Team Minot shines at GSC

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica McConnell
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Team Minot Airmen came back from the second annual Air Force Global Strike Command Global Strike Challenge concluding events, held at Barksdale AFB, La., from Nov. 8 - 9, with more than five trophies.

Global Strike Challenge is the world's premier bomber, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile and security forces competition with units from Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard.

Competitors demonstrated a range of combat, survival and reconnaissance skills as they were evaluated for endurance, agility and accuracy in a timed event.

Tech. Sgt. Kyle Andino, 91st Security Forces Group, said the 91st SFG team felt very confident at the end of the competition as well, and for good reason.

"I think we won the whole competition," said Andino after completing the mental and physical challenge. "We trained hard for 30 days. We practiced everything we thought we'd be tested on during the competition."

Little did Andino know, the 91st SFG would go on to be awarded the Charlie Fire Team Trophy, which is the award for the Best Overall Security Forces Team.

The 91st SFG also took the trophy for the Best Mental and Physical Challenge with a perfect score of 300 points. Also going to the 91st SFG was the trophy for Best Security Forces Tactics Team.

The 91st Security Forces Group won Best in Security Forces Firing, with Senior Airman Richard Ste Croix, 91st SFG, and Senior Airman Andrew Lintelman, 91st SFG, winning best M240 crew. Ste Croix won best M9 shooter and Senior Airman Steven Whaley, 91st SFG, won best M203 shooter.

The Bourland Trophy for Best Helicopter Squadron was awarded to the 54th Helicopter Squadron. The 54th HS also took home the trophy for Best Helo Tactical Crew.

The 91st Missile Wing won the trophy for Best Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Electronics Laboratory.

The 5th Security Forces Squadron team came out as top performers as well, finishing third overall out of nine teams, and first out of the bomber bases.

The 5th SFS also finished fourth in the Mental and Physical Challenge, fourth in tactics, and third overall in firing, which included M4, M9, M240, and M203.

"Bottom line, they all represented us extremely well," said Lt. Col. Travis Harsha, 5th SFS commander. "They were highly dedicated, motivated, positive professionals."

Harsha continued to thank the 5th SFS for the sacrifices they made so that the team could train, compete and represent the squadron so well.

Team and individual awards were presented to those teams with the highest performance scores among Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, B-2 Spirit, B-52 Stratofortress, B-1 Lancer, UH-N1 Huey and security forces units.

Competitors included more than 480 Airmen from Global Strike Command, Air Combat Command and the Air Force Reserve Command. Team participants included missile crew, maintenance, helicopter and security forces teams from Malmstrom AFB, Mont.; Minot AFB, N.D.; and F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. Aircrew, maintenance and security forces teams from Whiteman AFB, Mo.; Minot AFB; Dyess AFB, Texas; Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; and Barksdale AFB, La., also participated.