American300, ODR support Do Something Amazing Challenge

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina Heikkinen
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Two members of Team Malmstrom were recently named two of three winners in the Air Force Global Strike Command "Do Something Amazing Outdoors" challenge.

Spearheaded by the American300 Warrior Tours and AFGSC's initiative to promote resiliency throughout the command, the contest asked Airmen to document their outdoor adventures from June 20 to Sept. 20 by using photography, print, video or any combination of outlets. The top three winners received a four-day all-expense-paid trip to a location of their choosing.
1st Lt. Lauren Tubesing, 341st Comptroller Squadron budget analyst, earned top honors after submitting an inspiring photo of Capt. Sarah Evans, former financial services flight commander of the 341st Comptroller Squadron.

"When Sarah deployed to Afghanistan she discovered that a large cancerous tumor was imbedded inside her hip," Tubesing said. "She returned to the United States, underwent numerous rounds of chemotherapy and was forced to have her leg amputated at the hip. Her attitude is the most amazing feature of all; she always has a smile on her face and says 'she is blessed and lucky.' She does something amazing outdoors with one leg, and has a huge smile every day."

"Captain Evans was very active in the outdoors while stationed at Malmstrom," Tubesing added. "She kayaked, white-water rafted and was a volunteer at Outdoor Recreation."

Senior Airman Tracy Wetzel, 819th RED HORSE Squadron pavement and equipment operator, took a different route with his creative "My Life in the Summer" video, which encompassed his outdoor adventures by using time-lapse photography in a documentary.

"As soon as Robi Powers announced the 'Do Something Amazing Outdoors' challenge, I immediately started documenting everything I did," Wetzel said. "I used a video camera and attached it to my helmet, kite and everything I used. From hiking to whitewater rafting, kite boarding here in Montana on the lakes and rivers, to scuba diving in Cocoa Beach, Fla., documenting my outdoor adventures gave me the chance to show my friends and family back home some of the things I love to do out here. "

In his many adventures this past summer, Wetzel incorporated snow-kiting, skateboarding, zip-lining, lobster fishing, scuba diving in caves, mountain biking and bow fishing in his video.

"Many of my trips I go on and the equipment I use are all because of Outdoor Recreation," Wetzel said. "I'm there at least six times a month volunteering or going on trips. ODR is such a great resource for Airmen because they offer so much at little or no cost."

For his winning trip, Wetzel will be going to South Padre Island, Texas, on a kite-boarding trip.

To view Wetzel's winning video on Youtube, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCLOZOEn9j4.

For more information on the American300 Warrior Tours, visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/TheWarriorTours?fref=ts.