Global Strike Challenge 2014: Meet Malmstrom's 341st MOS ELAB team

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Editor's Note: This is part of a series highlighting the 2014 Global Strike Challenge teams.

Originally established in 1967, the "Curtain Raiser" was the first competition designed to test the skill of intercontinental ballistic missile wings in the U.S. Air Force. Today, the event is known as the Global Strike Challenge.

The GSC is the sole ICBM, bomber and security forces competition in the world with units from Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard all vying to be the best.

The goal of the contest is to recognize the hard working and dedicated personnel of AFGSC by showcasing their skills and teamwork through intense training and performance, which allows these Airmen to practice their readiness while providing safe, secure and effective nuclear forces.

In all, more than 450 Airmen will take part in the event at various locations across the nation. Only the best will claim the title of first place in their respective categories.

The skills of Malmstrom Air Force Base's 341st Maintenance Operations Squadron electronics laboratory team will be put to the test as they compete in the checkout, troubleshooting and repair of a guidance and control chiller test set.

During day-to-day operations, the test set is used to checkout and isolate the Minuteman III missile system's guidance section liquid cooling system. While in the field, the equipment has the capabilities of testing both electrical and hydraulic portions of the system.

This equipment is vital to the base's mission. If the missile's guidance cooling system fails it can cause the missile guidance set to overheat and become defective. Therefore, it is imperative the test set works properly and the personnel using it are trained to the best of their abilities.

While competing, Malmstrom's team as well as others from throughout AFGSC will be challenged on all their knowledge of the system and its components.

The following are the Airmen who have been selected to represent Team Malmstrom in the ELAB portion of the 2014 Global Strike Challenge.

Staff Sgt. Nick Buck, 341st Maintenance Operations Squadron electronics laboratory team member 




Staff Sgt. Nick Buck, 341st MOS electronics laboratory team member

Buck has been stationed at Malmstrom for more than four years and all of them have been spent as a member of the 341st MOS ELAB team. Some of his hobbies include crossfit training, sports of any kind and spending time with friends. He has been waiting for his chance to compete in the competition and is excited to finally participate, he said. On top of his training, he has also learned from watching teams from years past prepare and will use that knowledge to take first place.





Staff Sgt. Justin Kinder, 341st Maintenance Operations Squadron electronics laboratory team chief 




Staff Sgt. Justin Kinder, 341st MOS electronics laboratory team chief

Kinder has been stationed at Malmstrom for four years and has spent three and a half of those as a 341st MOS ELAB team member. He is an avid outdoorsman whose hobbies include hunting, fishing, mountain biking and skiing. For him, proficiency and attention to detail is extremely important. While in the work environment and during competition, being able to do the job correctly and in a timely manner is critical to support of the mission and winning the challenge.





The team has spent the last three weeks spending their time preparing to compete in the 2014 GSC. Gathering materials, reviewing procedures and going through the checkout multiple times has been a daily process for the duo. Their belief is that practice makes perfect, so they practice as much as possible.

"(Preparation) is a task our team is very proficient at," said Staff Sgt. Nick Buck, 341st MOS ELAB team member. "We have basically taken these (systems) apart and put them back together. We train as much as possible and delve into the troubleshooting procedures of the task since it is uncommon for multiple failures to occur in this equipment."

Aside from the many hours spent perfecting their skills the team has been looking forward to the day when they get to showcase their talent. After long days training and sleepless nights mulling over the fine details the ELAB duo believes they are ready for anything.

"I would say I'm looking forward to the actual competition day the most," said Staff Sgt. Justin Kinder, 341st MOS ELAB team chief. "I don't like the anticipation that comes with waiting so I just want to get to the challenge and do my best.

"I am proud to represent my squadron and base during this year's GSC," he continued. "I am confident that (my teammate and I) have what it takes to win and I look forward to the challenge."