BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Capt. Ryan Allen, 20th Bomb Squadron radar navigator, does a pre-flight check on a weapon during the Bucc Smoke competition Aug. 3. The 20th BS weapons and tactics, scheduling and training flights have worked closely to plan, schedule and design the tactical objectives for the competition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman)

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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Airmen from the 20th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, attach an air cart to a B-52H Stratofortress during the Bucc Smoke competition Aug. 3. In order to do well in the competition, members of the 20th Bomb Squadron are required to integrate with various joint players in the mission planning phase. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman)

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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Tech. Sgt. Thomas Richey, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load team chief, performs pre-flight maintenance to a B-52H Stratofortress during the Bucc Smoke competition Aug. 3. Bucc Smoke fosters esprit de corp among the squadron while giving the 20th Bomb Squadron a chance to hone its tactical edge. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman)

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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Capt. Ryan Allen, 20th Bomb Squadron radar navigator, pulls the safety pin from a weapon during the Bucc Smoke competition Aug. 3. Flights will be held in the 60th Utah Test and Training Range and the Nevada Test and Training Range. The final score will be determined through a compilation of commit criteria, test scores, bomb scores and commander's input. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman)

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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Capt. Jamie Denton, 20th Bomb Squadron aircraft commander, pre-flight checks a weapon on a B-52H Stratofortress during the Bucc Smoke competition Aug. 3. The 20th BS weapons and tactics, scheduling and training flights have worked closely to plan, schedule and design the tactical objectives for the competition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman)

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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Capt. Jamie Denton, 20th Bomb Squadron aircraft commander, and Capt. Ryan Allen, 20th BS radar navigator, climb down a ladder after checking a weapon on a B-52H Stratofortress during the Bucc Smoke competition Aug. 3. Each flight crew is evaluated on their tactical plan and execution. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman)

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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Capt. Ryan Allen, 20th Bomb Squadron radar navigator, pulls the safety pin from a weapon during the Bucc Smoke competition Aug. 3. Flights will be held in the 60th Utah Test and Training Range and the Nevada Test and Training Range. The final score will be determined through a compilation of commit criteria, test scores, bomb scores and commander's input. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman)

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Barksdale's Buccaneers compete to participate in Global Strike Challenge

Published Aug. 9, 2010
By Airman 1st Class Allison M. Boehm
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Barksdale Air Force Base's 20th Bomb Squadron "Buccaneers" recently competed in the second annual Bucc Smoke competition from Aug. 3 to 6 to determine the key players who will compete in the Air Force Global Strike Command Challenge in November.

The competition allowed the aircrew to not only take part in extra training but employ like they fight.

Each member of the 20th BS competed, however, efforts were focused on the line aircrew who had the objective of dropping nine MK-82 500-pound bombs in the test and training fields of Utah and Nevada. Each crew was scored by its performance and points were awarded for the closest bomb to the target.

"The training this competition provided is invaluable," said Capt. Matthew Sanders, 20th BS B-52 electronic warfare officer. "Being able to perform our jobs and shake the targets is something that will really strengthen each crew's mission capability."

Capt. Michael Maginness, 20th BS B-52 weapons officer and instructor pilot, said although it was the aircrew of the 20th BS executing the competition, it would not have been possible without the "outstanding support of maintenance and the weapon's loaders, whose continued hard work enabled us to take advantage of opportunities such as this."

Members of weapons and tactics, training flight, scheduling flight and intelligence worked together to provide the 20th BS aircrew with a tough, precise and tactically-challenging scenario.

"The toughest part of this year's competition was the integration of many skill sets," said Captain Maginness. "The aircrew may excel at one skill or another, but the competition will test their ability to work as a crew and accomplish the mission."

In order to do well in the competition, participants were required to integrate with various joint players in the mission planning phase.

"This competition hones the tactical edge of the 20th BS and allows us to think and plan on a higher level of force integration," he said. "The performance of the squadron during Bucc Smoke will be used to gauge the squadron's readiness to execute a similar real-world tasking, as well as identify the aircrew that has gone above and beyond in the planning and execution phases."

Although the competition provided additional training, Bucc Smoke also promoted esprit de corps and camaraderie among the squadron.

The winner of the competition will be announced Aug. 13, with the winner of Global Strike Challenge being announced during the event's official score posting at Barksdale AFB Nov. 16 and 17.