Malmstrom looks to 'four-peat' in Global Strike Challenge

  • Published
  • By Airman Elijah Van Zandt
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont --  The 2021 Global Strike Challenge finished its final event last week after several months of competition to decide who will be named as the U.S. Air Force’s premier missile wing.

The Global Strike Challenge is a biennial competition focusing on defenders, maintainers and operators.

The premier achievement of the competition is winning the Blanchard trophy for best intercontinental ballistic missile wing – an accolade Malmstrom has won the last three iterations of the challenge.

“The professionalism and dedication of our Airmen inspire me every day and their technical proficiency has created a proud heritage for Team Malmstrom in the Global Strike Challenge,” said Col. Anita Feugate Opperman, 341st Missile Wing commander. “I know the teams have worked extremely hard this year in preparation for the competition and we hope to bring the Blanchard trophy back to Great Falls.”

There are also several additional accolades teams can earn throughout the lengthy challenge, including the McMahon trophy, which is awarded to the best missile crew in the competition - and the Marksmanship trophy, awarded to the security forces team with the highest weapons firing score.

The small unit tactics competition, performed by teams of defenders, took place Sept. 20-24 at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming and formally ended this year’s competition.

Tech. Sgt. Christopher Zavalaromero, 341st Security Forces Squadron Global Strike Challenge team captain, competed with and supported Malmstrom’s team of defenders in Wyoming.

“Over the last 35 days, the team has accomplished incredible things and has grown to understand the dedication and commitment required to become the best Missile Wing in Global Strike,” Zavalaromero said. “Witnessing a group of individuals come together and perform at the level they did is more than I could have asked for.”

Other than security forces, Malmstrom fielded teams from the 341st Operations Group, 341st Maintenance Group, 341st Missile Security Operations Squadron and 40th Helicopter Squadron.

Teams who participated will travel to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, for the announcement of the results Dec. 8.