After months of competition across the command, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) honored the “Best of the Best” in bombers, ICBMs, helicopters, maintenance and security forces during the November 8 scoreposting event.
During this “Best of the Best” event, another equally-important honor was handed out for the fourth time since it was created in 2017 – the Barksdale Trophy – given to the community with the most outstanding community support to an AFGSC base.
The community of Minot, North Dakota, took home the trophy this year.
“Congratulations to the Minot community on this well-deserved recognition. We were happy to provide a letter of support in August for Minot to be considered for the Barksdale Trophy. The Minot community’s unwavering commitment to the Minot Air Force Base and its men and women in uniform is a shining example for the entire nation,” North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum said. “We’ve also worked hard at the state level to make North Dakota the most military-friendly state in the nation, and this award highlights the positive impact of those efforts. We continue looking for opportunities to ensure that our state and communities are doing everything we can to support our military service members.”
“The state of North Dakota knows the importance of supporting military and Minot isn’t Minot without Minot Air Force Base. It is our honor to be able to support all who serve,” said Brekka Kramer, President | CEO Minot Area Chamber EDC, and a member of the AFGSC Civic Leader Program. “The men and women of the Minot Air Force Base are a 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 Leaders Bruce Christianson, Pete Hankla, and AFGSC Chief Civic Leader Carla Dolan traveled from North Dakota to Louisiana 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.
“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.
Minot won the trophy in 2019 and the City of Abilene, Texas, won the trophy in 2017 and 2021.
The criteria used in judging are:
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Community-based programs that positively impact the quality of life for airmen and their families.
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Community investment in infrastructure designed to benefit airmen, officers and families associated with the base.
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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.
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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.
The city of Minot will showcase the Barksdale Trophy throughout the community until 2025.
“It's an honor for our community to be recognized for providing the finest support to an Air Force Base associated with Air Force Global Strike Command,” said Mark Jantzer, Minot Task Force 21 Chairman. “It is a team effort that makes Minot a great community deserving of the Barksdale Trophy.”
PHOTO: Chief Master Sergeant Tori M. Jones, Command Chief, 5th Bomb Wing Minot Air Force Base; Colonel Daniel S. Hoadley, Commander, 5th Bomb Wing; Bruce Christianson, Member Minot Task Force 21, Member AFGSC Civic Leader Program; Carla Dolan, Vice President Minot Area Chamber EDC, Member AFGSC Chief Civic Leader Program; Peter Hankla, Board Member Minot Area Chamber EDC Board, Member Minot Task Force 21, Member AFGSC Civic Leader Program; Brekka Kramer, President | CEO Minot Area Chamber EDC, Member AFGSC Civic Leader Program; Colonel Kenneth C. McGhee, Commander, 91st Missile Wing Minot Air Force Base; Chief Master Sergeant Ernest D. Crider, Command Chief, 91st Missile Wing Minot Air Force Base