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Global Strike Challenge competitors return to Malmstrom

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kristina Overton
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Families, friends, co-workers and Team Malmstrom supporters congregated at the Grizzly Bend Club Nov. 18 for the return of the Airmen who traveled to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., for the score posting and awards ceremony of the inaugural Global Strike Challenge competition.

As the group entered the double doors of the ballroom, they were greeted with applause from more than 60 people who gathered to welcome them home and congratulate them on their job well done.

Leading the pack was Col. Anthony Cotton, 341st Missile Wing commander, who also traveled with the group to Barksdale. Proud of their accomplishments, the commander mentioned how Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, Air Force Global Strike Command commander, stated that the men and women of the 341st had the Esprit de Corps that rivaled anyone else at the competition. Their warrior chant was, "Aces in the Hole: Read em' and weep, Malmstrom, Malmstrom can't be beat."

The competition, which started as early as April, was meant to connect the command to its heritage while developing expertise and recognizing the "best of the best" in the bomber, missile and security forces missions.

The missileers, maintainers and defenders from Wing One were among 400 Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen selected to compete from Malmstrom and its two sister ICBM bases; Minot AFB, N.D.; and F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. Other competitors there were bomber aircrews, maintainers and defenders from Whiteman AFB, Mo.; Minot; Dyess AFB, Texas; Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; and Barksdale AFB.

The teams from Malmstrom put up a great fight in the overall competition, and as a result of their efforts, they brought home several prestigious awards.

The Operations Group won the best ICBM Emergency War Order Crew, also known as the Maj. Gen. Thomas Neary Trophy, thanks to the efforts of Capt. Kevin Hullihan and 1st Lt. Brian Marlow, 490th Missile Squadron.

The Thomas Neary Trophy is a brand new award, but especially significant to Malmstrom because General Neary was not only commander of the 341st Missile Wing, but also a former crew member at the 490th Missile Squadron.

Two of the four Maintenance Group teams were recognized for excellence during the awards ceremony of the competition. The Facilities Maintenance Team was acknowledged as the best FMT Team. Members included Staff Sgt. Kyle Babbert, Senior Airmen Jonathan Branch and Andrew Hinson.

The Missile Handling Team also won for being the best. Team members include Staff Sgt. Markus Maar, Senior Airmen Brad Christensen and Brent Schiermann, and Airman 1st Class Matthew St. Clair.

The Security Forces Group acquired two "best of" awards, to include the best Security Forces Endurance Team Trophy and the best M240B machine gun team. The best Security Forces Endurance Trophy winners included team members 1st Lt. William Glojek, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Tuckey, Senior Airmen Dustin Taylor, Hubert Johns III, and Airmen 1st Class Michael Travis, Robert Petruccello, Aaron Simpson, Oscar D'Lassalas and Alan Crawford. Sergeant Tuckey and Airman Taylor garnered the machine gun award for the team.

"You should be extremely proud of this team," said Colonel Cotton. "They represented this wing incredibly well. Not only in the field of battle, but in everything we did. Everyone had a great time, but everyone was smart about it. I couldn't be more proud."