Malmstrom recognizes missileers during 13N Day

Official Statements

• 341st Missile Wing, November 14: “MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. — The 341st Operations Group hosted its second annual 13N Day at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, Nov. 13, 2026, bringing together Airmen, former missileers and guest speakers to recognize the legacy and continuing importance of the intercontinental ballistic missile mission.”

• 341st Missile Wing, November 14: “Observed on Nov. 13, 13N Day recognizes Airmen in the 13N Air Force specialty code, commonly known as “missileers.” Missileers maintain readiness to carry out the Air Force’s ICBM mission if called upon, making their training, expertise and vigilance central to the nation’s strategic deterrence mission.”

• 341st Missile Wing, November 14: “Built around the theme, “Forge the Force,” the event focused on missileer culture, professional development and the mission’s future through leadership remarks, panel discussions and technical briefings. The program included discussions on the history of missileer culture, ICBM training competitions, the Sentinel ICBM transition at Malmstrom, and nuclear physics, weapons effects and weapon design.”

• 341st Missile Wing, November 14: “Col. Stephen Meister, 341st Operations Group commander, and Col. Luke Stover, 341st Maintenance Group commander, spoke about collaboration between missileers and the Airmen who sustain the mission. They tackled topics that surrounded challenges within the ICBM mission and recommendations on how to improve within the job. “Missileers don’t support the mission. They do the mission,” Meister said. “With maintainers keeping things on alert and missileers waiting on alert, make no mistake: your mission is to be ready to turn keys.”

• 341st Missile Wing, November 14: “Special guests Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Fred Stoss, former commander of Twentieth Air Force; Col. (Ret.) Anita Feugate Opperman, former commander of the 341st Missile Wing; and Monte Watts, a former command evaluator at Twentieth Air Force, shared their experiences and answered attendees’ questions about the ICBM. The guests represented the Association of Air Force Missileers, a nonprofit organization for people who currently serve or have served in developing, testing, deploying, operating, maintaining, defending and supporting U.S. Air Force nuclear missile systems.”

• 341st Missile Wing, November 14: “The American public doesn’t know what missileers do, but our adversaries do,” Stoss said. “Adversaries don’t like that you’re here, but they respect you for what you do.” The event continued with technical briefings on the incoming Sentinel weapons system, presented by Sentinel Task Force Detachment 11, and nuclear physics and weapons effects, presented by Lt. Col. (Ret.) Mark “Moo-Man” Meyer, Sandia National Laboratories W87 Field Engineer.”

• 341st Missile Wing, November 14: “For Airmen assigned to the 341st Operations Group, 13N Day provided an opportunity to connect the day-to-day demands of the mission with the experiences of those who served before them. “I am so proud to be another link in the chain of all the people who have come before me,” said 1st Lt. Haley Broga, a 12th Missile Squadron missile combat crew commander. “I know that the obstacles they faced and overcame are what allows me to stand here today.”

• 341st Missile Wing, November 14: “The day concluded with an awards ceremony to recognize the following at Malmstrom; Best Crew Winners Crew 1: 1st Lt. Brian Wendt and 2nd Lt.Lucas Walker, 10th Missile Squadron Crew 2: 1st Lt. Nathaniel Ray and 2nd Lt. Malcolm McCown, 10th Missile Squadron Crew 3: 1st Lt. Elijah Robinson and 2nd Lt. Brandon Engel, 12th Missile Squadron Best Emergency War Order Capt. Kyle Baca, 490th Missile Squadron Best Weapon System 1st Lt. Ian Ward and 2nd Lt. James Tomasi, 10th Missile Squadron”

• 341st Missile Wing, November 14: “Best Checklist Discipline 1st Lt. Ian Ward and 2nd Lt. James Tomasi, 10th Missile Squadron Best Overall 10th Missile Squadron Through 13N Day, the 341st Operations Group reinforced its commitment to developing knowledgeable, connected and mission-focused Airmen while honoring generations of missileers who have supported the nation’s strategic deterrence mission.”