Minot Air Force Base

Branch: U.S. Air Force
Location: Minot, North Dakota
Installation Type: Air Force Base
Status: Active

Overview

Minot Air Force Base is located approximately 13 miles north of Minot, North Dakota, and is one of the most strategically significant installations in the U.S. Air Force. Minot is the only Air Force base that hosts both legs of the nuclear triad operated by the Air Force – intercontinental ballistic missiles (Minuteman III) and nuclear-capable bombers (B-52H Stratofortress). Known informally as “the Arctic Gateway,” Minot AFB operates in one of the most demanding climatic environments in the continental United States. The 5th Bomb Wing operates the B-52H, while the 91st Missile Wing maintains the Minuteman III ICBM force spread across 8,500 square miles of North Dakota prairie.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Provide strategic nuclear deterrence through dual-capable nuclear operations – bomber operations (B-52H Stratofortress) and intercontinental ballistic missile operations (Minuteman III) as part of Global Strike Command.
Major Units: 5th Bomb Wing (host wing, B-52H Stratofortress); 91st Missile Wing (Minuteman III ICBMs); 5th Operations Group; 91st Operations Group (missile operations across ND missile field)
Tenant Units: Air Force Global Strike Command elements; 5th Medical Group; 5th Civil Engineer Group; North Dakota Air National Guard 119th Wing (F-16) at Hector International Airport in Fargo (associate relationship)

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: Minot, ND (population approximately 50,000) – approximately 13 miles south of base
Nearest Commercial Airport: Minot International Airport (MOT) – approximately 6 miles from downtown Minot; approximately 20 miles from base
Gate Access: Main gate on 5th Avenue NW; CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center; missile field operations require special access for off-base launch facilities

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 5,000
Family Members: Approximately 5,500
Civilian Employees: Approximately 1,000
Total Installation Population: Approximately 11,500

Key Facilities

Medical: 5th Medical Group Clinic; primary care, dental, behavioral health, and flight medicine; specialty referrals to Trinity Health in Minot (the primary regional hospital); Minot’s Trinity Hospital provides adequate regional care
Commissary: Yes – commissary on base
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes – AAFES exchange and facilities
Fitness & Recreation: Fitness centers; indoor pool; golf course; bowling; auto skills; outdoor recreation including hunting and fishing (North Dakota has excellent pheasant hunting and fishing); ice skating; hockey popular in winter
Schools: Minot Public School District serves most military families; some families in Velva or Surrey areas; no DoDEA schools; Minot schools are generally adequate with strong community support for military families
Childcare: Child Development Center on base; waitlists are common given limited off-base alternatives; register immediately upon receipt of orders
Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility on base; wellness and preventive care
Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office; appointment-based

Housing

On-Post Housing: Privatized housing on base; managed by Midwest Housing Initiatives (MHI); mix of family housing neighborhoods; condition generally good; on-post housing highly desirable given Minot’s limited and sometimes expensive off-base housing market
Average Wait Time: Can be 30-90 days; Minot housing market is tight; apply as soon as orders are received
Off-Post Housing: Minot city and surrounding areas (Surrey, Velva, Burlington) offer off-post options; average rent approximately $900-$1,400/month for 3-bedroom home; North Dakota has no state income tax on military pay
BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil)

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining unit; 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing sponsorship programs; winter gear preparation is strongly advised before arriving (temperatures can reach -40F/-40C windchill)
In-Processing: 5th Wing in-processing; typically 2-3 days; missile operations personnel require additional nuclear surety training and certification
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Airman and Family Readiness Center; enrollment required; specialist availability in Minot is limited; Bismarck (110 miles) or Fargo (280 miles) provide better specialist access

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Humid continental/subarctic; extremely cold winters (average low -6F/-21C in January; wind chills to -40F or below are common); warm summers (average high 83F/28C in July); heavy snow and blizzards from November through March; spring flooding possible; North Dakota wind is relentless year-round
Cost of Living: Low to moderate; Minot is affordable but oil boom/bust cycles have historically affected housing prices; no state income tax in North Dakota
Nearby Attractions: Lake Sakakawea (one of the largest man-made lakes in the U.S., 30 miles south) for boating, fishing, camping; Theodore Roosevelt National Park (2.5 hours west); Minot State Fair (second largest in the U.S.); Scandinavian Heritage Park; Souris River and wildlife areas; Turtle Mountain State Forest (80 miles north)
Spouse Employment: Limited in Minot metro; Trinity Health System, Minot State University, and local government are primary employers; remote work is important for many spouses; oil industry employment varies with energy prices; A&FRC assists

Contact & Resources

Official Website: https://www.minot.af.mil
Main Installation Phone: (701) 723-1110
MWR Website: https://5thforcesupport.com
ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Airman and Family Readiness Center (A&FRC), Minot AFB; (701) 723-3337; relocation, financial readiness, employment, family support; missile crew alert duty family support programs

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.minot.af.mil; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/minot-air-force-base; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MinotAirForce_Base, Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law