FORBES FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Topeka, Kan. -- July 1, 1979, marks the first of many years of alert duty for the 190th and its aircrew.  In those days, alert duty consisted of 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

The operations building at the time housed the alert crew behind locked doors.  They were to be ready to launch on very short notice at any time.

Meals, sleep, recreation and all other daily routine was accomplished with the thought that it could be interrupted at any moment. 

A loud buzzing noise would be accompanied by a call from the command post announcing the need to be airborne in a few minutes. 

For those of you who heard the call "FOR THE ALERT CREW, FOR THE ALERT CREW, KLAXON, KLAXON, KLAXON" recently,  it was a reminder of the way things used to be when the Stratigic Air Command way was the way things were done at Forbes Field.