Global Strike Challenge is the world's premier bomber, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, helicopter operations and security forces competition with units from Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard.
Goals
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Showcase the world’s premier bomber and ICBM force
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Foster esprit de corps through rigorous competition and teamwork
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Recognize outstanding AFGSC personnel and teams
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Improve our combat capabilities through competition and community crosstalk
People and Organization
Approximately 450 competitors take part in GSC competitions at various locations. Competition categories rigorously test security forces along with missile, bomber and helicopter operational and maintenance communities. Teams will have the opportunity to participate in events that require innovative thinking and teamwork; competencies that are central to the AFGSC mission. The following AFGSC units will participate in competitions run by AFGSC Headquarters:
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2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
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5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, North Dakota
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7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas
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28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota
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90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming
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91st Missile Wing, Minot AFB, North Dakota
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341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Montana
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377th Air Base Wing, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
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509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Missouri
Also participating are Air Combat Command’s 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Barksdale AFB, LA, Air Force Reserve Command’s 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, LA, the North Dakota Air National Guard 219th Security Forces Squadron and the 131st Bomb Wing from the Missouri Air National Guard.
Awards
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Bomb Wings compete for the Fairchild Trophy recognizing the Best Bomb Wing
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Missile Wings compete for the Blanchard Trophy recognizing the Best Missile Wing
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Bomb Wings compete for the Ellis Giant Sword Trophy recognizing the Best Maintenance Group
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Bomb Wings compete for the LeMay Trophy recognizing the Best Bomb Squadron
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Bomb Wings compete for the Mitchell Trophy recognizing the squadron with the Best Single Bomb score
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Missile Wings compete for the Klotz Trophy recognizing the Best ICBM and Helicopters Ops Teams
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Missile Wings compete for the Blackburn Trophy recognizing the Best Maintenance Group
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Helicopter squadrons compete for the Bourland Trophy recognizing the Best Helicopter Ops Team
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Security Forces compete for the Charlie Fire Team Trophy recognizing the Best Security Force Team
Global Strike Challenge Heritage
Global Strike Challenge recaptures a critical part of the Air Force’s nuclear heritage – competition. Since 2010, Global Strike Challenge pits the top security forces, bomber and missile maintenance, and bomber, missile and helicopter operations crews from Air Force Global Strike Command, as well as participants from Air Combat Command, the Reserve and Air National Guard, in head-to-head competition. The competition connects heritage and mission, while at the same time recognizing and celebrating the “best of the best” in weapons system and technical expertise.
History of Global Strike Challenge
Like bomber and missile competitions of the past, Global Strike Challenge returns to the roots and traditions of Air Force heritage by incorporating three major events into one competition: the former Proud Shield bomber competition, the former Giant Sword combat weapons loading competition, and the former Olympic Arena missile competition. The new competition builds on a celebrated past.
SAC Bomber Competitions
Bomber competitions began in 1948 when Strategic Air Command announced a competition to focus attention to improve bombing accuracy and aircrew proficiency. The following month three crews from each of SAC’s ten B-29 groups gathered at Castle Air Force Base, Calif., to compete in the first competition. Another competition was held in October 1949 at MacDill AFB, Fla.
The Korean War temporarily halted the competition but Gen. Curtis LeMay revived the event in 1951, and for the next nine years the competition would grow in size and scope, including the introduction of jet bombers and different categories such as radar navigation. The 1951 competition awarded the Fairchild Trophy to the best bombardment wing, in honor of Gen. Muir S. Fairchild, for outstanding results in the fields of bombing and navigation. Over the years, the competitions helped build morale and sharpen the competitive edge of SAC’s crews. The competition truly became international with the Royal Air Force fielding aircraft and crews commencing in the mid-1950s.
Six competitions were held during the Southeast Asia conflict. SAC revived the competition in 1974 with Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, and Royal Australian Air Force crews joining in 1977, 1978, and 1980, respectively. SAC conducted its final bombing competition in April 1992, mere weeks before the command’s inactivation on June 1, 1992. Bomber crews, however, occasionally participated in bombing competitions sponsored by Air Combat Command between 1994 and 2009.
SAC Weapons Loading Competition
As one of several measures to hone the technical skills of load teams, SAC held its first Munitions Loading Competition at MacDill AFB, Fla., in March 1958. A second competition, at March AFB, Calif., was held in October 1958, while two additional competitions were held at Bergstrom AFB, Texas, in 1959 and 1960. SAC halted the competition for the next 13 years as load crews were needed in support of contingencies, maintaining alert duties, and operations in Southeast Asia.
