Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

An Offutt-based RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint climbs into the air during Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 30, 2016, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger)

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Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

Airman First Class Kejion Madden-Vaughn (left) and Staff Sgt. Riley Neads (right), crew chiefs with the 55th Maintenance Group, prepare to launch an RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint aircraft during Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 30, 2016, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President.

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Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

Team Offutt Airmen board an RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint aircraft during Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 30, 2016, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Delanie Stafford)

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Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

A Team Offutt Airman boards an RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint aircraft during Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 30, 2016, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Drew Nystrom)

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Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

Staff Sgt. Riley Neads, Airman First Class Kejion Madden-Vaughn and Airman First Class Clinton Woods III (from left to right), crew chiefs with the 55th Maintenance Group, finish their preflight tasks, including removing wheel chocks, while preparing to launch an RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint aircraft during Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 30, 2016, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Drew Nystrom)

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Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

Team Offutt Airmen run to an RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint aircraft during Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 30, 2016, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Drew Nystrom)

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Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

Staff Sgt. Riley Neads, a crew chief with the 55th Maintenance Group, prepares to launch an RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint aircraft during Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 30, 2016, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Delanie Stafford)

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Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

Staff Sgt. Riley Neads, Airman First Class Kejion Madden-Vaughn and Airman First Class Clinton Woods III, crew chiefs with the 55th Maintenance Group, move a ground power unit while preparing to launch a RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint aircraft during Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 30, 2016 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Delanie Stafford)

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Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

Airman First Class Kejion Madden-Vaughn (left) and Airman First Class Clinton Woods III (right), crew chiefs with the 55th Maintenance Group, shut-down and prepare to move a ground power unit while launching an RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint aircraft during Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 30, 2016, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Drew Nystrom)

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Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

Staff Sgt. Riley Neads, a crew chief with the 55th Maintenance Group, prepares to launch an RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint aircraft during Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 30, 2016, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Drew Nystrom)

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Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

Airman First Class Clinton Woods III, a crew chief with the 55th Maintenance Group, stows the crew entry ladder while preparing to launch an RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint aircraft during Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 30, 2016, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Drew Nystrom)

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Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

Airman First Class Kejion Madden-Vaughn (left) and Staff Sgt. Riley Neads (right), crew chiefs with the 55th Maintenance Group, observe an engine start during the launch of an RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint aircraft during Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 30, 2016, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Delanie Stafford)

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Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

An Offutt-based RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint aircraft taxis out of its parking spot during Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 30, 2016, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Delanie Stafford)

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Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

An Offutt-based RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint aircraft takes-off during Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 30, 2016, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Delanie Stafford)

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Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

An Offutt-based RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint aircraft accelerates toward take-off during Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 30, 2016, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Drew Nystrom)

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Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

An Offutt-based RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint leaps into the air during Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 30, 2016, at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Drew Nystrom)

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Team Offutt Provides Information Warfare Edge to Global Thunder 17

Published Nov. 2, 2016
By Drew Nystrom
55 Wing Public Affairs

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE -- Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth warfighters participated in Global Thunder 17, U.S. Strategic Command’s annual command post and field training exercise, Oct. 24-31 to train and assess joint operational readiness.

The exercise validates the wing’s role in deterring strategic attacks against the homeland by achieving information superiority.

“Maintaining strategic stability in an era of evolving challenges requires innovative and comprehensive solutions,” Adm. Cecil D. Haney, USSTRATCOM commander said. “The scenarios presented in Global Thunder will drive the critical thinking needed to provide the president options that, in concert with a whole-of-government approach that includes our allies, are required to maintain twenty-first century deterrence.”

Global Thunder is both a command post and field training exercise designed to provide training from planning at the combatant command through execution at the tactical level, with a specific focus on cyber, space, missile defense and nuclear readiness.

“I am proud of and impressed by the dedication and professionalism of the entirety of Team Offutt,” Col. Marty Reynolds, 55th Wing commander said. “Global Thunder 17 drives home the magnitude of the mission we, both our military and civilian teammates, have voluntarily signed-up for. I have complete confidence in the Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth’s ability to innovate to execute our mission no matter the circumstances.”

The exercise provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM-tasked components, task forces, units and command posts to deter and, if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the President.

Planning for GT 17 was underway for more than a year. While the exercise was based on a notional scenario, it realistically allows Department of Defense forces, including Team Offutt, to exercise and train as they would fight.

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