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Minot wins Barksdale Trophy for outstanding community support

  • Published
  • By Carla Pampe
  • Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

After months of competition across the command, Air Force Global Strike Command honored the “Best of the Best” in bombers, ICBMs, helicopters, maintenance and security forces during a scoreposting event Nov. 20.

However, another equally-important honor was handed out for the second time since it was created in 2017 – the Barksdale Trophy – given to the community with the most outstanding community support to an AFGSC base.

The community of Minot, North Dakota, took home the trophy this year.

“They say ‘Only the Best Come North,’ and Minot couldn’t be prouder of the Minot Air Force Base and all who serve,” said Brekka Kramer, Vice President of Odney Advertising Agency, and a member of the AFGSC Civic Leader Program. “The men and women of the Minot Air Force Base are of part of our community. They are friends, neighbors, and for some of us, they are family. They fight for our country and make sacrifices, so we don’t have to.”

Kramer and fellow AFGSC Civic Leader Bruce Christianson, General Manager and CEO of the Magic City Financial Group, traveled from Minot to cheer on the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing teams at the scoreposting, and were on hand to accept the trophy on behalf of the City of Minot.

“Minot, the surrounding area and Minot Air Force Base are one community,” Christianson said. “It was an honor and our very pleasure to accept this award on behalf of all the people who truly made this award possible.”

The Barksdale Trophy is awarded to the community which has provided the highest level of community support to an air force base in the Air Force Global Strike Command over the preceding 24 months, said Murray Viser, President and Chief Operating Officer for Barksdale Forward, Inc. Barksdale Forward manages the award program on behalf of the communities of Shreveport and Bossier City.

“The competition for the Barksdale Trophy is intended to create an air of friendly competition between host communities in order to encourage creativity and ever-increasing levels of community support for each base within Air Force Global Strike Command,” Viser said.

The City of Abilene, Texas, won the first trophy in 2017.

The criteria used in judging are:

  • Community­-based programs that positively impact the quality of life for airmen and their families.
  • Community investment in infrastructure designed to benefit airmen, officers and families associated with the base
  • Community assistance and support in securing state and federal funding for infrastructure or programs beneficial to airmen, officers and their families, as well as the overall mission of the base.
  • Overall community hospitality, kindness, and acceptance of airmen, officers and their families.

Nominations are judged by Barksdale Forward, Inc., leadership and a select panel of former Air Force Global Strike Command commanders and vice commanders, Viser said.

The city of Minot will showcase the Barksdale Trophy throughout the community until 2021.

“It's an honor for our community to be recognized for providing the finest support to an Air Force Base associated with Air Force Global Strike Command,” Kramer said. “It is a team effort that makes Minot a great community deserving of the Barksdale Trophy.”