A B-52 Stratofortress prepares to land at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 30, 2016, after supporting U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. GT17 is an annual USSTRATCOM-sponsored command post and field training exercise designed to provide training opportunities and to test and validate command, control and operational procedures. The training is based on a notional scenario developed to drive execution of USSTRATCOM and component forces’ ability to support the geographic combatant commands, deter adversaries and, if necessary, employ forces as directed by the president of the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Amanda Morris)

A B-52 Stratofortress prepares to land at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 30, 2016, after supporting U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. Exercise Global Thunder is USSTRATCOM’s annual field training and battle staff exercise to train Department of Defense forces and assess joint operational readiness. GT17 provided training opportunities to and exercise scenarios for all USSTRATCOM mission areas, with a specific focus on nuclear readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Luke Hill)

Aircrew unload their gear from a B-52 Stratofortress at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 30, 2016, after supporting U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. USSTRATCOM’s fundamental mission is to deter strategic attack, which is an existential threat to the U.S. and its allies. Testing readiness ensures the preservation a safe, secure, effective and ready strategic deterrent force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Luke Hill)

Aircrew unload their gear from a B-52 Stratofortress at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 30, 2016, after supporting U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. GT17 is an invaluable training opportunity to exercise all USSTRATCOM mission areas and create the conditions for strategic deterrence against a variety of threats. Exercises like GT17 involve extensive planning and coordination to provide unique training opportunities for assigned units and forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Luke Hill)

A B-52 Stratofortress taxis down the flightline at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 30, 2016, after supporting U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. Exercise Global Thunder is USSTRATCOM’s annual field training and battle staff exercise to train Department of Defense forces and assess joint operational readiness. GT17 provided training opportunities to and exercise scenarios for all USSTRATCOM mission areas, with a specific focus on nuclear readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Luke Hill)

Maintenance Airmen help park a B-52 Stratofortress at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 30, 2016. The aircraft had returned after supporting U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. USSTRATCOM forces are on watch 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, conducting operations to deter and detect strategic attack against the U.S. and its allies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Luke Hill)

A B-52 Stratofortress takes flight from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 22, 2016, in support of exercise Global Thunder 17. Exercise Global Thunder is USSTRATCOM’s annual field training and battle staff exercise to train Department of Defense forces and assess joint operational readiness. Global Thunder 17 provided training opportunities to and exercise scenarios for all USSTRATCOM mission areas, with a specific focus on nuclear readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Amanda Morris)

A B-52 Stratofortress takes flight from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 22, 2016, in support of exercise Global Thunder 17. Global Thunder 17 is an annual U.S. Strategic Command-sponsored command post and field training exercise designed to provide training opportunities and to test and validate command, control and operational procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Amanda Morris)

A passenger aircraft takes off from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 22, 2016, in support of U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. AFGSC supports U.S. Strategic Command's global strike and nuclear deterrence missions by providing strategic assets, including bombers like the B-52 and B-2, to ensure a safe, secure, effective and ready deterrent force. Global Thunder is an annual USSTRATCOM training event that assesses command and control functionality in all USSTRATCOM mission areas and affords component commands a venue to evaluate their joint operational readiness. Planning for Global Thunder 17 has been underway for more than a year and is based on a notional, classified scenario with fictitious adversaries. One of nine DoD unified combatant commands, USSTRATCOM has global strategic missions assigned through the Unified Command Plan which include strategic deterrence; space operations; cyberspace operations; joint electronic warfare; missile defense; combating weapons of mass destruction; and analysis and targeting. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Amanda Morris)

A B-52 Stratofortress pilot performs a post-flight inspection of an aircraft at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 30, 2016, after supporting U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. GT17 is an annual U.S. Strategic Command-sponsored command post and field training exercise designed to provide training opportunities and to test and validate command, control and operational procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Luke Hill)

A B-52 Stratofortress taxis down the flightline at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 30, 2016, after supporting U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. GT17 is an annual U.S. Strategic Command-sponsored command post and field training exercise designed to provide training opportunities and to test and validate command, control and operational procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Luke Hill)

Airmen prepare to depart Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 22, 2016, in support of U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. USSTRATCOM forces are on watch 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, conducting operations to deter and detect strategic attack against the U.S. and its allies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Amanda Morris)

Airmen prepare to depart Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 22, 2016, in support of U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. USSTRATCOM’s fundamental mission is to deter strategic attack, which is an existential threat to the U.S. and its allies. Testing readiness ensures the preservation a safe, secure, effective and ready strategic deterrent force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Amanda Morris)

A passenger aircraft prepares to take off from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 22, 2016, in support of U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. Global Thunder 17 is an invaluable training opportunity to exercise all USSTRATCOM mission areas and create the conditions for strategic deterrence against a variety of threats. Exercises like Global Thunder 17 involve extensive planning and coordination to provide unique training opportunities for assigned units and forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Amanda Morris)

