State of Ellsworth Published Feb. 19, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Jarad A. Denton 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Col. Jeffrey Taliaferro, 28th Bomb Wing commander, hosted the first "State of Ellsworth" address for local media, Feb. 16. Colonel Taliaferro spoke to media about several issues of potential interest or impact to the local community, including: the mission of the 28 BW, its contributions to combat operations, an update on military construction projects and the proposed Powder River Training Complex expansion. He also stressed the importance of each individual Airman as they impacted the overall mission. "Every Airman at Ellsworth is a good story," said Colonel Taliaferro. "We are very proud of the caliber of work our Airmen are doing both at home and overseas." "The mission of the 28 BW is to put bombs on target," he said. "Every Airman in this wing, whether maintaining our people or equipment, pulling a trigger or aiming crosshairs, puts bombs on target." He explained how the Ellsworth mission directly impacts the current in-theater conflicts overseas. In 2009 Ellsworth deployed more than 1,200 personnel for a total of more than 205,000 days. During that time frame, deployed Airman participated in more than 550 combat missions. The B-1B Lancer bombed nearly 250 targets and supported more than 300 Coalition servicemembers with close air support. "I'm confident our Airmen are saving Coalition lives in theater," he said. Advancements in technology, such as the Sniper XR Advanced Targeting Pod, have allowed the B-1 to more accurately put bombs on target, as well as provide an increased level of close air support to Coalition forces on the ground. "The Sniper Pod is able to work with convoys and detect threats such as improvised explosive devices," Colonel Taliaferro said. The commander said he wanted the public to realize Ellsworth, in addition to supporting Coalition forces overseas, was also establishing itself as a solid partner in the local community. He said he felt it was particularly important to see Airman contributing in events, volunteer work and charitable organizations which help improve the quality of life in the local area. Colonel Taliaferro also discussed the upcoming inspection at Ellsworth. "In October we're conducting an operational readiness inspection," he said. "It's a test designed to measure our combat readiness, so don't be alarmed if you see an increase in the number of B-1 training missions or Airmen in gas masks." In addition to the ORI, the commander explained construction projects designed to improve base facilities. He said the most visible of these projects would be the gate improvements. The new gates would allow for increased security, as well as additional protection for Airmen from adverse weather conditions. Colonel Taliaferro answered questions about the proposed Powder River expansion. He stressed the importance of the expansion as a means to improve upon B-1 mission training. "We need the additional space to allow our B-1 crews to participate in more realistic training," he said. "The technology behind the B-1 has improved drastically, and we need to ensure our Airmen know how to utilize those improvements to the fullest." Colonel Taliaferro concluded the address by emphasizing how important it was for the local area to feel connected to Ellsworth. "We're not just next to a great community," he said. "We are part of a great community."