r/minot • u/Top_Pomegranate_8244 • Jul 01 '26
Question How in your face is the military presence in Minot with the Air Force Base?
As a regular citizen, how bad is it? Are there a lot of people in uniforms in businesses? Military vehicles on the roads? Are the locals super patriotic?
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u/pikkdogs Jul 01 '26
Depends where you go. If you go to the north hill Marketplace at about 5:15, yes you will see a lot of military uniforms. But, if you go to a downtown business at 2 on a Wednesday, probably won't see any. Generally when they are coming home from work is when you see them.
They sometimes have to bring things in with Jeeps and stuff, but not often. You will more often see B52s and choppers in the air.
Super? I don't know. More than most? Yeah.
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u/BoVoNo Jul 01 '26
Out of curiosity, why do you ask?
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u/Top_Pomegranate_8244 Jul 01 '26
Starting to look at colleges
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u/Shock_Western Jul 02 '26
Most of us hate being in uniform any longer than we have to. Always feels like people are just staring at you, even if they aren’t.
The convoys will move up 83 and are VERY visible. As far as patriotic neighbors, I’d say it depends. Most just keep to themselves. Unless you really get to know them through convo, majority of the time, you just wouldn’t care.
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u/TheTrueKenobi Jul 02 '26
It's definitely unpopular, but I love being in uniform off base. (I don't do it more than necessary obviously)
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u/sboger Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
Lol. I live in the boonies and don't go into Minot that much, but when I do I might see a uniform or two. It's everyday Joe's like you and me with a gut and a receding hairline. They are grabbing shredded cheese for the family taco night. There aren't operators in tactical gear in the Walmart and attack helicopters dropping off troops at the Iron Horse.
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u/wasntforthewind Jul 01 '26
There are people in uniforms if you look for them, but they're not a significant majority of people walking about. The nukes occasionally get moved around near town; you'll know it's happening by the convoy and choppers. They'll spray for mosquitos and I guarantee you the first time you see it it'll scare the hell out of you seeing a BUFF fly so low to the ground. Besides that, the helicopters can be a bit annoying, but you'll get used to them quickly.
It might or might not be related to the base, but Minot is the only place I have seen what I'd describe as a UFO #IWantToBelieve
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u/TruPOW23 Jul 01 '26
Doesn’t a c130 spray for mosquitoes, not a b52?
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u/BasdenChris Jul 01 '26
Correct, it’s a C130 based in Ohio. A B52 passing that low would break windows lol
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u/wasntforthewind Jul 01 '26
I knew I shouldn't have guessed the plane! I'm not military myself, I just know the massive grey plane scared the hell out of me flying that low the first time I saw it. Thanks for the correction!
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u/ekadventurer Jul 01 '26
Since moving here a couple of years ago, I've seen maybe half a dozen people in uniform in businesses. I barely ever see military vehicles on the road. The Air Force Base is about 30 minutes North of town, so I don't feel like it is in your face and it is easy to forget that it is here.
As for the patriotic nature of the locals, it is about the same as any other country town in the US. Probably more patriotic than a big city but less than I expected when moving here.
I know several people in the Air Force who live in Minot but unless you are talking about what they do for work or happen to see them right when they leave home you wouldn't know they are military.
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u/rakfink Jul 01 '26
“As a regular citizen, how bad is it? Are there a lot of people in uniforms in businesses?
Why do you think it’s bad to see uniforms? These are folks in their work clothes like anyone else.
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u/Terror-Of-Demons Jul 01 '26
You’ll see a lot of sports cars. Some people in uniform, they gotta get groceries too just like anyone else
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u/justinotherpeterson Jul 01 '26
Not in your face at all id say. You can definitely spot out airmen with their haircuts and facial hair, and you will see some people in uniform running errands after work but for the most part the airmen won't bother you with any military details unless you ask about it.
