With a battle cry of Eight! Nine! One! more than 200 Airmen from the 891st Missile Security Forces Squadron (891MSFS) launched into Operation Valhalla Strike, a weeklong training exercise held August 2429, 2025, at Camp Ripley Training Center in Minnesota. The squadron, based out of Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, sharpened its skills in air base ground defense and nuclear securitythe central mission of protecting Americas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) arsenal. This was no routine exercise. The training allowed defenders to complete mission-critical requirements impossible to conduct on base, including full-distance live-fire exercises. Camp Ripleys extensive ranges provided space for everything from rifle marksmanship to crew-served weapons like the M240 and M249 machine guns. The squadron also trained with grenadiers using 40mm systems, all in woodland terrain that tested both marksmanship and maneuver under realistic conditions. Second Lt. Maiszon Balboa, Alpha Flight commander, explained that the training replicated a squad-level deployment. We come out, we do drills, training, everything that would prepare us for a base ground defense mission in a deployed environment, he said. The scenario-based approach gave Airmen a taste of what it would take to defend critical missile launch facilities spread across Minots vast 8,500 square-mile responsibility. The 891MSFS, consisting of more than 250 Airmen and civilians, plays a pivotal role in the 91st Missile Wings global deterrence mission. Their charge: to provide armed responses and security for Minuteman III ICBMs and associated alert facilities across central North Dakota. Valhalla Strike built on that mission by stressing small-unit tactics, casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), and close-quarters battle (CQB). These skills directly support defending nuclear infrastructure against potential adversaries. Partnership was also a major theme. The 891MSFS trained alongside the 54th Helicopter Squadron, integrating air support into ground maneuvers. The combined force demonstrated how helicopters can provide overwatch and rapid insertion, complementing ground units advancing through contested terrain. This joint aspect highlighted the importance of multi-domain integrationkey to overwhelming threats in a combat environment. Over the course of the exercise, defenders rotated through training blocks covering movement techniques, communication protocols, and tactical decision-making under stress. These sessions built toward a culminating field training exercise on August 28, which tested all mission sets under simulated combat conditions. From defensive operations to casualty care, the squadron rehearsed scenarios that pushed them to operate as a cohesive fighting force. Maj. G. Chase Abrams, squadron commander, stressed that the goal was for every defender to return home better prepared than any adversary they might face. Our proficiency makes our adversaries decide each morning when they wake up that today is not the day to test the United States of America, he said. The realism of the trainingcomplete with live rounds, helicopter coordination, and CASEVAC drillsreinforced the need for defenders to shoot, move, and communicate seamlessly. For Airmen tasked with protecting one of the nations most sensitive missions, Valhalla Strike underscored that readiness is non-negotiable.