Minot takes trophies at Global Strike Challenge

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Team Minot members from both the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing participated in this year's Air Force Global Strike Challenge held around the command since April.

The challenge is the world's premier bomber, ICBM and security forces competition with units from major command's Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard.

Bomber operations and weapons load competitions were held from April to August, missile wing operations and maintenance competitions were held September to October and security forces combat skills competitions were held Nov. 13 to 16.

Capt. Joseph Hannigan and 1st Lt. Chad Porter from the 741st Missile Squadron were presented the McMahon Trophy for Best ICBM Weapons System Crew. Senior Airmen Ramiro Morin and Corey Woods from the 91st MW were presented the Best ICBM Sate Maintenance Team award. Senior Airmen John Bumbalough and Derek Turner from the 5th BW were presented the Best Bomber Nuclear Load Team Trophy.

Additionally, the 5th BW was presented with the Best Security Forces Tactics Trophy and the 91st MW won the Best ICBM SATCOM Trophy as well as the Linhard Award for Best ICBM Missile Operations Squadron.

Together, Team Minot won the Spirit Bell for "best display of what Global Strike Challenge is all about; mission heritage, team work, espirit de corps and team spirit".

The McMahon Trophy is a rotational trophy awarded for the best weapon system score. The McMahon Trophy is a new award and debuted at this year's competition. This trophy is named after Maj. Gen. Timothy J. McMahon.

The Linhard Trophy is a rotational legacy trophy awarded for the best missile crew. This competition marks the first time to award this trophy, which is named after Maj. Gen. Robert E. Linhard.

The Spirit Bell was first awarded in 1978 during the Giant Sword bomb loading competition. Judges and competitors awarded the Spirit Bell to the team that epitomized professionalism, teamwork and esprit de corps during the competition. The Bell holds special provenance with the Strategic Air Command and now AFGSC since it accompanied a B-52H Stratofortress crew on a Linebacker combat mission over North Vietnam in May 1972.

Under Secretary of the Air Force, Honorable Erin Conaton, and commanders of two major commands were in attendance at the awards presentation.

Host, Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, commander AFGSC, was also joined by Gen. William M. Fraser III, ACC commander, Maj. Gen. Floyd Carpenter, 8th Air Force commander, Maj. Gen. C. Donald Alston, 20th Air Force commander, command chiefs, industry leaders, community leaders and past winners for the culminating event in historic Hoban Hall at Barksdale AFB, La., Nov. 17.

Accomplishments like these reaffirm Minot's readiness to fulfill its nuclear deterrence mission worldwide.

Together, the 5th BW and 91st MW, are ready to fulfill their mission to develop and provide combat-ready forces for nuclear deterrence and global strike operations safe, secure, effective to support the President of the United States and combatant commanders.

"I'm extremely proud of what the Rough Riders were able to accomplish in front of so many of their peers and senior leadership," said Col. Fred Stoss, 91st MW commander. "Their hard work, precision and discipline is a statement to what it means to be a member of Team Minot. I also am very proud of the 5th BW's strong performance and morale!"

For more details on the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Challenge see http://www.afgsc.af.mil/library/globalstrikechallenge/index.asp.

[Editors note: Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs contributed to this story.]