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Air Force Global Strike Command Challenge 2021 Minot to Return Barksdale Trophy

Posted: Dec 06 2021

In 2019, Air Force Global Strike Command honored the “Best of the Best” in bombers, ICBMs, helicopters, maintenance and security forces during a scoreposting event called Global Strike Challenge. However, another equally-important honor was handed out for only the second time since it was created in 2017 – the Barksdale Trophy – given to the community with the most outstanding community support to an AFGSC base. Minot took home the trophy and has had it for the past two years.

“They say ‘Only the Best Come North,’ and Minot couldn’t be prouder of Minot Air Force Base and all who serve,” said Brekka Kramer, Vice President of Odney, and a member of the AFGSC Civic Leader Program. “The men and women of Minot Air Force Base are part of our community. They are friends, neighbors, and for some of us, they are family. They fight for our country and make sacrifices, so we don’t have to.”

Kramer and fellow AFGSC Civic Leader Bruce Christianson, General Manager and CEO of the Magic City Financial Group, traveled from Minot to cheer on the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing teams at the scoreposting, and were on hand to accept the trophy on behalf of the City of Minot in 2019. They will now travel back to Barksdale Air Force Base, along with Task Force 21 Chair and AFGSC Civic Leader Mark Jantzer.

“Minot, the surrounding area and Minot Air Force Base are one community,” Christianson said. “It was an honor and our very pleasure to accept this award on behalf of all the people who truly made this award possible.”

The Barksdale Trophy is awarded to the community which has provided the highest level of community support to an air force base in the Air Force Global Strike Command over the preceding 24 months, said Murray Viser, President and Chief Operating Officer for Barksdale Forward, Inc. Barksdale Forward manages the award program on behalf of the communities of Shreveport and Bossier City.

“The competition for the Barksdale Trophy is intended to create an air of friendly competition between host communities in order to encourage creativity and ever-increasing levels of community support for each base within Air Force Global Strike Command,” Viser said.

The city of Abilene, Texas won the first trophy in 2017.

The criteria used in judging are:

Community¬based programs that positively impact the quality of life for airmen and their families.
Community investment in infrastructure designed to benefit airmen, officers and families associated with the base.
Community assistance and support in securing state and federal funding for infrastructure or programs beneficial to airmen, officers and their families, as well as the overall mission of the base.
Overall community hospitality, kindness, and acceptance of airmen, officers and their families.

Nominations are judged by Barksdale Forward, Inc., leadership and a select panel of former Air Force Global Strike Command commanders and vice-commanders, Viser said.

“It’s an honor for the city of Minot and our community to be recognized for providing the finest support to an Air Force Base associated with Air Force Global Strike Command,” Jantzer said. “It is a team effort that makes Minot a great community deserving of the Barksdale Trophy.”