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Minot AFB, North Dakota

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Minot Air Force Base is located a few minutes outside the City of Minot, only 50 miles from the Canadian border. Minot AFB has a nuclear deterrent mission and a bomber mission. This is one airbase that is the very definition of the Air Force phrase, “Global reach, global power”.

Find information about Minot AFB, North Dakota including the main commercial and DSN numbers for the base, information on basic services, base transportation, lodging for TDY and PCSing personnel, and inprocessing.

Mission & Units

Minot Air Force Base is home to the 91st Missile Wing, which includes nuclear weapons, plus the 5th Bomb Wing with its fleet of B-52s. There are approximately six thousand military members stationed here. The 5th Bomb Wing is the host unit and one of only two B52H Stratofortress bomber bases Air Force-wide.

Important missions and units at Minot include:

  • 23 Bomb Squadron
  • 5 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
  • 5 Bomb Wing Command Section
  • 5 Civil Engineering Squadron
  • 5 Communication Squadron
  • 5 Comptroller Squadron
  • 5 Contracting Squadron
  • 5 Force Support Squadron
  • 5 Logistics Readiness Squadron
  • 5 Maintenance Operations Squadron
  • 5 Maintenance Squadron
  • 5 Medical Group
  • 5 Medical Operations Squadron
  • 5 Medical Support Squadron
  • 5 Mission Support Group
  • 5 Munitions Squadron
  • 5 Operations Group
  • 5 Operations Support Squadron
  • 5 Security Forces Squadron
  • 54 Helicopter Flight
  • 69 Bomb Squadron
  • 705 Munitions Squadron
  • 740 Missile Squadron
  • 741 Missile Squadron
  • 742 Missile Squadron
  • 791 Missile Security Forces Squadron
  • 91 Maintenance Group
  • 91 Maintenance Operations Squadron
  • 91 Missile Maintenance Squadron
  • 91 Missile Wing
  • 91 Operations Group
  • 91 Operations Support Squadron
  • 91 Security Forces Group
  • 91 Security Forces Support Squadron

History

Minot Air Force Base is younger than many of its Air Force counterparts. Construction here began in 1956, and operations began the following year. The 32d Fighter Group was among the very first to operate at the new base and it would not be long before the 4136th Strategic Wing was assigned to Minot as the first permanent Strategic Air Command operation at the base. 

Tankers and other heavy aircraft would operate from the base but it wasn’t until 1962 that the first Missile Wing was established there–the first Minuteman I Missile was placed in the launch facility in September 1963 and so began the base’s long history with nuclear missiles and the nation’s nuclear deterrent.

SAC was replaced with Air Combat Command (ACC) in June 1992, soon followed by transfers to Mino. The 91st Missile Wing and the 5th Bomb Wing were transferred between 2009 and 2010.

Today, the host organization at Minot is the 5th Bomb Wing, of the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). The wing operates B-52H Stratofortress bombers; there are also base support operations by 5th Operations Group, 5th Maintenance Group, 5th Mission Support Group and 5th Medical Group. Minot still maintains Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles in the 21st century.

Contacts

Main Address And Phone Numbers

196 Missile Avenue

Minot AFB, ND 58705-5003

  • 701-723-4066
  • 312-453-4066

Important Contact Numbers At Minot AFB

  • Base Operator (701) 723-1110
  • Suicide Prevention Hotline (800) 273-8255
  • Temporary Lodging/Billeting(701) 248-7000
  • Dormitory Management (701) 723-7284
  • Hospital Main (701) 723-5633
  • ID Cards (701) 723-1342
  • Information and Referral Services (701) 723-3950
  • Legal Services and JAG (701) 723-3026
  • VA Facilities (701) 727-9800
  • Welcome/Visitors Center (701) 723-4066
  • Child Development Center (701) 723-3750
  • Minot AFB Youth/Teen Center (701) 723-2838
  • SNAIC – EFMP Enrollment (701) 723-5044
  • Airman and Family Readiness Center (701) 723-3950
  • Primary Care Clinic (701) 723-5044
  • Family Advocacy Program (701) 723-5096
  • Family Center (701) 723-3950
  • Family Child Care Program (701) 723-6662
  • Housing Office (701) 723-4661
  • Medical Appointments (701) 723-5633
  • School Liaison Office (701) 723-1447
  • Family Advocacy Program (701) 723-5096
  • Child Development Center (701) 723-3750
  • Youth Center (701) 723-2838
  • Spouse Education, Training and Careers (701) 723-3950

Surrounding Area

Minot Air Force Base is another base in the Northern Tier, with easy access to Canada. North Dakota is known for its hunting and fishing, and longer season of winter weather than other states.

And it’s not just the duration of winter–the severity surprises some newcomers. Spring flooding can be a problem.

The City of Minot has a population of around 50,000 people. North Dakota residents tend to enjoy outdoor recreation including fishing, hunting, and exploring. The area features Roosevelt Park Zoo, the Dakota Territory Air Museum, and the North Dakota State Fair is an annual event that draws visitors from all over the state.

