Barksdale Profile: Building Bombs for Competition, Global Strike Challenge
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Updated: October 7, 2011
After two months of training, it all comes down to one moment for Staff Sergeant Sean Gunter, a conventional maintenance crew chief.
"Me and my team have been building these bombs on a regular basis. We're competing against all the other bomber bases and I'm proud to represent Barksdale Air Force Base" he says.
The munitions maintenance competition.
"What were doing out here is exactly what we would do during wartime and when we deploy this is exactly what we would do" says Captain Brian Sporysz, an operations officer at Barksdale Air Force Base.
Pre-flight checks, building three types of bombs and loading munitions onto the aircraft. But there is one big difference. This is not war. It is the Global Strike Challenge.
"It's that nice bragging rights to say 'Hey, we're better than you. We're number one. We got the trophy' and we look forward to bringing the trophy home this year" says Capt. Sporysz.
The teams compete against five other bases and are judged in a variety of categories including speed, accuracy, dress, appearance and even take a written test.
Airmen consider it an honor to represent Barksdale.
"It means a lot to me to have been selected for this team because our squadron is full of sharp troops and to be picked to represent my squadron means a lot to me" says Ssgt. Gunter.
There are several different challenges including a fork lift driving and tractor trailer competition. About 450 competitors take part in the Global Strike Challenge competitions at various locations beginning in June.
Scores are posted in November and a winner will be named.
"Me and my team have been building these bombs on a regular basis. We're competing against all the other bomber bases and I'm proud to represent Barksdale Air Force Base" he says.
The munitions maintenance competition.
"What were doing out here is exactly what we would do during wartime and when we deploy this is exactly what we would do" says Captain Brian Sporysz, an operations officer at Barksdale Air Force Base.
Pre-flight checks, building three types of bombs and loading munitions onto the aircraft. But there is one big difference. This is not war. It is the Global Strike Challenge.
"It's that nice bragging rights to say 'Hey, we're better than you. We're number one. We got the trophy' and we look forward to bringing the trophy home this year" says Capt. Sporysz.
The teams compete against five other bases and are judged in a variety of categories including speed, accuracy, dress, appearance and even take a written test.
Airmen consider it an honor to represent Barksdale.
"It means a lot to me to have been selected for this team because our squadron is full of sharp troops and to be picked to represent my squadron means a lot to me" says Ssgt. Gunter.
There are several different challenges including a fork lift driving and tractor trailer competition. About 450 competitors take part in the Global Strike Challenge competitions at various locations beginning in June.
Scores are posted in November and a winner will be named.
