Team Dyess brings home four awards from Global Strike Challenge 2015

U.S. Air Force Airmen from across the 7th Bomb Wing celebrate the results of the 2015 Air Force Global Strike Challenge Oct. 21, 2015, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. During the challenge, maintenance, operations and security forces teams from bomber and missile wings across the Air Force competed to be named best of the best. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman First Class Katherine Miller/Released)

Team Dyess brings home four awards from Global Strike Challenge 2015

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 7th Operations Support Squadron received the Eaker Trophy Oct. 21, 2015, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The trophy was awarded based on high-altitude bombing, time control, and special instructions completion and distinguished the 7th OSS as the best B-1B squadron. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman First Class Katherine Miller/Released)

Team Dyess brings home four awards from Global Strike Challenge 2015

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 7th Munitions Squadron pose for a photo after receiving the Global Strike Best Conventional Munitions Maintenance Team award Oct. 21, 2015, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The team competed in a Munitions Assembly Conveyer set-up, bomb assembly and tractor-trailer and forklift operations. The different competitions displayed the squadron’s ability to build and handle munitions in a well-organized, timely and safe manner. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman First Class Katherine Miller/Released)

Team Dyess brings home four awards from Global Strike Challenge 2015

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 7th Munitions Squadron receive recognition for earning Global Strike Challenge’s Ellis Giant Sword on behalf of the 7th Bomb Wing Oct. 21, 2015, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The award was presented to the 7th BW for overall best bomber maintenance, based on performance during bomber aircraft preflight, weapons build-up and weapons loading. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman First Class Katherine Miller/Released)

Team Dyess brings home four awards from Global Strike Challenge 2015

Published Oct. 23, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Katherine Miller
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Air Force Global Strike Command presented the 7th Bomb Wing four awards at a score-posting ceremony at the base theater here Oct. 21, following the fifth Air Force Global Strike Challenge that had ended earlier this month.

This year's Global Strike Challenge began in July of this year. Teams from different bomber and missile wings as well as operations, maintenance and security forces teams competed to be named "the best-of-the-best."

More than 450 Airmen from across Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard were a part of this year's challenge.

Dyess earned four different awards this year. The winners are determined based on teamwork and overall performance in different areas of expertise.

The Ellis Giant Sword Trophy, previously claimed by Dyess in 2010, was awarded to the 7th BW for overall best bomber maintenance. The award was named after Gen. Richard H. Ellis, former commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command who donated his personal Order of the Sword presentation sword in the early 1980's to honor the maintenance personnel during the Giant Sword bomb loading and security competition.

The Best Bomber Conventional Munitions Maintenance Team Award was also awarded to the 7th BW; this is the first year Dyess has been presented this award.

The Eaker Trophy, first presented in 1988 and named after the former 8th Air Force commander Gen. Ira Eaker, was awarded to the 7th Operations Support Squadron for best B-1B squadron. Dyess also received this trophy in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

During the challenge, the 7th BW best represented the esprit de corps and was awarded the Spirit Bell for the first time.

"This is a big deal from the Air Force and Global Strike Command prospective, and you should look at this as a big deal," said Col. Michael Miller, 7th BW vice commander. "The competition is not easy. There are a lot of good wings out there."

The Air Force Global Strike Challenge helps recognize outstanding AFGSC personnel, strengthen teamwork skills, enhance esprit de corps, and improve combat readiness to show that the command is prepared at anytime, anywhere.