Tarnished Brass

Citing loss of confidence, the U.S. Air Force has relieved two high-ranking commanders and four additional officers formerly tasked with oversight of nuclear missiles and strategic bombers housed at North Dakota’s Minot Air Force Base (MIB).

Major General Andrew J. Gebara, commander of 8th Air Force, relieved Colonel Gregory Mayer of the 5th Mission Support Group and Major Jonathan Welch of the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron, both based at Minot Air Force Base. The identities of the remaining officers have yet to be disclosed.

General Gebara stated: "These personnel actions were necessary to maintain the very high standards we demand of those units entrusted with supporting our Nation's nuclear mission.”

The Air Force set forth that Mayer, Welch, and four subordinate leaders had been relieved of command "due to a loss of confidence in their ability to complete their assigned duties.” The service refrained from specifying why USAF brass had lost confidence in the six individuals.

The host wing on Minot Air Force Base, the 5th Bomb Wing operates the B-52H Stratofortress by which it provides global strike and combat-support capabilities to geographic commanders. To perform its mission and to support the mission of the 91st Missile Wing, four groups are assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing: the 5th Operations Group, 5th Mission Support Group, 5th Maintenance Group and 5th Medical Group.

Providing the aircrews who fly the wing's B-52H Stratofortress aircraft, the 5th Operations Group (OG) is the backbone of the 5th Bomb Wing. The 5th OG comprises the 23rd Bomb Squadron, 69th Bomb Squadron, and the 5th Operations Support Squadron.

Committed to delivering essential mission support and community service, securing necessary resources, providing proper care of base facilities and infrastructure, and developing combat-ready airmen, the 5th Mission Support Group (MSG) serves the 5th Bomb Wing, the 91st Missile Wing and additional tenant units totaling approximately 12,000 military and civilian personnel. The 5th MSG consists of the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron, 5th Communications Squadron, 5th Force Support Squadron, 5th Security Forces Squadron, 5th Contracting Squadron, and 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

The 5th Maintenance Group (MG) supports the operations of both the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing. Its personnel provide on-and off-equipment maintenance of B-52H Stratofortresses and special support of Minuteman III missiles and UH-1N helicopters. Additionally, the group provides munitions, aircraft maintenance, and maintenance operations support. Squadrons assigned to the 5th MG are the 5th Munitions Squadron, 5th Maintenance Squadron, 5th Maintenance Ops Squadron, and 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

Finally, the 5th Medical Group offers outpatient services including aerospace medicine, dental, family medicine, medical nutrition therapy, mental health, optometry, pain management, pediatrics, physical therapy, and women's health. The group consists of the 5th Medical Operations Squadron and 5th Medical Support Squadron.

FMI: www.af.mil