Global Strike Challenge 2014: Meet Malmstrom's 341st MOS MAPS 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.

During the 2014 GSC, Malmstrom Air Force Base's 341st Maintenance Operations Squadron mechanical and pneudraulics section team will perform a functional checkout, adjustment, repair and troubleshoot of a hydraulic pusher set, which is used to move the massive silo doors used in Malmstrom's missile complex.

MAPS maintains and repairs the nearly 1,000 nuclear-certified vehicles and pieces of equipment that supports the wing's Minuteman III ICBM weapon system deterrence mission. They also inspect 90 nuclear-certified gear handling pieces that are used for maintenance on priority-1 assets. Every day, these technicians hone their skills as they accomplish the mission and every problem that needed a resolution has helped the selectees for Malmstrom's 341st MOS PREL team prepare for the GSC challenge.

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


Tech. Sgt. Robert Jovin, 341st Maintenance Operation Squadron mechanical and pneudraulics section instructor  




Tech. Sgt. Robert Jovin, 341st MOS MAPS instructor

Jovin has been stationed at MAFB for more than 10 years. He has been a MAPS technician for more than four years and enjoys wrestling with his two children and playing board games. In his words, he is looking forward to crushing the competition and showing GSC that Malmstrom's 341st MAPS team is truly the best.







Staff Sgt. Matthew Tobin, 341st Maintenance Operations Squadron mechanical and pneudraulics section technician 




Staff Sgt. Matthew Tobin, 341st MOS MAPS technician

Tobin has been stationed on Malmstrom AFB for more than four years and has been a MAPS technician since March of 2013. In his words, he is deeply honored to represent Malmstrom and will do his best to positively represent his team. He would also like to thank his fellow MAPS technicians for all that they do and for their support of him and his teammates while they prepare to compete.







Airman 1st Class Marcus Potrock, 341st Maintenance Operations Squadron mechanical and pneudraulics section technician 




Airman 1st Class Marcus Potrok, 341st MOS MAPS technician

Potrok has been stationed at Malmstrom AFB for eight months and has been working as a MAPS technician for the same amount of time. According to him, job proficiency is of the utmost importance and doing the best job possible at all times for the mission is essential. To study for the competition, he has been working on the hydraulic pusher unit and reading over his technical orders every day, so he is fully prepared when the time comes.







"Competitions like this bring out the best in the competitors," said Tech. Sgt. Robert Jovin, 341st MOS MAPS instructor. "When a dedicated team spends so much time focused on a task, distractions are removed and they start innovating and improving the maintenance process.

"Furthermore, this allows each wing to demonstrate their maintenance capability and bolsters camaraderie between the wings."

Jovin and his team have spent hundreds of man-hours preparing to handle any task that may be thrown their way during the competition. On any given day, if someone were to enter their workshop, they would see tools spread about the floor and half-empty coffee mugs on countertops from the long days spent honing their skills for the competition.

With so much time dedicated to teamwork and perfecting their individual tasks, the three-man team acts more like a well-oiled machine than anything else. Taking first place is their goal and they have put in the blood, sweat and tears needed to make it a reality.

"We have trained harder, longer and are better prepared than any other wing in the competition," Jovin said. "We are ready."