MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Adm. Cecil D. Haney, U.S. Strategic Command commander, is proud of the three Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile wings that represent Task Force 214, he said during a recent visit here.
The admiral described ICBM Airmen as professionals, and lauded them for their passion for performing the deterrence mission correctly every day, even in adverse conditions.
"I want them to continue to understand how important their mission is to the United States of America and to our allies," he said. "I can't thank them enough for their dedication and for what they provide our nation, 24/7, day in and day out."
Haney was at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, Sept. 8-9 to conduct an ICBM stakeholders meeting and to confer with military leaders including Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, Air Force Global Strike Commander, Maj. Gen. Richard Clark, AFGSC vice commander, Maj. Gen. Michael Fortney, AFGSC director of operations, and Maj. Gen. Jack Weinstein, 20th Air Force commander. The stakeholders discussed several key topics including Minuteman III sustainment, ICBM testing, the Force Improvement Program, and perspectives of USSTRATCOM and Task Force 214.
"As I lead our strategic forces for our nation, I look at the importance of deterrence and having strategic deterrence capabilities that will not go away for our country," Haney said. "It is my job to make sure we have a safe, secure and effective strategic deterrent and I will continue, as well as the members of my command, to work toward that with Global Strike Command because the ICBM capability is important in many different dimensions for our nation globally."
Haney's visit to Malmstrom is his second in 2014. His first visit was in February, shortly after he took command of USSTRATCOM. Haney expressed confidence in the missile officers' ability to perform their nuclear mission and lauded their professionalism.
"What gives me confidence is the level of patriotism, the level of respect for the mission," he said. "I am very confident that we have a safe, secure and effective capability and that the people that are working on them are extraordinary."
The visit was also an opportunity for the admiral to interact with Airmen and see the 341st MW in action. He has made it a priority to visit each of his task forces at least twice a year since assuming command in November.
Haney had breakfast with a dozen missile officers from the 341st Operations Group and mentored the lieutenants on leadership while offering his own insights into strategic deterrence, force and system sustainment, and the future of the ICBM enterprise. He met with security and maintenance Airmen at a missile convoy display, talked with them about their duties, and reviewed the vehicles they operate. Later, he visited a missile field with Col. Tom Wilcox, 341st MW commander, to view a launch facility.
"I've been very impressed as I've travelled around, visiting my nuclear task forces," Haney said at the conclusion of his visit.
USSTRATCOM is one of nine DoD unified combatant commands and is charged with strategic deterrence, space operations, cyberspace operations, joint electronic warfare, global strike, missile defense, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, combating weapons of mass destruction, and analysis and targeting.
Task Force 214 is fielded by the 20th Air Force and is comprised of the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, the 91st MW at Minot AFB, North Dakota, and the 341st MW at Malmstrom. The task force reports to both USSTRATCOM and AFGSC, and provides the land-based ICBMs that, along with bombers and submarines, complete the nation's triad of strategic platforms.