Constant Vigilance confirms global deterrence capabilities

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joel Pfiester
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Team Whiteman participated in a command-wide training event that confirmed the base's ability to support its conventional and nuclear missions May 12-20.

Constant Vigilance 14 is an annual Air Force Global Strike Command training event designed to train and assess the command's ability to support its conventional and nuclear missions.

Whiteman participates in training operations and exercises on a regular basis to ensure our forces are ready to perform nuclear deterrence operations and long-range strike missions if and when called upon to do so.

"Constant Vigilance tested and confirmed the ability of both the 509th and 131st bomb wings to execute nuclear deterrence operations and long-range strike missions," said Brig. Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, 509th Bomb Wing commander. "Participating in this exercise enabled our outstanding Airmen to improve their combat readiness and ensure that we are ready to perform the global power mission on behalf of the United States."

The activities associated with the Constant Vigilance 14 are based on notional scenarios and the timing of the exercise is unrelated to any real-world events.

Units all across base put in extra time and effort during the exercise treating it as if it were a real-world scenario.

"Weapons don't move without the tow teams, and with a 100-percent delivery rate, I would say we performed flawlessly," said Senior Airman Justin Christoff, 509th Munitions Squadron conventional maintenance section. "These exercises are crucial to our nation's nuclear posture and to show the world that we have the capability to strike anywhere in the world at a moment's notice."