8 AF Command Team Visits Minot AFB

Photo By Senior Airman Saomy Sabournin | Maj. Gen. Gebara and Chief Master Sgt. Cenov were briefed by the 5th Maintenance Group during their visit to Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, Mar. 11, 2022. Throughout the visit, Maj. Gen. Gebara learned about the tireless efforts and key roles that each Warbird Airmen plays in support of the mission and ensuring national defense requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Saomy Sabournin)  

MINOT AFB, ND, UNITED STATES

03.16.2022

Story by Airman 1st Class Saomy Sabournin 

Minot Air Force Base

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. – Major General Andrew Gebara, Eighth Air Force and Joint-Global Strike Operations Center commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Steve Cenov, 8 AF command chief and J-GSOC senior enlisted leader, visited Minot Air Force Base, N.D., March 10-12.
As the only installation that supports two legs of the nuclear triad, the 5th Bomb Wing operates the B-52 Stratofortress aircraft to provide global strike and combat-support capabilities in order to fulfill the 8 AF and Air Force Global Strike Command mission of conducting indefinite strategic deterrence operations.
General Gebara and Chief Cenov used their visit to discuss the importance of the Striker Airmen’s support on a daily basis to back the mission.
“The Airmen at the 5th Bomb Wing are ready 24/7, 365 to provide long-range, conventional and nuclear support to the free world,” said CMSgt Cenov. “Every single day that they put on their uniform and come onto the installation, they are ready to execute the mission at a moment’s notice.”
General Gebara and Chief Cenov lead the 8 AF, one of the two active-duty numbered air forces in AFGSC. The 8 AF’s mission is to conduct indefinite strategic deterrence operations, and on order, neutralize the enemy through global strike airpower, which includes bombers such as the B-52 Stratofortress, B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit.
During their visit, they discussed command priorities with the Airmen from the 5th Bomb Wing, which included their “Big 3 Missions”: strategic deterrence, global strike and expeditionary readiness to enable Airmen and their families.
While on base, General Gebara and Chief Cenov visited the 5th Medical Group, the Welcome Center, the fire department, and observed the new firing range. The command team also toured a B-52 and touched on upcoming modernization projects.
“In the long term our bomber fleet has done amazing things for us, but it has to be modernized,” said General Gebara. “So we have a very extensive B-52 modernization plan that’s going to involve new engines, new radars, new radios, new weapons and that’s going to bring with it a huge change in every part of Minot Air Force Base.”
Throughout the visit, the general praised the Airmen of Minot AFB for their tireless efforts and learned about the key roles that each Airmen play in support of the mission and ensuring the nation’s defense requirements.
“I think it is understood when you’re well-trained and you have a great team, but this can also be a challenging environment,” said Gebara. “It is not lost on the Chief and I how hard the men and women of Minot AFB are working, and it is not lost on us that only the best come north.”

• Date Taken: 03.16.2022
• Date Posted: 03.17.2022 12:04
• Story ID: 416584
• Location: MINOT AFB, ND, US