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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo -- 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, maintainers and crew chiefs, prepare B-2 Stealth Bombers for Global Thunder 12 exercise Oct. 25. The exercise provides unique training opportunities for component, task force, unit forces, 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/Senior Airman Laura Goodgame)

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Reporting for duty, Sir!

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo -- 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, maintainers and crew chiefs, prepare to receive a B-2 Stealth Bomber during Global Thunder 12 exercise Oct. 25. The exercise provides unique training opportunities for component, task force, unit forces, 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/Senior Airman Laura Goodgame)

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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo -- Master Sgt. Stewart Reiter waves to a passing B-2 Stealth Bomber during Global Thunder 12 exercise Oct. 25. The exercise provides unique training opportunities for component, task force, unit forces, 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. Sergeant Reiter is assigned to the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and is a specialist section supervisor. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Laura Goodgame)

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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo -- Master Sgt. Stewart Reiter listens to radio chatter while supervising the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, maintainers and crew chiefs, while they prepare B-2 Stealth Bombers for Global Thunder 12 exercise Oct. 25. The exercise provides unique training opportunities for component, task force, unit forces, 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. Sergeant Reiter is assigned to the 509th AMXS and is a specialist section supervisor. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Laura Goodgame)

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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo --509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, maintainers and crew chiefs, prepare to receive a B-2 Stealth Bomber during Global Thunder 12 exercise Oct. 25. The exercise provides unique training opportunities for component, task force, unit forces, 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/Senior Airman Laura Goodgame)

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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo--A B-2 Stealth Bomber taxi down the runway after responding to a rapid launch portion of Global Thunder 12 exercise Oct. 25. The exercise provides unique training opportunities for component, task force, unit forces, 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/Senior Airman Laura Goodgame)

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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo -- Airman 1st Class Charles Price gives a thumbs up to a taxing B-2 Stealth Bomber during Global Thunder 12 Oct. 25. The exercise provides unique training opportunities for component, task force, unit forces, 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. Airman Price is a crew chief assigned to the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Laura Goodgame)

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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo--B-2 Stealth Bombers taxi down the runway after responding to a rapid launch portion of Global Thunder 12 exercise Oct. 25. The exercise provides unique training opportunities for component, task force, unit forces, 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/Senior Airman Laura Goodgame)

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Members of 509th Bomb Wing prepare their assigned B-2 Spirit aircraft for launch during Global Thunder 12 here Oct. 25. The rapid launch training is designed to exercise all mission areas. It provides training opportunities for component, task force, unit, forces and command posts to deter, and if necessary defeat, military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the president. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte) (RELEASED)

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Major Richard Ganske, 13th Bomb Squadron pilot, performs pre-flight inspections on the B-2 Spirit prior to his flight during Global Thunder 12 here Oct. 25. The rapid launch training is designed to exercise all mission areas. It provides training opportunities for component, task force, unit, forces and command posts to deter, and if necessary defeat, military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the president. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte) (RELEASED)

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Members of 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare the B-2 Spirit for flight during a Global Thunder 12 here Oct. 25. The exercise included a wide range of forces working together incorporating the latest technology and techniques in support of each other to complete the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte) (RELEASED)

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Maintainers and crew chiefs of 509th Bomb Wing hustle during Global Thunder 12 here Oct. 25. Several base agencies, from operations to maintenance support, participated in the exercise that provided training opportunities for USSTRATCOM joint enablers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte) (RELEASED)

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A crew chief of the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepares to taxi the B-2 Spirit during Global Thunder 12 here Oct. 25. The rapid launch training is designed to exercise all mission areas. It provides training opportunities for component, task force, unit, forces and command posts to deter, and if necessary defeat, military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the president. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte) (RELEASED)

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A member of the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron taxis a B-2 Spirit for parking during Global Thunder 12 here Oct. 25. USSTRATCOM Field Training Exercise and Battle Staff Exercise are designed to exercise all mission areas with primary emphasis on Command and Control. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte) (RELEASED)

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Reporting for duty, Sir

A member of the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron taxis a B-2 Spirit for parking during Global Thunder 12 here Oct. 25. USSTRATCOM Field Training Exercise and Battle Staff Exercise are designed to exercise all mission areas with primary emphasis on Command and Control. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte) (RELEASED)

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A B-2 Spirit roars down the runway during the rapid launch portion of Global Thunder 12 here Oct. 25. The exercises are designed to exercise all mission areas with primary emphasis on Command and Control. The exercise provides training opportunities for component, task force, unit, forces, 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/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte) (RELEASED)

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Reporting for duty, Sir

A B-2 Spirit taxis down to the runway during the rapid launch portion of Global Thunder 12 here Oct. 25. The exercises are designed to exercise all mission areas with primary emphasis on Command and Control. The exercise provides training opportunities for component, task force, unit, forces, 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/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte) (RELEASED)

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Reporting for duty, Sir

A 509th Bomb Wing pilot performs pre-flight inspections on the B-2 Spirit prior to his flight during Global Thunder 12 here Oct. 25. The rapid launch training is designed to exercise all mission areas. It provides training opportunities for component, task force, unit, forces and command posts to deter, and if necessary defeat, military attack against the United States and to employ forces as directed by the president. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte) (RELEASED)

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Published Oct. 27, 2011
By Senior Airman Laura Goodgame
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo - -- Team Whiteman participated in a U.S. Strategic Command exercise, known as Global Thunder from Oct. 19 through the 26.

Global Thunder'12 is a USSTRATCOM Field Training exercise and Battle staff exercise to implement all mission areas. It provides unique training opportunities for component, task force, unit forces, 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.

Global Thunder provides insight to the vital role every Airman plans in the strategic bomber mission. Global Thunder gives Airmen the skills needed during a time of national crisis, putting Airmen on the spot by managing to complete the mission during a demanding schedule and round the clock work hours.

Practice makes perfect. Through repeated training events, Airmen have the opportunity to run through scenarios testing their skills, and learning from any mistakes. Over time, the skills become second nature.