Recent events have seen the U.S. Air Force relieve a total of six leaders from their posts at a nuclear base located in North Dakota but have offered up very few details regarding just why they were removed.
A short press release that was recently issued stated that the commander of the 8th Air Force, Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, removed a pair of commanders from their roles of leadership this past Monday at Minot Air Force Base.
The outlet Task and Purpose identified these particular leaders as Maj. Jonathan Welch, commander of the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and Col. Gregory Mayer, who led the 5th Mission Support Group.
They were taken out of their roles “due to a loss of confidence in their ability to complete their assigned duties,” explained the 8th Air Force.
Sporting close to 1,600 military and civilian members, the 5th Mission Support Group puts a heavy focus on “delivering essential installation mission support and community service, securing our resources, providing proper care of base facilities and infrastructure, while developing combat-ready airmen,” as per the website for the base. It works with the 5th Bomb Wing, 91st Missile Wing, and several other units.
A group of four subordinate leaders was also relieved of duty by the higher ups in command at the base, but the 8th Air Force statement did not offer up any specifics about the circumstances surrounding their removal. Overall, the 8th Air Force stated that additional details would not be made public due to a number of privacy protection policies.
“These personnel actions were necessary to maintain the very high standards we demand of those units entrusted with supporting our Nation’s nuclear mission,” expressed Gebara in a release made public by the 8th Air Force.
“Eighth Force continues to safeguard global combat power and conduct around-the-clock strategic deterrence operations in a safe, secure and effective manner,” stated Gebara. “Our mission is foundational to our Nation’s defense, and we remain committed to the success of that no-fail mission.”
Originally opening its doors back in 1957, Minot Air Force Base is home to a number of squadrons and wings.
“Minot AFB is the only dual-wing nuclear capable base in the Air Force, hosting two legs of the Strategic Triad,” according to the mission statement created for the base. “The 5th Bomb Wing operates 26 B-52 aircraft, and the 91st Missile Wing operates 150 ICBM sites.”