GSC fosters missile maintenance teamwork, pride Published Oct. 12, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Jessica McConnell Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Airmen from the 91st Maintenance Group here demonstrated their ability to perform tasks within their normal realm of responsibility as missile maintainers during the Global Strike Challenge, an Air Force Global Strike Command competition for Air Force ICBM and bomber forces, during the week of Sept. 26 - 30. While the missile maintainers were judged on their ability to do their jobs, the challenge presented the competitors with equipment anomalies or austere conditions to make the task much more difficult than it normally is, all while being evaluated by a team from higher headquarters. "Teams were scored on successfully completing the task, ability to take proper actions based on the governing technical order, timeliness, prioritization, and even dress and appearance," said Capt. Dan Wasserman, 91st MMXS Generation Flight commander and Global Strike Challenge maintenance officer in charge. "The challenge measured proficiency in each competition area and also gave technicians the opportunity to demonstrate the depth of their knowledge." For each participating unit within the maintenance group, Wasserman explained the goals of competing were to enhance unit pride and demonstrate the professionalism of the ICBM warrior. "Air Force wide goals are to identify new ways of doing business in our profession and to develop innovative procedures and equipment," Wasserman continued. "The Global Strike Challenge also teaches our competitors how vital it is to do the job right. Their quest to perfect the competition task spills over into their work centers through example." Wasserman said this year's maintenance competition was focused on three of the back shops including the Electronics Laboratory, Mechanical and Pneudralics Section, and the Power Refrigeration Electronics Laboratory, and one field dispatching shop, the Missile Maintenance Team section. "The teams were chosen through a three-step competitive process," he said. "First, everyone in the shop was eligible to take a written test. Second, they performed a selected task for local evaluation to grade their performance. Third, those with the best scores from the prior two events faced a panel of senior leadership to make the final decision." Before making the team, technicians all prepared on their own by mastering their daily duties. Once on the team, Wasserman said they underwent a period of strict technical order study followed by an intensive 30-day training cycle focused only on the competition task. During this intensive training for the competition, technicians were given the opportunity to develop greater expertise in their given areas. "The competition is a great teaching and learning opportunity," said Wasserman. "Most technicians will only compete once with a maximum of twice in their career -- it is an invaluable experience. They were able to hone their skill to study a task, master its' performance, critically self-assess, seek opportunities to innovate, and strive to out-perform their competition. These competitors raised the bar and helped develop others around them." While bragging rights may be a strong motivator for some to win the challenge, for many, the challenge also serves to boost morale, teamwork and pride. It also gave each shop an opportunity to step into the limelight. "They prepare as a team, compete as a team, and know success comes from performing as a team," said Wasserman. Not only do the competitors participate in the challenge, but those Airmen not competing contribute as well. "It takes an entire shop to build a successful team," said Wasserman. "Often times, those not competing are the biggest competition supporters. The competitors are often removed from daily mission requirements unless absolutely essential. Non-competitors often assume extra work load to provide their coworkers the opportunity to compete. In some cases, non-competitors perform as team instructors or even team alternates." "The competition often identifies ways to save time and money through innovation," continued the captain. "It is also something that differentiates our profession from just another job. Every branch of the military runs internal competitions for the same reason. In the end, the teamwork, pride, and professionalism derived from the Global Strike Challenge pays unquantifiable dividends." Final competition scores for the 91st MXG portion of the challenge will be revealed during a score posting event in November at Air Force Global Strike Command Headquarters in Barksdale AFB, La.