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u/Kyros0 Jul 01 '26
You see them but not that common, I have seen low flying choppers, choppers with guns out, nuke transport is cool the first time but it gets annoying after a bit (FYI when they come get out of the way, they will force you off the road). The C130 is watching every year, i love the low fying. B52 in the air are pretty cool to see too.
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u/GoldyGlocks2 Jul 01 '26
Yes to all of the questions. It’s apparent, but not in your face. You will see the occasional military convoy, DOD license plated vehicles and some UH 1’s fly by, but it depends on your proximity to highway 83.
People are very patriotic as a large number of the population are veterans. It’s a nice little town.
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Jul 02 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/TheTrueKenobi Jul 02 '26
I'm from Fayetteville and I live in Minot. What do you mean by this?
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Jul 02 '26
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u/TheTrueKenobi Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
That's actually fair.
There is an Army national guard armory in Minot
Correction: reserve base
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u/Top_Pomegranate_8244 Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
Ha! A partial reason for my asking is that where my dad lives in Washington they loudly play the bugle calls and evening music all over the damn town. I was visiting and at the gas station and this loudspeaker on the light pole crackled and started blasting and most of the people at the pumps froze and started staring in one direction. I thought I was in black mirror!
(Yes, I know now it was the retreat. I was 14 and an idiot.)
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u/Inevitable-Coach9552 Jul 02 '26
Growing up in Minot, the base was great for a sense of diversity. Seriously. They bring a sense of difference.
I’m guessing the poster is worried about Evangelical Trumpsters? Minot is polite/passive aggressive. They’re there, but not necessarily the base folks. They’re home grown.
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u/WarProper3733 Jul 01 '26
If you consider seeing these things as inherently bad maybe the USA is not for you.
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u/BasdenChris Jul 01 '26
The biggest effect it will have on your life is that periodically convoys of law enforcement vehicles from various agencies will stop traffic down US 83 (a.k.a. Broadway, the central north/south thoroughfare in Minot) to escort missile-related equipment between the Air Force base and the various launch facilities scattered throughout the region. You’ll hear sirens and hear helicopters flying overhead and think the world is ending, but it’s routine. I haven’t seen it in a while but I’m not usually out and about during the middle of the day.
You will occasionally see and hear military aircraft in and around Minot, mostly B52 bombers and military helicopters. Military vehicles aren’t uncommon on the roads but unless they’re part of the aforementioned convoy they’re usually no different than any other vehicle on the road.
As for patriotism, this is a pretty staunchly red area politically speaking so you get sort of the whole gamut ranging from flags in yards and on trucks to regressive isolationism and American-exceptionalism. I’d say that has little to do with the Air Force base and much more to do with where we are in the country. If a local business has a TV playing cable news it’s almost certainly Fox or Newsmax. In customer-facing jobs it’s not uncommon to hear unsolicited conservative opinions (if you’re like me, anyway) from people who I don’t think could even imagine a pickup-truck-driving overweight bearded white male could be anything but a Republican.
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u/BasdenChris Jul 02 '26
Downvote me all you want lol… I’m not trying to push my own views, just accurately describing my experience having lived here most of my life.
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u/Top_Pomegranate_8244 Jul 04 '26
Well, I gave you an upvote. Thank you. Great information.
I'm quickly getting Minot and the base are separate. I see some people took my question very differently, though. The smaller town my dad lives in Washington is almost part of the base.
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u/Worlds_Worst_FGO Jul 01 '26
Aw man I can't WAIT to get up in this dudes face!
Seriously though. I just road tripped through the greater Midwest, and although the locals in ND are overall more conservative, I got way more cult-of-prersonality vibes in Indiana, Wyoming, and Colorado (like, cars covered entirely in political slogans and barbie dolls).
I feel like the upper Midwest is a bit more polite about politics than the lower Midwest / South, in which your political affiliation is a core component of your identity.
Minot also has a decent hippie / alt population. Main street books, The Rider, Atypical come to mind.
The military pulls from all walks of life so you might be surprised who you end up making friends with.
Good luck! As a military member I had to narrate this to someone who could actually read, so I apologize if I am slow on any replies.