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Maintenance Airmen compete in Global Strike Challenge

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Allison M. Boehm
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Approximately 20 of Barksdale Air Force Base's finest maintenance Airmen competed in the first Global Strike Challenge Aug. 17 to 18.

Months of training prepared Barksdale competitors to compete against more than 400 bomber-crew Airmen from: Minot Air Force Base, N.D.; Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.; Dyess Air Force Base, Texas; and Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., for the title of "best-of-the-best."

Missile crews from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont.; Minot Air Force Base, N.D.; and F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., are also competing in the challenge.

"I feel that we were among the top maintainers who competed," said Staff Sgt. Marice Goodson, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief. "This challenge not only helped boost morale but gave us a competitive edge against other squadrons and allowed us to see where we sit compared to other bases. We were prepped by our senior leadership; we knew the inspection criteria and were prepared for anything we could possibly be challenged with. I think we blew this challenge out of the water."

The selected Barksdale weapons loaders were judged on a conventional weapons load and a simulated nuke load, as well as, the accuracy of the load and safety requirements. Crew chiefs performed a pre-flight inspection and were also judged on a question and answer session. All of the Airmen were evaluated on dress and appearance and given a knowledge test of technical data.

"The performance our maintainers gave was exceptional and I'm confident it'll be reflected during the closing ceremony," said 1st Lt. Nicholas Welch, 96th Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer-in-charge. "We chose the best-of-the-best and they represented the 2nd Bomb Wing well."

The evaluation team consisted of career-field experts from each of the active-duty bases.

The official score-posting will be announced from Nov. 15 to 18, in concurrence with the Global Strike Challenge technology symposium at Barksdale.