U.S. Strategic Command Conducts Exercise GLOBAL THUNDER linked with VIGILANT SHIELD

Photo By Senior Airman Tessa Corrick | Airman 1st Class Elvin Perez, 96th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, walks around a B-52H Stratofortress during a series of inspections in support of Global Thunder 20 at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 21, 2019. Global Thunder is an annual command and control exercise that provides training opportunities for all of U.S. Strategic Command’s mission areas, tests joint and field training operations, and has a specific focus on nuclear readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tessa Corrick)  

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, NEBRASKA, UNITED STATES

10.18.2019

Story by Karen Singer 

U.S. Strategic Command

Exercises GLOBAL THUNDER and VIGILANT SHIELD 20 commenced today to provide integrated training opportunities for U.S. Strategic Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command.

USSTRATCOM leads GLOBAL THUNDER 20, an annual command and control exercise that provides training opportunities that assess all USSTRATCOM mission areas and joint and field training operational readiness, with a specific focus on nuclear readiness. This exercise employs global operations in coordination with other combatant commands, services, appropriate U.S. government agencies, and allies to deter, detect and, if necessary, defeat strategic attacks against the United States and its allies.

NORAD and USNORTHCOM leads VIGILANT SHIELD 20, an annual homeland defense exercise focusing on the single, unyielding priority of defending the homeland from attack. The exercise tests the readiness in response to a wide variety of national security contingencies incorporating other combatant commands, services, appropriate U.S. government agencies, and allies to defend North America.

For GLOBAL THUNDER 20, the headquarters staff, USSTRATCOM components and subordinate units are participating in this exercise to test readiness and ensure a safe, secure, ready and reliable strategic deterrent force.

GLOBAL THUNDER also involves allied personnel from a variety of nations, including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Allied personnel integrate into senior leadership teams and work across a broad spectrum of areas, offering legal, public affairs and policy support; as well as targeting and information operations insight.

Large-scale exercises, like GLOBAL THUNDER and VIGILANT SHIELD, involve extensive coordination to provide unique training for assigned units and our allies.

USSTRATCOM has global responsibilities assigned through the Unified Command Plan that include strategic deterrence, nuclear operations, joint electromagnetic spectrum operations, global strike, missile defense, and analysis and targeting.

For more information, contact the USSTRATCOM Public Affairs Office at 402-294-4130 or [e-mail] or visit www.stratcom.mil. For questions about VIGILANT SHIELD, contact N&NC Public Affairs at 719-554-6889 or visit www.northcom.mil.

• Date Taken: 10.18.2019
• Date Posted: 10.23.2019 17:37
• Story ID: 348953
• Location: OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, NEBRASKA, US