U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Desmond Ford, a 509th Security Forces Squadron defender, guards a B-2 Spirit during pre-takeoff inspections during Exercise Global Thunder 17 (GT17) at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., Oct. 27, 2016. Global Thunder is a training opportunity to exercise all U.S. Strategic Command mission areas and creates the conditions for strategic deterrence against a variety of threats.