The headquarters restarted competition in 1974 under the name Giant Sword, during which aircraft crew chiefs joined the competition teams. In 1975 the competition moved to Ellsworth AFB, S.D., and expanded to include security police elements.
The 1976 competition established a precedent as SAC awarded the Chief Master Sgt. Barrentine Trophy to the best munitions competition team.
Ellsworth would be home for the next ten competitions with Fairchild hosting the competition beginning in 1986. The 1989 competition proved to be the final event of its type within SAC.
SAC Missile Competition
A missile combat contest, similar to the annual bombing competition long used by manned aircraft units in the Air Force, became a reality in 1967 with the advent of “Curtain Raiser." Unlike with bombing, live booster launches were not practical. Instead, precision, care, and other factors prior to actual launch determined the potential effectiveness of the missile strike for scoring purposes. For the competition, Headquarters developed a missile counterpart to the Fairchild Trophy. The 351st Strategic Missile Wing was the first recipient of the Blanchard Trophy, named after Gen. William H. Blanchard.
Funding and the Southeast Asia conflict prompted cancelation of the 1968 competition, but it was resurrected in 1969 under the name Olympic Arena. In 1971, Minuteman III missile teams joined the event. Participation was dramatically increased for Olympic Arena ‘72 which also marked the first time that Minuteman III was represented by both missile combat crews and a maintenance team.
Olympic Arena continued until the 1990s. Missile units participated in the final SAC missile competition in May of 1992. Even after that, missile units continued to participate in Guardian Challenge, a competition sponsored by Air Force Space Command, between 1994 and 2008.
Today’s Global Strike Challenge
Like its predecessors, Global Strike Challenge is designed to enhance readiness, teamwork, esprit de corps, mission pride and a competitive spirit. The competition is an amalgam of the best of the historic bomb competition and the former missile competitions. However, it is unique when compared to those competitions because it includes operations, maintenance and security forces participants from both the missile and bomber communities under Air Force Global Strike Command launching the beginning of a new tradition that celebrates the past.
Global Strike Challenge Trophies
Missile Unit Category:
Legacy Trophies
Blanchard Trophy
Awarded since 1967, this rotational legacy trophy will be awarded to the best missile wing. The Blanchard Trophy is named in honor of General William H. Blanchard who served as Strategic Air Command’s Director of Operations in the early 1960s during the command’s operational development of the nation’s ICBM force. Blanchard was serving as the USAF Vice Chief of Staff at the time of his death on 31 May 1966.
Blackburn Trophy
This rotational trophy will be awarded for the best missile maintenance. Dating back to the 1990s, this trophy is named in honor of Colonel Charles E. Blackburn who was a pioneer in ICBM maintenance and who helped refine maintenance practices for the Atlas, Titan, Minuteman, and Peacekeeper weapon systems.
Klotz Trophy
Awarded first in 2010 recognizing the Best in ICBM Operations, this rotational legacy trophy is named in honor of Lt Gen Frank Klotz, the first commander of Air Force Global Strike Command. This trophy will be awarded for the best missile operations.
Linhard Trophy
This rotational legacy trophy will be awarded for the best missile crew. This trophy which was first awarded in 2010 is named after Major General Robert E. Linhard. General Linhard served as a Titan and Minuteman launch officer and was appointed senior director and given a presidential commission as special assistant to President Ronald Reagan for nuclear issues and arms control.
Neary Trophy
This rotational legacy trophy will be awarded for the best EWO score. This trophy which was first awarded in 2010 is named after space pioneer and former Twentieth Air Force Commander Major General Thomas A. Neary. General Neary spent several years in missile operations at Malmstrom AFB. He then served in various staff positions in nuclear planning and missile force development. He held positions at Headquarters Strategic Air Command and the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff in Omaha, as well as Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, and Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium.
McMahon Trophy
This rotational trophy will be awarded for the best weapon system score. This trophy which was first awarded in 2010 is named after Major General Timothy J. McMahon. After missile operations duty at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., General McMahon held staff assignments at Strategic Air Command headquarters, the Air Staff, and at Air Force Space Command headquarters. General McMahon also served as the Director of Nuclear and Counterproliferation with the Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations at the Pentagon.
