Team Minot's hard work pays off, American 300 funds decided

  • Published
  • By Col. Max Mitchell
  • 5th Bomb Wing vice commander
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  You've heard the sayings: "To the victors go the spoils", "Hard work pays off" or "The sweet smell of victory". In this case, these sayings are true. When Team Minot stepped up to the Global Strike Rowing Challenge and crushed the competition, we were rewarded with a $50,000 prize.

The other Global Strike bases put up a good fight, but Team Minot pulled away at the end to dominate. Rough calculations on the last day of rowing showed that Minot would have had to stop rowing for 8 hours straight in order for the next closest base to catch up.
Now to divide the spoils - after considering suggestions and votes collected on Facebook and at the McAdoo Sports and Fitness Center, a council representing both wings decided how best to spend the money.

Now that both wings have approved the expenditures and Global Strike has allocated the money, the spending has begun.

As you might guess, the majority of the funds will be spent on more fitness initiatives. Specifically for the fitness center, there are a variety of purchases ranging from cross fit dumbbells to competition frisbees to Olympic plates.

The fitness center is also supporting the growing demand for soccer both indoors and outdoors. Wrapping up the fitness center list are a portable timer and PA system along with promotional t-shirts and water bottles for participants in fitness events.

While most of the funds directly meet the needs of our fitness center, a good portion of the prize money will be used to purchase library supplies like books and DVDs. The Youth Center will also be able to purchase sports jerseys to replace missing or outdated uniforms.

Base personnel are also researching the cost and storage of updated sound equipment for various on-base bands to entertain the base community.

Whether it's fitness, education or youth events, both Minot wing commanders will continue to support initiatives not only for our Airmen but for the dependents as well. Your hard work during the rowing challenge made these purchases possible and left both wings with more funds to meet the needs of Team Minot. Thank you and well done!