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Global Strike Challenge load comp kicks off at Minot

By Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton, 5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs / Published April 14, 2010

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MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The 5th Bomb Wing joined six other bomb wings in Air Force Global Strike Command's first-ever load competition April 13 and 14 here.

The evaluation was based not only on the Warbird's hands-on skills, but also their knowledge in their respective career fields.

"This brings us back to the old SAC [Strategic Air Command] days and the Giant Sword competitions," said Senior Master Sgt. David Miles, AFGSC armaments assistant functional manager. "Through this competition, we will bring life back to the career field."

The units being evaluated are the 5th BW, 2nd BW at Barksdale AFB, La., 509th BW at Whiteman AFB, Mo., 7th BW at Dyess AFB, Texas, 28th BW at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., 131st BW - a Missouri Air National Guard unit and the 917th Wing - an Air Force Reserve unit at Barksdale AFB, La.

The evaluation team consists of career field experts from each of the active duty bases. Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz, AFGSC commander, dubbed the competition as the "Global Strike Challenge." The event is now scheduled to be an annual occurrence geared to showcase the new command's capabilities, as well as strengthening public support.

"This competition will encourage a culture of excellence and pride, develop elite highly disciplined airmen, build esprit de corps and recognize the best in the command," General Klotz said in a recent press release. "It will not only be the first-ever, we're expecting it to be the largest in a long time."

Since the end of the Cold War and the dismemberment of SAC, there has been no way for today's Airmen to "show off." This is something the Global Strike Challenge facilitates.

"This gives our guys an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of a huge audience," said Chief Master Sgt. Dan North, 5th Maintenance Group superintendent. "Our guys perform their mission flawlessly, even at 40 degrees below zero. The nature of their job can make it pretty thankless at times, but this gives them the recognition they deserve."

The chief said this is just one leg of an ongoing competition. During this leg, the focus is on the bomber maintenance mission. Other categories scheduled through the fall include bomber operations, security forces, missile operations and missile maintenance.

The competition features a two-fold charge assessing both the conventional and nuclear capabilities of each wing. But just like in any competition, there is contest among the best teams in each wing. The best teams in each wing will compete for bragging rights among the rest of the players.

"These teams are selected by squadron and group leadership," Chief North said. "They are selected for sustained excellence in duty performance over time."

"They are the rock stars from each of the career fields," added Master Sgt. C.J. Gillard, AFGSC B-52H Stratofortress armaments manager. "The teams include crew chiefs, weapons loaders, munitions handlers and various other support agencies, such as AGE [Aerospace Ground Equipment]."

The original "Bomb Comp" was created in 1948 by SAC to motivate crews and improve bombing accuracy.

"This is just another step along a very methodical approach to [strengthening] the Air Force's nuclear enterprise," General Klotz said.
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