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News | Nov. 9, 2023

AFGSC names 2023 Global Strike Challenge winners

By Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs Air Force Global Strike Command

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.  –  

Air Force Global Strike Command announced the winners of Global Strike Challenge 2023 at the multi-month competition’s capstone event Nov. 8.

Global Strike Challenge is the world's premier bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile operations and maintenance, 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 participating.  

"This is a phenomenal event to show the American people, the Department of Defense and the rest of the Department of the Air Force how professional, skilled and awesome the men and women of the nuclear enterprise are," said Gen. Thomas Bussiere, AFGSC commander. "Tonight is a celebration of your excellence in this competition."

Top Honors of the night included:

Fairchild Trophy – Best Bomb Wing

28th Bomb Wing - Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota

Blanchard Trophy – Best ICBM Wing

341st Missile Wing - Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana

Other top honors included:

Bourland Trophy – Best Helicopter Squadron

37th Helicopter Squadron - 90th Missile Wing - F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming

Charlie Fire Team Trophy – Best Security Forces

341st Missile Wing - Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana

Ellis Giant Sword Trophy – Best bomber maintenance

28th Bomb Wing - Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota

The 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, won the Doolittle Trophy for innovation excellence. This trophy recognizes the innovation efforts of the base and their dedication to staying competitive in the 21st century.

The 5th Bomb Wing also won the Spirit Bell Trophy for the best team spirit.

The Shreveport-Bossier community presented the Barksdale Trophy to the Minot, North Dakota, community. The Barksdale Trophy is awarded to the community that goes above and beyond to support Airmen and families at an Air Force Global Strike Command wing.

Participants in the 2023 Global Strike Challenge included AFGSC’s nine wings plus units from Air Combat Command, Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard.

Bussiere told those attending that they now have a responsibility to share what they learned during the competition with their fellow Airmen.

"The competitors and the winners have an obligation to grow those around you stronger next year," he said. "Steel sharpens steel. You make those around you stronger so that they're representing you and your leadership at the next Global Strike Challenge.

"Tonight is all about you and what you do for our nation," Bussiere said. "Thank you for what you do."

GLOBAL STRIKE CHALLENGE 2023

Category

  

Winner

Fairchild Trophy for Best Bomb Wing

  

28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota

Blanchard Trophy for Best ICBM Wing

  

341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Montana

Klotz (Best ICBM and Helicopter Operations)

  

90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming

Security Forces

Charlie Fire Team Trophy

  

341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Montana

Best Security Forces Mental and Physical (MAP) Challenge Trophy

  

341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Montana

Best Security Forces Marksmanship Trophy

  

253rd Security Forces Squadron, Wyoming Air National Guard

Best Security Forces Tactics Trophy

   341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Montana

Best M4 Shooter

   219th Security Forces Squadron, Minot AFB, North Dakota, Master Sgt. Edward Keller

 

Best M18 Shooter

   377th Air Base Wing, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, Staff Sgt. Austin Fleming

 

Best M240 Shooter

  

509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Missouri, Senior Airman Ronnie Hopper

Best M320 Shooter

  

253rd Security Forces Squadron, Wyoming Air National Guard, Tech Sgt. Ashton Henry
Best Sniper   253rd Security Forces Squadron, Wyoming Air National Guard, Master Sgt. Brian Nafziger

ICBM Trophies

Operations

Linhard Trophy (Best ICBM Ops Crew)

   321st Missile Squadron, 90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming

 

Neary (best EWO Crew)

   12th Missile Squadron, 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Montana

 

McMahon (Best Weapons System Crew)

   321st Missile Squadron, 90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming

 

Maintenance

Blackburn

   90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming

 

Best ICBM Missile Handling Team

  

90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming

Best ICBM Electro Mechanical Team

  

341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Montana

Best ICBM Facility Maintenance Section Team

  

341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Montana

Best ICBM Missile Communications Maintenance Team

   90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming

Best ICBM Nuclear Weapons Maintenance Team

   91st Missile Wing, Minot AFB, North Dakota

 

Helicopter Trophies

Bourland (Best Helicopter Squadron)

   37th Helicopter Squadron, 90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming

 

Best Convoy and Aerial Interdiction

  

40th Helicopter Squadron, 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Montana

Best Launch Facility Recapture and Threat Detection

   37th Helicopter Squadron, 90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming  
Best Sensor Employment   40th Helicopter Squadron, 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Montana

Best Fires Observer

   90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, Staff Sgt. Timothy Cruz

Bomber Trophies

Operations

LeMay (Best Bomb Squadron)

   28th Bomb Squadron, 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas  

Mitchell (Best Bomb)

   37th Bomb Squadron, 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota  

Linebacker (B-52 Squadron)

  

23rd Bomb Squadron, 5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, North Dakota

Eaker (Best B-1 Squadron)

   28th Bomb Squadron, 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas

Tibbets (Best B-2 Squadron)

  

13th Bomb Squadron, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Missouri

Bartsch (Best Electronic Countermeasures)

  

93rd Bomb Squadron, 307th Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana

Maintenance

Ellis Giant Sword (Best Bomber Maintenance)

  

28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota

Best Conventional Munitions Maintenance Team

  

28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota

Best Conventional Weapons Load Team

  

28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota

Best Conventional Aircraft Crew Chief Team

  

509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Missouri

Best Nuclear Bomber Weapons Maintenance Team

  

509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Missouri

Best Nuclear Aircraft Crew Chief Team

  

5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, North Dakota

Best Nuclear Weapons Load Team

  

5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, North Dakota

Other Awards

Doolittle Trophy for Innovation Excellence

  

5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, North Dakota

Barksdale Trophy (awarded to the best community support for an AFGSC base)

  

The Minot, North Dakota, Community

Spirit Bell (awarded to the team who best represents Global Strike Challenge teamwork and esprit de corps)

   5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, North Dakota