Pilots from the 69th Bomb Squadron board B-52H Stratofortress bomber “Heavy Hauler” in preparation for a Bomber Task Force mission to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on March 6, 2021, at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. Bomber Task Force missions provide opportunities to train and integrate with regional partners and is an important element of a broader deterrent strategy in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Josh W. Strickland)