Minot is three and a half hours from Grand Forks Air Force Base and the city of Grand Forks, home to the University of North Dakota. That area features the Alerus Center and Ralph Engelstad Arena for live entertainment. Grand Forks’ oldest cultural attractions include the North Dakota Museum of Art and Chester Fritz Auditorium.

Grand Forks is 78 miles from the nearest Canadian border services area; have your passports ready to enter Canada if you wish to visit there.

Inprocessing and Check-In

Minot AFB requires different reporting procedures depending on when you check in. If you arrive during regular duty hours Monday through Friday, report to your commander’s support staff. Those PCSing to the area should know that Permissive TDY for house hunting paperwork must be submitted before starting the permissive temporary duty travel.

If you arrive after duty hours or on a weekend/holiday the 24 hour arrival point is the Sakakawea Inn located at 173 Summit Drive, 701-723-6161. After checking in with your gaining unit command support staff, expect to be scheduled for in-processing appointments located at the welcome center.

Health Care

Medical care at Minot is provided by the 5th Medical Group. The 5th Medical Group is described as an “integrated health care delivery system” for active duty and family members. The services here include 

  • Primary Care
  • Pediatrics
  • Optometry
  • Immunizations
  • Internal Medicine
  • Family Advocacy
  • Dentistry (Active Duty only)
  • Life Skills Services (Active Duty only)

Services not available on base from the 5th Medical Group may be obtained in the TRICARE Network in the local area. Call for appointments: 1-866-299-4233 / 701-723-5633. 

Child Care

The Minot Child Development Center (CDC) offers child care for children between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 years old. Programs include full time care, hourly care, and a “Part-Day Enrichment” program. Waiting lists may apply due to demand, mission requirements, and other variables–it’s best to contact the CDC as early as possible once you have orders to learn what current wait list times may be. There are options for care in on-base Family Child Care homes–this is in-home child care in certified and monitored private homes on base for children ranging from birth to 12 years old.

Call 701-723-6662 for more information.

Household Goods

All inbound troops PCSing to Minot AFB are directed to track and manage their household goods using the Defense Personal Property System at Move.mil. You can also get local support from the Minot Inbound TMO office at (701) 723-1848.

Dependent And Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue

All ID card services at Minot are handled by the 5th Support Squadron. Visit the official site for current guidance for ID card replacement and other services as some requirements have changed. Generally speaking you will need two forms of unexpired ID to obtain replacement ID card services. Dependents who need ID cards without the presence of their sponsor may be required to furnish an appropriate power of attorney or suitable equivalent. You can also schedule an appointment at Minot for ID card services using the RAPIDS system.

Schools

While there are no DoDEA schools on Minot, there are public school options on base (see below). The Minot AFB School Liaison Officer (SLO) and Family Readiness staff are available to help parents enroll their school age children at local schools.

Those who live on base will likely send their children to the Minot Public School system, which operates 11 elementary schools in Minot and two on base. Two middle schools operate in Minot and there is also one open on base. There is one high school on two campuses: Central Campus (for grades 9 and 10) and Minot High School (for grades 11 and 12).

Contact the School Liaison Office for information on the most current requirements for transferring or enrolling children in area schools. Call (701) 723-1447 for more information.

Housing

Housing at Minot AFB is privatized and operated by Balfour Beatty Communities. Those PCSing to the area should know that you are directed to check in with the Housing Office within 30 days of arrival. Not reporting to the Housing Office can “result in loss of advanced application status” according to official sources. Contact the Housing Management Office for more information at 701-723-4660. The Housing Office also has lists of off-base options for those who choose to live in the local community.

Single and unaccompanied service members should check in with their gaining unit to learn what current options are for living on and off-base.

PCS and TDY Lodging

Those PCSing to the area or traveling on TDY orders to Minot Air Force Base should contact the Sakakawea Inn which features a small number of pet-friendly rooms. Make reservations by calling 1-888-AF LODGE (1-888-235-6343) and you may have the option of having your sponsor or gaining unit making a reservation for you in advance.

PCS and TDY seasons may make rooms hard to obtain at times, it’s best to make reservations as far in advance as you can.

Transportation

Many PCSing or coming TDY to the area will arrive at Minot International Airport. There are multiple taxi services offering rides to the base, or you can coordinate with your sponsor. Minot is a small community so typical rush hour worries in major metro areas near big airports won’t be the same factor as it might in California or the East Coast. 

The base itself has a base taxi service for official use only.

Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License

All vehicles operating at Minot Air Force Base must comply with North Dakota state law including seat belt use, cell phone laws, mandatory insurance minimum coverage laws, etc. A base decal or vehicle registration are not required. Motorcycle operators under a certain age may be required to take a safety class prior to operating on the base. 

Ask your sponsor what the gaining unit’s requirements might be for parking, decals, or other issues. All visitors to the base must carry current, unexpired ID.