791st Missile Security Forces Squadron

791st Missile Security Forces Squadron is a United States Air Force security forces unit responsible for the physical security and defense of a significant portion of the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile force. Assigned to the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base, the squadron provides armed protection for LGM-30G Minuteman III launch facilities and launch control centers dispersed across the northern Great Plains. Its personnel are specially trained to operate in extreme weather conditions and defend critical assets against a full spectrum of threats, forming a vital component of the United States' strategic nuclear deterrent posture under Air Force Global Strike Command.

History

The squadron's lineage traces back to the activation of the 791st Air Police Squadron on 1 July 1962, as part of the original security force for the Minuteman Missile system at Minot Air Force Base. It was redesignated as the 791st Security Police Squadron in 1967, aligning with broader United States Air Force nomenclature changes. Throughout the Cold War, the unit maintained a constant alert status, safeguarding LGM-30 Minuteman missiles against potential sabotage or ground attack, a mission underscored by the strategic tensions of the era. Following the START treaties and the consolidation of nuclear forces under Air Force Global Strike Command in 2009, the squadron was redesignated as the 791st Missile Security Forces Squadron, reflecting its specialized focus within the modernized 20th Air Force structure.

Mission

The primary mission is to provide dedicated security and force protection for the 91st Missile Wing's LGM-30G Minuteman III weapon system infrastructure. This entails conducting armed patrols and maintaining a secure presence at geographically isolated launch facilities and associated Launch Control Centers to prevent unauthorized access, sabotage, or theft. The squadron executes a layered defense strategy, integrating fixed security posts, mobile response teams, and advanced surveillance to ensure the integrity of the nuclear arsenal. This direct-defense role is fundamental to ensuring the credibility and reliability of the United States' land-based Nuclear triad as managed by Air Force Global Strike Command.

Organization

The squadron is a subordinate unit of the 91st Missile Wing, which itself falls under the operational control of the 20th Air Force and Air Force Global Strike Command. It is organized into flights that correspond to specific operational areas and functions, including flightline security at Minot Air Force Base itself and multiple field response flights responsible for vast missile fields. These elements work in close coordination with the 91st Security Forces Group for broader base integration and with missile maintenance personnel from the 91st Missile Maintenance Group. The command structure ensures seamless integration of security operations with the overall command and control exercised by the United States Strategic Command.

Equipment and training

Personnel are equipped with standard United States Armed Forces small arms such as the M4 carbine and M9 pistol, along with specialized tactical gear for all-weather operations across the North Dakota plains. Vehicles include up-armored ASV and M-ATV platforms for patrol and response duties. Training is rigorous and continuous, encompassing advanced tactics for defending hardened sites, Combat Arms proficiency, Law Enforcement procedures, and survival skills for extreme Arctic conditions. Security Forces members undergo specialized courses at the Air Force Security Forces Center and often train alongside other United States Department of Defense units to maintain interoperability in complex threat scenarios.

Notable incidents or operations

While daily operations are characterized by vigilant routine, the squadron maintains a high state of readiness for real-world contingencies. Its history is marked by sustained operational excellence in executing its sensitive mission, rather than publicized combat engagements. The unit's performance is routinely tested during NUWAIX and other major exercises evaluating the Air Force Global Strike Command's response to simulated threats against nuclear assets. The constant, silent vigil maintained by its personnel across the northern tier is considered a foundational success, directly supporting the strategic stability ensured by the New START treaty and the broader Nuclear deterrence policy of the United States.

Category:United States Air Force security forces squadrons Category:Minot Air Force Base Category:Military units and formations in North Dakota Category:1962 establishments in North Dakota