Global Strike Challenge - a tradition of excellence

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Lloyd Buzzell and Lt. Col. Craig Ramsey
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  In late 1966, the Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command announced plans for the first SAC Missile Combat Competition. On Nov. 6, the second annual Global Strike Challenge will kick off in Shreveport, La., at Barksdale Air Force Base. It will mark the 44th anniversary of missile competition in the United States Air Force.

The History
The history and tradition of Global Strike Challenge started more than 40 years ago when it was called "Curtain Raiser" - the very first competition within the ICBM arena. In 1967, it was called the Strategic Air Command Missile Combat Competition, with only ICBM wings competing.

It started small, with two missile crews and a targeting team representing each of the six Minuteman and three Titan II wings. There was no competition in 1968 due to the Vietnam War, but SAC decided the following year that an event was needed to recognize and motivate the new missile force. It has continued ever since, transitioning from a SAC event, to an Air Combat Command event in 1993, and then became the Air Force Space Command Space and Missile Competition, "Guardian Challenge," in 1994. It was cancelled in 2003 and 2005 due to the war in Iraq and budget constraints, and the competition was moved to Peterson AFB, Colo., in 2006 and 2008. Since the event was changed to be held every two years, no competition was scheduled in 2007 or 2009. Air Force Global Strike Command has now named the competition "Global Strike Challenge" with missile crews, helicopter crews, bomber crews, maintainers from the ICBM and bomber disciplines, and security forces.

A Look Back at the Transformation
The early competition format offered something entirely new and challenging with extremely difficult simulator scripts designed around multiple problems and a provision for timing. Crews would not only be scored on how accurately they completed requirements, but how fast they did them as well. In 1969, the event grew a little, with two combat crews and two maintenance teams from each wing. The score postings for Olympic Arena '69 saw a serious and formal award ceremony with members in service dress was the format. Commendation medals for crew teams that won were presented and promotions for the enlisted winners were given. The 321st SMW won by 1.5 points that year.

The makeup of the wing teams evolved and changed many times over the next few years. In 1970, more varieties of missile maintenance teams meant larger wing contingents. In 1973, Minuteman I competition functions were conducted at FE Warren AFB, Wyo., since there was no longer a Minuteman I silo available at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Security forces teams became part of the event in 1975, and for the first time, females competed as team members. In 1976, civil engineer and communications maintenance teams were added. By 1977, there were 30 wing or team trophies, in addition to the Blanchard, that were presented.

Sizes of the team shrunk in 1978, due to financial considerations, with fewer competitors. For 1978, 1979 and 1980, the Titan maintenance events were conducted at McConnell AFB, Kan., because the Titan II site wasn't available at Vandenberg AFB, either.

In 1982, the name "Olympic Arena" was dropped, and the event was just called the Missile Combat Competition. That year, the 44th Strategic Missile Wing at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., edged the 381st SMW at McConnell by just one point to capture the Blanchard Trophy. The Titan missile wings finished 1-2-3 in 1983 over the Minuteman wings. That year, the 381st also joined the 351st SMW at Whiteman AFB, Mo., as the only unit to win the Blanchard Trophy four times.

In 1984, there were only two Titan wings left to compete. The term Olympic Arena was reinstated for 1986 as the Titan wings competed for the last time. For the 20th anniversary in 1987, the event was called "Olympic Shield," but Olympic Arena was back in use the next year.

The first year for female operations competitors was marked in 1988. For the first time, crews were also randomly selected for the event, and Peacekeeper missiles were a part of the event. In 1991, the 341st Strategic Missile Wing garnered the first ever back-to-back win.

In 1993, a new command was the host. This was the only year ACC hosted the event. It was also the last year for Olympic Arena.

The following year, Air Force Space Command was the home of the six Minuteman wings, and the command restructured the event into the Space and Missile Competition, with the space wings from Patrick, Vandenberg and Peterson Air Force Bases joining the competition. The event was changed to a squadron-level competition, with the Blanchard Trophy awarded for the best missile operations squadron and the Leffler Trophy for the best missile maintenance squadron. Security forces didn't compete in 1994, but returned in 1995 when helicopters also joined the competition. The 44th MW at Ellsworth deactivated in 1994, and the 351st MW at Whiteman competed for the last time.

To celebrate the merge of space and missile career fields, and the transfer of 20th Air Force to Air Force Space Command in1993, the competition was renamed "Guardian Challenge," reflecting space command's motto, "Guardians of the High Frontier."

In 1998, Guardian Challenge returned to a wing competition with the missile wings competing for the Blanchard Trophy. In 1999, the competition was scaled down to accommodate an increased operations tempo and reduced financial resources. Score posting was cut to one night and the competition ended a day earlier. In 2000, missile site chefs and code controllers competed for the first time. The 2003 competition was cancelled because of the commitments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This was only the second time in the history of the competition that it was cancelled. For the 2006 and 2008 events, competitors gathered at Peterson AFB for the final events but only the security forces competed there. All other competitive exercises were conducted at each unit's home base. The 341st Missile Wing won the Blanchard Trophy in the final ICBM competition under Air Force Space Command.

A New Page in History
Last year, a new page in ICBM history started when Global Strike Challenge consolidated the Air Force's missile competition and bomber competition. Under Air Force Global Strike Command's guidance, the competitive spirit of the last 44 years of ICBM competition evolved to encompass the history and style of Air Force bomber competition.

The competition goals include recognizing superior people; enhancing esprit de corps while strengthening teamwork; improving readiness and combat capabilities through preparation, innovation, competition and teamwork; creating competition-tough crews; and sending the message that the command is prepared to execute its mission when called upon.

The 90th Missile Wing won the Blanchard Trophy in the inaugural Global Strike Challenge completion, but 2011 is another year! More than 25 operators, maintainers and defenders from Wing One comprise this year's team, and they are focused and determined to bring the Blanchard Trophy back to its rightful home--Malmstrom AFB!

The tradition continues!

Editor's Note: The majority of the content for this article was extracted from the Association of Air Force Missileers Newsletter, September 2007 edition.