Airmen selected for Global Strike Challenge

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica McConnell
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Minot Airmen from both the 5th Bomb Wing and the 91st Missile Wing are slated to participate in this year's second annual Air Force Global Strike Command Global Strike Challenge during the months of June through November.

Team Minot brought home seven awards and trophies from last year's competition, and Col. James Dawkins, 5th BW commander, believes this year's competitors will perform just as well.

"The goals of this challenge are to showcase the world's premier bomber and ICBM force and to recognize outstanding AFGSC personnel and teams," said the colonel. "Last year, Minot performed exceptionally well. Every day, Team Minot Airmen display excellence through their dedication to the mission and demonstration of nuclear deterrence. Their constant vigilance is the reason why I have no doubt in my mind that our Airmen will prove to the world why Minot Air Force Base is the place where 'Only the Best Come North'."

Team Minot will be pitted against all other AFGSC wings, including the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Mont., the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo., and the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, La.

The 5th Maintenance Group team:
  • Staff Sgt. Jason Eilo, Senior Airman Derek Mitchell, Airman 1st Class Chaz Guerro, and Airman 1st Class Zachary Kienert for the nuclear load team. 
  • The 5th MXG conventional load team includes Tech. Sgt. Tyrell Arthur, Staff Sgt. Jesse Rushing, Senior Airman Philip Branscum, and Airman 1st Class David Johnson. 
  • The 5th MXG crew chiefs competing will be Staff Sgt. Eric Thomas and Senior Airman Kent Bode.
  • The 5th Munitions Squadron ammo builders team include Staff Sgt. Lydell Abrams, Staff Sgt. Joseph Hess, Staff Sgt. Derek Holman, Staff Sgt. Waylon Lunde, Staff Sgt. Douglas Mullins, Staff Sgt. Casey Raduski, Senior Airman Dennis Barnett, Senior Airman Ryan Heagy, Senior Airman Javier Williams, Airman 1st Class Christopher Sheets, and Airman 1st Class Jason Vanover.
The 5th Operations Group team:
  • The 23rd Bomb Squadron team members are Capt. Bryant Harrison, Capt. Ryan Hefron, Capt. Christina O'Neil, 1st Lt. Alex Brewster , and 1st Lt. Mark Nielson.
  • Competing for the 69th Bomb Squadron are Lt. Col. Michael Cardoza, Capt. Nicholas Kamon, Capt. Ryan Loucks, Capt. Michael Pyle, Capt. Earl Schaller, and Capt. Charles Sigman.
  • Competing for the 5th Operations Support Squadron are Maj. Bradley Dyer, Capt. Cody Moore, Capt. Samuel Moore, Capt. Jarred Prier, and Capt. William Schuh.
The 91st Operations Group team:
  • Competing for the 740th Missile Squadron are 1st Lt. James Douglas and 2nd Lt. Shawn Burnside.
  • Competing for the 741st Missile Squadron are Capt. William Wood and Lt. Kevin Johnson.
  • Competing for the 742nd Missile Squadron are Capt. Jared Miller and 1st Lt. Charles Bennett.
  • Competing for the 54th Helicopter Squadron are 1st Lt. Mary Bonaventure, 1st Lt. Matthew Walker, Tech. Sgt. Jason Powers and Senior Airman Caprice Heines.
The 91st Maintenance Group team:
  • The 91st MXG will be represented by Tech. Sgt. Dean Novasad, Staff Sgt. Kenton Roberts, Staff Sgt. Malcolm Salyards, Staff Sgt. Ryan Stocker, Senior Airman David Frost, Senior Airman Johan Riley, and Senior Airman Laura Trombley.
  • Also participating are Tech. Sgt. Ananh Torr, Tech. Sgt. Travis Wolflick, Staff Sgt. Michael Archer, Staff Sgt. Richard Knight, Staff Sgt. Matthew Mendez, Staff Sgt. Donald Nelson, Staff Sgt. Jonathan Sims, Staff Sgt. Adam Urban, Senior Airman Samuel Hollis, Senior Airman Haisen Exon, and Airman 1st Class Timothy Welter.
Security Forces teams for both the 5th BW and the 91st MW have not yet been chosen. A competition is scheduled for mid-August, and will be used to determine which Airmen will represent each Security Forces team.

Also participating in the Global Strike Challenge are Air Combat Command's 7th Bomb Wing from Dyess AFB, Texas, and 28th Bomb Wing from Ellsworth AFB, S.D., Air Force Reserve Command's 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, the 377th Security Forces Squadron from Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, the 219th Security Forces Squadron from the North Dakota Air National Guard and the 131st Bomb Wing from the Missouri Air National Guard.

Bomber operations and weapons load competitions have been held in June and July and will continue until September. Missile and helicopter operations and missile maintenance competitions are scheduled for September through October. Security forces combat skills competitions are slated for November, as is the official score posting.
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