MAJCOM commander presents awards during first visit

  • Published
  • By Valerie Mullett
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, presented three awards prior to the start of his commander's call here April 21.

The first presentation was a Bronze Star medal to Master Sgt. Michael Stoller, a vehicle management superintendent with the 341st Logistics Readiness Squadron. He also served in that role in his deployed location from April 2009 to March 2010 while assigned to the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne; who nominated him for this award.

In his citation, he is lauded for excelling as the supervisor of a vehicle maintenance team responsible for the operation and maintenance of more than 40 tactical vehicles, equipment and tools with a combined value of more than $10 million. He was responsible for ensuring the combat mobility of regional command south's principal stability effects organization. His exceptional oversight directly contributed to the unit's successful complete of 810 mounted patrols outside the wire. Additionally, at the height of the team's operations, he executed the complete relocation of the organization's maintenance facilities between two forward operating bases, while sustaining 100 percent of required unit combat missions. These are just some of the highlights of his deployment accomplishments.

Sergeant Stoller is proud of several things he accomplished while deployed but is most proud of increasing the inventory of MRAP vehicles available to his unit.

"When we first arrived in country, we were restricted from taking HUMMWV's on missions because of the IED's. The Provincial Reconstruction Team only had five Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and we were only able to do one mission at a time," Sergeant Stoller said. "I was able to acquire an additional 13 MRAP's. Having those additional assets enabled the agencies assigned to accomplish their mission."

General Klotz then presented the Colonel Lowell F. McAdoo Trophy to the 341st Operations Support Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Lloyd Buzzell. The award is presented annually to recognize the best overall ICBM operations unit in the command. Malmstrom has won this award each year from 1992-1996, again in 2000, 2001 and 2008 prior to being selected for 2009.

In the citation to accompany the award, it states the squadron has "unparalleled mission accomplishment in nuclear operations planning, minuteman missile combat crew training, cryptographic code handling and weather support. "

"Perfect targeting and coding are the foundation of our squadron, group and wing," Colonel Buzzell said. "Our training flight also sets the standard with our monthly training for our missile crews."

It further recognizes the squadron as being "an elite highly disciplined team of operators, instructors, chefs, facility managers and weather forecasters that set the standard for safe, secure and credible operation of a 13,800 square-mile missile complex."

"This award is an affirmation that our programs, processes and people are number one. All the hard work that is done every day translates into this award," Colonel Buzzell said. "A successful OSS sets the tone and foundation for a successful Operations Group and Wing."

Finally, General Klotz presented the 341st Missile Wing Commander Col. Michael Fortney, with the Colonel Lee R. Williams Award which recognizes the outstanding missile wing in Air Force Global Strike Command. Malmstrom has won this award 13 times dating back to 1963 and this is the third consecutive year Malmstrom has earned the coveted award.

Among the accomplishments cited, the wing operated and maintained 150 Minuteman III ICBM's with unparalleled excellence in support of the commander, United States Strategic Command's nuclear deterrence mission.

The wing flawlessly executed over 1,300 targeting actions and accelerated completion of the propulsion system rocket engine life extension program by 105 percent above the previous year's mark, according to the citation. Among other highlights recognized, the wing successfully completed 162 incident-free convoys and flawlessly managed the command's largest munitions and nuclear stockpile. Additionally, Team Malmstrom's revitalization of the nuclear weapons storage area with a technical plan and 24-hour training operations further ensured the wing's success at achieving the highest weapons production rate in the command.

"I am extremely proud of the Airmen of Malmstrom and this award reflects the great work they did in 2009," Colonel Fortney said.