Text Fwd: US: Global Strike Command Takes Over ICBMs Today

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Australia.to
December 1, 2009
Global Strike Command Assumes Ballistic Missile Mission

WASHINGTON: Air Force Global Strike Command assumes the U.S. Air Force's
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile mission today.

The transfer of the mission is part of a phased approach, which began in August
with the activation of the Global Strike Command, to unify all Air Force
nuclear-capable assets under one command, officials said.

"We are well on our way to consolidating all of our Air Force assets in this
critical mission area under a single command - one that will serve as a single
major command voice to maintain the high standards necessary for stewardship of
our nation's most powerful weapons," said Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz, commander of
the Global Strike Command.

The new command gains three missile wings, one each at F.E. Warren Air Force
Base, Wyo.; Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont.; and Minot Air Force Base, N.D.,
with the assumption of the entire 20th Air Force mission, including that
organization's responsibility for all of the United States' 450 ICBMs.

The 576th Flight Test Squadron at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., as well as
the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., also now
come under the Command's responsibility. Previously, all of those units were
part of Air Force Space Command.

"The creation of this new command reflects the Air Force's firm and unshakable
conviction that nuclear deterrence and global strike operations are a special
trust and responsibility — one that we take very seriously," Klotz said.

On Feb. 1, Global Strike Command also will gain 8th Air Force, based at
Barksdale, and along with it, 8th Air Force's nuclear-capable bombers. At that
time, the command also will acquire the B-52 Stratofortress wings at Barksdale
and Minot, and the B-2 Spirit wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.

The Air Force Global Strike Command was established in an effort to boost
security and reduce errors.

In a 2007 incident, nuclear weapons were loaded aboard a B-52 bomber at Minot
Air Force Base and flown to Barksdale before the mistake was discovered. In
another incident, nuclear nose cones mistakenly were shipped to Taiwan. As a
result, then-Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne and then-Air force Chief of Staff
Gen. T. Michael Moseley resigned. Another 15 officers, including six generals,
were disciplined.

The new command is part of a roadmap to improving the Air Force's Stewardship of
its nuclear program, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said during an
October 2008 Pentagon media roundtable to introduce the plan.

"This is a critical milestone for us. It's a new starting point for
reinvigoration of this enterprise," he said then. "The changes we make today
will help us focus on this enterprise regardless of other changes in Air Force
missions along the way, and regardless of how big or small the nuclear
enterprise is."
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KSLA-TV
November 30, 2009

KSLA News 12 visits Global Strike Command Headquarters

BARKSDALE AFB, LA: At midnight Monday night 10,000 airmen from around the
country officially begin work under Barksdale's new Global Strike Command.

Monday morning KSLA News 12 was given a first-hand look at the Global Strike
Command's new headquarters at Barksdale Air Force Base.

Lt. General Frank Klotz visited with us just moments before leaving to meet with
airmen at bases in Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming.

The Global Stike Command gains those three missile wings and the responsibility
of their intercontinental ballistic missile operations, or I.C.B.M's.

So outside Barksdale's gates, what should we expect?

"There should be no impact to the local community outside of the gates, other
than the fact that people working in the headquarters will continue to move to
the Shreveport-Bossier City area," says Lt. General Frank Klotz. "Therefore
they'll be looking for houses, they'll be looking for apartments to rent, and
they'll be placing children in local schools."

By the end of next summer, Lt. General Klotz says 23,000 will fall under Global
Strike's command, with close to 900 new airmen calling Barksdale home.
....
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* Related article:

AirForce Times
Nuclear wings set to join Global Strike Command
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Dec 1, 2009 15:55:55 EST
(Informed in Defense News)