Operation Holiday Cheer, bringing good spirits to Malmstrom

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joshua Smoot
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Operation Holiday Cheer kicked off Dec. 11 and will last through Dec.19. It is a two-week extravaganza that brings Department of Defense ID card holders at Malmstrom Air Force Base, 18 years or older, together for some friendly competition.

"One of the biggest things we are trying to do with it is help give people a way to get out of the dorms and homes to have fun and build morale," said Master Sgt. Micheal Filipovich, 341st Missile Security Forces Squadron first sergeant.

The idea promotes camaraderie, communication and teamwork. More importantly, it is an opportunity to spread holiday spirit to all Malmstrom personnel. 

There are three tournament events that take place during OHC including wallyball, bowling and dodge ball tournaments. Each team participating in the tournaments consists of six players.

The events are free and include cash prizes for the winners, which can help out for holiday shopping.

Teams placing in first take home $300, while the second and third place teams take home $180 and $120.

Although the wallyball and bowling event have already taken place, there's still time to sign up for the dodge ball tournament which will take place at the fitness center Dec. 18 from 5-8 p.m.

All participants will be entered into a drawing to win a trip to Yellowstone National Park. The drawing will be held at the Wing Holiday Celebration Dec. 19 at the Grizzly Bend, and members must be present to win. Winners will receive $200 in gift cards to pay for the two-day Yellowstone trip.

This is Filipovich's first year running Operation Holiday Cheer.

"This is the time of year when people start to realize they are not with their family," Filipovich said. "For a lot of the individuals, this will be the first time being away from their family and spending the holidays by themselves.

"It gives them a chance to get out and it lets them know that there is still stuff to do here," she added.