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

Published Sept. 12, 2014
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.

For Malmstrom Air Force Base's 341st Munitions Squadron team, this means they must excel in every aspect of their job so that when it comes time to compete for first place, they will be able to knock out the competition.

During competition, the team will be tested on the transfer and transportation of a Mark 12A missile assembly. They will also be performing installation and troubleshooting procedures on a missile component known as a re-entry vehicle.

This year, four Airmen will be representing Wing One's 341st MUNS in the 2014 Global Strike Challenge, and all of them have been training diligently so they will be fully prepared for when the challenges arise.

The following were selected to compete in this year's 2014 GSC competition as Malmstrom's munitions team.

Staff Sgt. James Flanigan, 341st MUNS team leader

Flanigan has been stationed at Malmstrom AFB for more than 10 years and has been a trainer for a year and eight months. Some of his hobbies include hunting, fishing, camping and spending time with friends and family. For him, staying proficient is an integral part of keeping the mission effective.

Airman 1st Class Jennifer Cook, 341st MUNS team member

Cook has been stationed at Malmstrom AFB for a year and a half and has been performing her duties as a munitions team member for the same amount of time. In her words, being proficient in her job means always doing the best under any circumstance. Every day she and her teammates are inspected for proficiency but it is also about doing it the right way even when no one is looking.

Airman 1st Class Matthew Gish, 341st MUNS team member

Gish has been stationed at Malmstrom AFB for a year and a half and has been performing his duties as a munitions team member for the same amount of time. According to him, nuclear maintenance is his job and his hobby. Every day he has been studying his technical orders and he believes that if the team competes the way they work, there is no question that they will win.

Senior Airman Andrew Ford, 341st MUNS team member

Ford has been stationed at Malmstrom AFB for three years and has been in his current job position as a munitions team member for the same amount of time. In his words, if his team maintains the same level of quality and proficiency they use in their daily operation, they will be fully prepared for what lies ahead. He is also inspired by his co-workers on a daily basis and would like to give them some special thanks.

In preparation to take on their rival competitors in the 2014 GSC, the munitions team has been going over all technical orders, Air Force instructions and other regulations affiliated with their jobs so they will be one step ahead of their fellow maintainers.

To them, winning is important but it still pales in comparison to the positive teambuilding the 2014 GSC inspires.

"These competitions build espirit do corps," said Staff Sgt. James Flanigan, 341st MUNS team leader. "They bring people together as a team who may otherwise not work together and also builds pride in the mission and brings us closer to our sister units.

"I am excited to perform as a team chief and show off our great technicians here at Malmstrom," he said.