Global Strike Challenge 2014: Meet Malmstrom's 40th HS team members

Published Aug. 20, 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 and for Malmstrom's 341st Missile Maintenance Squadron, this means winning the coveted Blanchard Trophy, which Malmstrom hasn't secured since 2008.

For Malmstrom, The helicopter team will be challenging teams from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming and Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. Some of the operations they will be performing include tactical night flying, the recapturing of a missile launch facility, search and rescue actions and academic testing procedures.

This year, two tactical response force members are also joining the team to assist in competition exercises.

The following are selected to compete in this year's Global Strike Challenge competition for the 40th Helicopter Squadron.

Capt. Joe Burchell, 40th Helicopter Squadron instructor pilot

Burchell has been stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base for a year and a half and has been piloting UH-1N helicopters for more than six years. When asked about being selected for the Global Strike Challenge, he said it is an honor to compete with his teammates and to represent the culmination of hard work from Wing One's personnel.

Staff Sgt. Kyle Hart, 341st Security Forces Group Tactical Response Force flight chief

Hart has been stationed at Malmstrom AFB for a year and a half and enjoys the outdoors. When asked his thoughts on being selected to represent Malmstrom in the GSC, he said he was very happy to be a part of the team and is excited that he is one of the first TRF members to participate in the challenge with a helicopter crew.

Staff Sgt. Bob Kohlenberg, 40th Helicopter Squadron instructor flight engineer

Kohlenberg has been stationed at Malmstrom AFB for more than two and a half years and is an avid motorcyclist. In his words, it is an honor and a privilege to represent the best wing in the United States Air Force Global Strike Command. To train for the competition, he has been doing lots of pushups.

Tech. Sgt. Justin Nissen, 40th Helicopter Squadron instructor flight engineer

Nissen has been stationed at Malmstrom AFB for more than a year and a half and is married with two children. According to him, he has been training intensely for the competition by watching lots of movies with helicopters in them.

Capt. Samuel Shamburg, 40th Helicopter Squadron instructor pilot

Shamburg has been stationed at Malmstrom AFB for more than two years and currently goes by the name of "Captain Awesome." He has stated that he is trying to grow more hair on his head because he believes that if you look good, you will do good as well.

Senior Airman Isaac Lau, 341st Security Forces Group Tactical Response Force member

Lau has been stationed at Malmstrom AFB for more than a year and is also excited to participate in the GSC. He is the second TRF member training and competing with the helicopter team and has said he is ready to take the win for Wing One.

According to the helicopter team, they are ready for any challenge that may arise in the challenge and have trained to win. Over the past month, they have spent hundreds of hours going over every detail of the procedures they will be performing and have built a team bond that is a driving force behind their skills.

"I would like to thank Maj. Jeff Miser for keeping a level head during the spin up for the competition, and ensuring that our team was able to get some bonding time in prior to the GSC," Burchell said. "Also, I'd like to give a big thanks to the [helicopter maintenance team] for ensuring that we have enough serviceable aircraft and flight gear to support our ongoing missions here in Montana, as well as to participate in these types of events.

"These competitions encourage us and those around us to focus on the competency in the unit's core missions," he continued. "In all seriousness, it is an honor to compete with [this team] and represent all the hard work being accomplished here in Wing One."

Information from AFGSC contributed to the completion of this story. For more information on the competition categories, dates and times visit http://www.afgsc.af.mil/library/globalstrikechallenge/globalstrikechallenge2014.asp