Capt. Noah Spitler, B-52H Stratofortress instructor

Capt. Noah Spitler, B-52H Stratofortress instructor pilot assigned to the 69th Bomb Squadron, poses for on the flightline at Minot Air Force Base, ND, Oct. 19, 2020. Spitler works on the Alert Parking Area near the Alert Shack and is called a “Pad Dad.” His job as “Pad Dad” is to brief his aircrew on mission status, weather, and any issues they may have on their mission. Spitler says he is proud of the maintainers and all the Airmen that are working diligently during this exercise. He sees crews who work for 20 hours at a time and he says he is impressed. “We’re not only proving ourselves, but we’re also showing the world what Team Minot can do.” Spitler may wait for hours at a time until a mission starts. As soon as they are alerted, he and his team rush to their vehicles to get to their B-52s as fast as possible. He says that his coworkers and friends in the Alert Shack are who make it all worth it. “The camaraderie in here is just truly something else.” He is proud of their ability to rapidly respond when the mission calls on them. Spitler says that by doing exercises like Prairie Vigilance, Team Minot can really show their true strength. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Caleb S. Kimmell)