A passenger aircraft takes off from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 22, 2016, in support of U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. Exercise Global Thunder is USSTRATCOM’s annual field training and battle staff exercise to train Department of Defense forces and assess joint operational readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Amanda Morris)

Airmen board a passenger aircraft at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 22, 2016, in support of U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. USSTRATCOM forces are on watch 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, conducting operations to deter and detect strategic attack against the U.S. and its allies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Curt Beach)

Airmen prepare to depart Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 22, 2016, in support of U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. Exercise Global Thunder is USSTRATCOM’s annual field training and battle staff exercise to train Department of Defense forces and assess joint operational readiness. Global Thunder 17 provided training opportunities to and exercise scenarios for all USSTRATCOM mission areas, with a specific focus on nuclear readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Curt Beach)

A B-52 Stratofortress takes flight from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 22, 2016, in support of exercise Global Thunder 17. Global Thunder 17 is an annual U.S. Strategic Command-sponsored command post and field training exercise designed to provide training opportunities and to test and validate command, control and operational procedures. AFGSC supports U.S. Strategic Command's global strike and nuclear deterrence missions by providing strategic assets, including bombers like the B-52 and B-2, to ensure a safe, secure, effective and ready deterrent force. Global Thunder is an annual USSTRATCOM training event that assesses command and control functionality in all USSTRATCOM mission areas and affords component commands a venue to evaluate their joint operational readiness. Planning for Global Thunder 17 has been underway for more than a year and is based on a notional, classified scenario with fictitious adversaries. One of nine DoD unified combatant commands, USSTRATCOM has global strategic missions assigned through the Unified Command Plan which include strategic deterrence; space operations; cyberspace operations; joint electronic warfare; missile defense; combating weapons of mass destruction; and analysis and targeting. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Curt Beach)

Airmen board a passenger aircraft at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 22, 2016, in support of U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. USSTRATCOM’s fundamental mission is to deter strategic attack, which is an existential threat to the U.S. and its allies. Testing readiness ensures the preservation a safe, secure, effective and ready strategic deterrent force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Curt Beach)

A passenger aircraft takes off from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 22, 2016, in support of U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. Global Thunder 17 is an invaluable training opportunity to exercise all USSTRATCOM mission areas and create the conditions for strategic deterrence against a variety of threats. Exercises like Global Thunder 17 involve extensive planning and coordination to provide unique training opportunities for assigned units and forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Curt Beach)

A B-52 Stratofortress prepares to land at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 30, 2016 after supporting U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. Exercise Global Thunder is USSTRATCOM’s annual field training and battle staff exercise to train Department of Defense forces and assess joint operational readiness. GT17 provided training opportunities to and exercise scenarios for all USSTRATCOM mission areas, with specific focus on nuclear readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Amanda Morris)

A B-52 Stratofortress prepares to land at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 30, 2016, after supporting U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. AFGSC supports U.S. Strategic Command's global strike and nuclear deterrence missions by providing strategic assets, including bombers like the B-52 and B-2, to ensure a safe, secure, effective and ready deterrent force. Global Thunder is an annual USSTRATCOM training event that assesses command and control functionality in all USSTRATCOM mission areas and affords component commands a venue to evaluate their joint operational readiness. Planning for Global Thunder 17 has been underway for more than a year and is based on a notional, classified scenario with fictitious adversaries. One of nine DoD unified combatant commands, USSTRATCOM has global strategic missions assigned through the Unified Command Plan which include strategic deterrence; space operations; cyberspace operations; joint electronic warfare; missile defense; combating weapons of mass destruction; and analysis and targeting. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Amanda Morris)

A B-52 Stratofortress taxis down the flightline at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 30, 2016, after supporting U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. USSTRATCOM’s fundamental mission is to deter strategic attack, which is an existential threat to the U.S. and its allies. Testing readiness ensures the preservation a safe, secure, effective and ready strategic deterrent force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Amanda Morris)

Airmen disembark a passenger aircraft at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 31, 2016, after supporting U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. USSTRATCOM’s fundamental mission is to deter strategic attack, which is an existential threat to the U.S. and its allies. Testing readiness ensures the preservation a safe, secure, effective and ready strategic deterrent force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Amanda Morris)

A B-52 Stratofortress crewmember disembarks an aircraft at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 30, 2016, after supporting U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. GT17 is an invaluable training opportunity to exercise all USSTRATCOM mission areas and create the conditions for strategic deterrence against a variety of threats. Exercises like GT17 involve extensive planning and coordination to provide unique training opportunities for assigned units and forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Amanda Morris)

A passenger aircraft taxis down the flightline at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 31, 2016. The passengers were returning after supporting U.S. Strategic Command exercise Global Thunder 17. GT17 is an invaluable training opportunity to exercise all USSTRATCOM mission areas and create the conditions for strategic deterrence against a variety of threats. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Amanda Morris)