’s nuclear deterrent: the successful test […]
Making Music in Creative Ways at North Plains Elementary School
Dr. Amanda Capote, PhD This school year, the music room at North Plains has been full of creativity, energy, and some very unexpected instruments. Students have been exploring rhythm, beat, and musical expression through hands-on activities that turn everyday objects into exciting musical tools. One of the most popular rhythm activities involved something students already […]
Free Legal Assistance Available at Minot AFB
Are you in need of legal advice? Well, good news, you can probably get it right here on base, and for free! The Minot AFB Legal Office is located in the 5th Bomb Wing Headquarters building at 205 Missile Avenue. Their services are available to many military-affiliated individuals, including Active Duty Airmen, their dependents, retirees […]
Inside Hairball Haven, Giving Stray Cats New Lives
In a modest building in Minot, dozens of rescued cats lounge, curl up in blankets or cautiously watch visitors walking through the door. Each has a story, many rescued from harsh outdoor conditions, abandoned homes and soon will be coming from the city pound. Their second chance is made possible by Hairball Haven Feline Rescue, […]