BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. More than 400 airmen from Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Combat Command and reserve component begin arriving in the Shreveport-Bossier City, La., area this week for the final events of the first ever Global Strike Challenge. Minot Air Force Base airmen are among those attending.
Global Strike Challenge team participants include missile crew, maintenance and security forces teams from Minot AFB, Malmstrom AFB, Mont, and F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. Aircrew, maintenance and security forces teams from Whiteman AFB, Mo., Minot AFB, Dyess AFB, Texas, Ellsworth AFB, S.D. and Barksdale AFB, La., will also participate.
Ten security forces teams representing Global Strike Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard will compete in the Mental and Physical Challenge Monday.
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Submitted Photo
Col. Christopher Coffelt, vice commander of the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base, motivates airmen at a pep rally for the 91st Missile Wing’s Global Strike Challenge team send-off at the base Wednesday, shown in this photo by Airman 1st Class Aaron-Forrest Wainwright. Members of the missile wing’s Global Strike Challenge team are scheduled to leave for the competition in Louisiana Saturday.
The Mental and Physical Challenge is designed to test team members' endurance, agility and accuracy in a timed event to complete a variety of security forces skills.
The intense endurance course consists of combat skills evaluations including: reconnaissance, map and compass, operation in chemical environments, self aid-buddy care and grueling individual movement techniques.
Portions of the competition will take place at Fort Polk, La. and Camp Minden, La., with the culminating events taking place on Barksdale's East Reservation Nov. 15.
Results of the Security Forces competition, and the results of the missile and bomber operations and maintenance competitions will be announced during the Global Strike Challenge score posting event Wednesday at Barksdale's Hoban Hall. Winners of the security forces competition will take home the Charlie Fire Team Trophy.
Global Strike Challenge culminates with a symposium to be held at the Shreveport Convention Center Tuesday and Wednesday.
The two-day symposium will allow competitors and conference participants to exchange ideas about the Air Force's nuclear and global strike mission areas, officials said.
Numerous military experts will speak including Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command; Maj. Gen. Floyd Carpenter, commander of 8th Air Force; and Brig. Gen. Martin Whelan, director of the Nuclear Support Directorate, Defense Threat Reduction Agency. All are former commanders at Minot AFB.
A contingency of personnel from the 5th Bomb Wing and the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base will attend the Challenge final events.