Bourland Trophy
This traveling legacy trophy was first awarded during the 2011 competition for the best helicopter squadron. The trophy is named in honor of Major Ken Bourland, a UH-1N helicopter pilot who served with a number of 20AF units and perished during a massive earthquake at Port Au Prince, Haiti on January 12, 2010.
Team and Individual Trophies
Best Missile Maintenance Team (MMT) Trophy – Awarded to the missile wing team compiling the highest MMT competition score.
Best Electronic Laboratory Team (E-Lab) Trophy – Awarded to the missile wing team compiling the highest E-Lab competition score.
Best Power, Refrigerator, and Electrical Team (PREL) Trophy – Awarded to the missile wing team compiling the highest PREL competition score.
Best Mechanical and Pneudraulics Team (MAPS) Trophy – Awarded to the missile wing team compiling the highest MAPS competition score.
Best Nuclear Munitions Team (MUNS) Trophy – Awarded to the missile wing team compiling the highest MUNS competition score.
Best Helicopter Tactical Trophy – Awarded to the helicopter crew compiling the highest tactical competition score.
Best Helicopter Aerial Fires Trophy – Awarded to the helicopter crew compiling the highest aerial fires competition score.
Best Helicopter Security Response Trophy – Awarded to the helicopter crew compiling the highest security response competition score.
Best Joint Fires Observer (JFO) Trophy – Awarded to the individual compiling the highest JFO competition score.
Bombardment Unit Category:
Legacy Trophies
Fairchild Trophy
Named for General Muir S. Fairchild, former USAF Vice Chief of Staff, the Fairchild Trophy has been awarded at every bomb competition since 1951. The trophy, which was donated by Hughes Aircraft Corporation, is awarded to the best bomber unit in the combined fields of navigation and bombing.
LeMay Trophy
The LeMay Trophy will be awarded for the best bomber operations category. First awarded in 1980, the trophy was named after the former CINCSAC General Curtis E. LeMay.
Ellis Giant Sword Trophy
This GIANT SWORD bomb loading legacy trophy will be awarded for the best bomber maintenance. General Ellis, former CINCSAC, donated his personal Order of the Sword presentation sword to honor maintenance personnel during the GIANT SWORD bomb loading and security competition in the early 1980s. The loading portion of this competition has a proud heritage that dates back to the SAC Weapons Loading Competitions established in 1958.
Mitchell Trophy
First awarded in 1988, the Mitchell Trophy will be awarded for the best bomb. This trophy is named after General Billy Mitchell, one of America’s aviation pioneers.
Eaker Trophy
First awarded in 1988, the Eaker Trophy will be awarded for the best B-1B squadron category. This trophy is named after the wartime 8AF commander General Ira Eaker.
Tibbets Trophy
The Tibbets Trophy will be awarded for the Best B-2 squadron category. This trophy was first awarded in 2010 and recognized the B-2’s first appearance in a bombing competition. The Tibbets Trophy is named after the 509th Composite Group’s first commander, Colonel Paul W. Tibbets.
Linebacker Trophy
This trophy is awarded for the best B-52 squadron category. Continuing the tradition established in 1974, the Linebacker Trophy is named in honor of those crews who participated in the Linebacker missions over North Vietnam between May and December 1972.
Bartsch Trophy
Awarded since 1978, the Bartsch Trophy is named in honor of Major James F. Bartsch, a 410th Bombardment Wing electronic warfare officer killed in a B-52 accident on 2 April 1977. The trophy was donated by the Association of Old Crows and is awarded for the best electronic countermeasures category.
Team Trophies
Best Conventional Weapons Load Team Trophy – Awarded to the bomb wing team compiling the highest conventional weapons load team score.
Best Nuclear Weapons Load Team Trophy – Awarded to the bomb wing team compiling the highest nuclear weapons load team score.
Best Conventional Aircraft Crew Chief Team Trophy – Awarded to the bomb wing team compiling the highest conventional crew chief team score.
Best Nuclear Aircraft Crew Chief Team Trophy – Awarded to the bomb wing team compiling the highest nuclear crew chief team score.
Best Conventional Munitions Maintenance Team Trophy – Awarded to the bomb wing team compiling the highest conventional munitions maintenance team score.
