Twentieth Air Force commander: Minuteman III-America's first strike deterrent force

  • Published
  • By Capt. Angela Webb
  • 20th Air Force Public Affairs
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  The commander of 20th Air Force spoke at the 2011 Global Strike Challenge Technology and Innovation Symposium at the Shreveport Convention Center, La., Nov. 9.

To about a crowd of 600 Airmen, community leaders and industry partners, Maj. Gen. C. Donald Alston gave remarks on the "Minuteman III: America's First Strike Deterrent Force."

Alston is responsible for the nation's Intercontinental Ballistic Missile force, organized into three operational wings with more than 9,600 people.

During his speech, he elaborated on the relevance and credibility of the Minuteman III weapon system and the force that operates, maintains, secures and supports that system.

"Because of the credibility of our force, any potential adversary that would think about using nuclear weapons to attack us sees that level of readiness and ultimately decides, 'not today,' which has been the same answer for last 52 years we've had ICBMs," he said.

Alston explained that each leg of the nuclear triad has key attributes that ensure the triad's effectiveness - the capacity for retaliation provided for by the submarine force, the flexibility of the bomber force and the responsiveness of the ICBM force.

"Ninety-nine-point-fifty-six percent of our ICBM force is on alert, like it always is, and it doesn't happen by magic," he said. "It happens because fantastic young men and women who are trained so well operating, maintaining, securing that force put their shoulder to the wheel every day."

Alston emphasized the importance of culture on daily success.

"The credibility that we bring everyday helps achieve our security objectives and it also helps fortify our extended deterrence objectives in support of our friends and allies," he said. "It is part of our legacy, but this compliance culture needs to continue to be nurtured, it needs to grow and evolve. It isn't a destination; it's a way of life."