FIP vehicles arrive on MAFB

by Airman 1st Class Sahara L. Fales
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

11/10/2014 - MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Minot Air Force Base received three new Dodge Ram 2500s and 12 new Ford F-150s in October as a part of the Force Improvement Program's initiative to provide more positive, rapid and substantial changes within the ICBM and bomber missions.

Minot AFB is expecting to receive nine additional Ford F-150 pickup trucks and two more Dodge Ram 2500s. They will be utilized by 91st Missile Wing Airmen who travel out to missile sites for crew changeover.

"It'll be an enormous improvement for the missile wing," said Art Nyberg, 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle fleet maintenance control and analysis manager.

At approximately seven years old, the other vehicles have experienced wear and tear from the unique mission and weather Minot has.

"When the older vehicles have to haul up to four people out at a time, plus all of the winter and survival gear, it can overload the vehicle," said Nyberg. "The new pickups are 4-wheel drive and half-ton, therefore they won't be overloaded. They are a lot safer for the Airmen and a much better fit for our mission."

From a design standpoint alone, the vehicles that are being replaced couldn't handle the mission that was needed of them, said Master Sgt. Jon Hoffman, 5th LRS production superintendent.

Because the old vehicles weren't designed to be on Minot's dirt roads consistently, driving along the roads full of gear and Airmen has worn down the suspension and transmissions over time.

Being able to receive the new vehicles will be a huge boost to morale and improve the logistics of the mission considerably, Nyberg explained.

"The FIP was the momentum we needed to make it happen," Nyberg said.

So far, the FIP initiative has allotted approximately $750,000 for the vehicles supporting the Minot mission.  In addition to the vehicles, Minot AFB also received 21 camper shells for the Ford F-150 trucks.