Best Nuclear Munitions Maintenance Team Trophy – Awarded to the bomb wing team compiling the highest nuclear munitions maintenance team score.
Security Forces Category
Charlie Fire Team Trophy
This trophy will be awarded for the best security forces team. This trophy is dedicated to all security police and security forces members who have given their lives in support of the U.S. Air Force’s nuclear mission. It bears mention that in past Giant Sword competitions, winning security and weapons load teams shared the Barrentine Trophy which was retired to the Enlisted Heritage Institute at Gunter AFB in 1994. The year 2010 marked the first time that a separate legacy trophy was be awarded to security forces.
Team and Individual Trophies
Best Security Forces Tactics Trophy – Awarded to the SF team compiling the highest SF Tactics competition score.
Best Security Forces Marksmanship (Firing) Trophy – Awarded to the SF team compiling the highest SF Marksmanship (Firing) competition score.
Best Security Forces Mental and Physical (MAP) Challenge Trophy – Awarded to the SF team compiling the highest MAP Challenge competition score.
Best M9 Shooter Trophy – Awarded to the top individual scoring the most combined points in the M9 competition.
Best M4 Shooter Trophy – Awarded to the top individual scoring the most combined points in the M4 competition.
Best M24 Shooter Trophy – Awarded to the top individual scoring the most combined points in the M24 competition.
Best M249 Crew Trophy – Awarded to the top crew scoring the most combined points in the M249 competition.
Special Awards
Spirit Bell
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 SAC and now AFGSC since it accompanied a B-52 crew on a Linebacker combat mission over North Vietnam in May 1972.
AFGSC Innovation Excellence Award
First awarded in 2014, this trophy promotes an ongoing culture of innovation across the spectrum of AFGSC mission sets. The trophy is awarded to the wing that is recognized for the best innovation (encompassing techniques, processes, and programs that enhance mission effectiveness or morale by achieving sustained results that maximize efficient operations).
Team Member Patches
Competitors, having completed their home unit’s competitive selection process, will be recognized with a patch denoting their team member status.
Global Strike Challenge as of 2023:
Global Strike Challenge is the world's premier bomber, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, helicopter operations and security forces competition with units from Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard.
Goals
- Showcase the world’s premier bomber and ICBM force
- Foster esprit de corps through rigorous competition and teamwork
- Recognize outstanding AFGSC personnel and teams
- Improve our combat capabilities through competition and community crosstalk
People and Organization
Approximately 450 competitors take part in GSC competitions at various locations. Competition categories rigorously test security forces along with missile, bomber and helicopter operational and maintenance communities. Teams will have the opportunity to participate in events that require innovative thinking and teamwork; competencies that are central to the AFGSC mission. The following AFGSC units will participate in competitions run by AFGSC Headquarters:
- 2d Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
- 5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, North Dakota
- 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas
- 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota
- 90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming
- 91st Missile Wing, Minot AFB, North Dakota
- 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Montana
- 377th Air Base Wing, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
- 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Missouri
Also participating are Air Combat Command’s 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Barksdale AFB, LA, Air Force Reserve Command’s 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, LA, the North Dakota Air National Guard 219th Security Forces Squadron and the 131st Bomb Wing from the Missouri Air National Guard.
Awards
- Bomb Wings compete for the Fairchild Trophy recognizing the Best Bomb Wing
- Missile Wings compete for the Blanchard Trophy recognizing the Best Missile Wing
- Bomb Wings compete for the Ellis Giant Sword Trophy recognizing the Best Maintenance Group
- Bomb Wings compete for the LeMay Trophy recognizing the Best Bomb Squadron
- Bomb Wings compete for the Mitchell Trophy recognizing the squadron with the Best Single Bomb score
- Missile Wings compete for the Klotz Trophy recognizing the Best ICBM and Helicopters Ops Teams
- Missile Wings compete for the Blackburn Trophy recognizing the Best Maintenance Group
- Helicopter squadrons compete for the Bourland Trophy recognizing the Best Helicopter Ops Team
- Security Forces compete for the Charlie Fire Team Trophy recognizing the Best Security Force Team
Point of Contact
Air Force Global Strike Command
Air Forces Strategic-Air
Public Affairs
245 Davis Ave. E Suite 198
Barksdale AFB, La. 71110
DSN 781-1305 or 318-456-1305
E-mail: AFGSC.PAworkflow@us.af.mil
(Current as of October 2024)