F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- U.S. Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten, U.S. Strategic Command commander, and his wife, Laura, visited F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, Feb. 22 to meet with Airmen and their families and learn more about the mission of the 90th Missile Wing, the Mighty Ninety.
During their visit, General and Mrs. Hyten had the opportunity to tour the installation, a missile alert facility and a launch facility. They also received a demonstration of a convoy involving multiple security vehicles and the UH-1N Huey.
During his visit, Hyten talked about the capabilities of the 90th MW.
“The Airmen who execute our ICBM mission are very capable and well-trained, which should assure our allies and make our adversaries hesitate,” said Hyten. “I know that the mission will not fail here.”
At the MAF, Gen. Hyten met the men and women who operate, protect and maintain the Minuteman III ICBMs, and while at the launch control center he spoke to missileers who remain underground operating the ICBMs on a 24-hour shift.
“If you ever wanted to understand the true deterrence capabilities of America, just go down to an LCC and talk to a missileer,” Gen. Hyten said. “The missileers, and everyone who works on these missile systems, ensure we provide a decisive response to aggression when called upon by our nation’s leader.”
While Gen. Hyten was out in the missile field, Laura Hyten met with a group of key spouses to discuss current challenges facing Air Force families.
“The meeting was a great opportunity to highlight the successes of the Warren Key Spouse Program, as well as discuss challenges to overcome while serving in the program,” said Elizabeth Dillow, wife of Col. Matthew Dillow, 90th MW vice commander. “Mrs. Hyten was interested in hearing spouses share their best practices. Those insights helped her to understand more deeply how the program works for different types of squadrons and groups throughout the Air Force.”
During the discussion, each spouse talked about some of the programs they have implemented in their respective squadrons, to include referring family members to appropriate base agencies, welcome and farewell initiatives, deployed spouses support and addressing a myriad of family issues. Laura Hyten provided some ideas and opportunities to extend the reach of the Warren Key Spouses Program, and stressed the value of making and cultivating personal relationships on base.
"The more actively we support our spouses, the more it is noticed and the more it comes back to us,” Mrs. Hyten said.
After her time with the key spouses, Mrs. Hyten visited the missile procedures trainer where missileers routinely train. While speaking with missileers, she learned how to give a launch order and the various components that make up targeting and communications inside the LCC. She also gained insight into the amount of training and dedication that missileers upkeep to ensure they are proficient in their weapons system knowledge.
The visit highlighted that the nuclear deterrence mission remains a top priority for the Air Force.
“I am extremely impressed with the Airmen of the 90th Missile Wing,” Gen. Hyten said. “Here we have the next generation of professionals and the capabilities in order to prevail in current and future conflicts.”
Air Force Global Strike Command’s assets contribute to USSTRATCOM’s mission to employ tailored nuclear, space and cyberspace capabilities in support of national defense. Mighty Ninety Airmen stand watch 24/7/365, ensuring the nation’s nuclear deterrence capability is equipped and ready at a moment’s notice.
The wing deploys 150 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles across Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado. Dedicated missile maintainers, security forces defenders, missileers and support Airmen ensure the nation’s third leg of the nuclear triad operates safely, securely and effectively, at all times.