F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- The 90th Operations Group participated in Global Strike Challenge 2021 at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Sept. 14-15, 2021.
“It’s important for the 321st Missile Squadron, because in our opinion, we have the best operators in the 90th Missile Wing and across 20th Air Force,” said 2nd Lt. Gramm Roberts, deputy missile combat crew commander, 321 MS. “This is an opportunity for us to prove that we can do our job with precision lethality.”
Operators within 90 OG face a variety of contingencies and job-related procedures over a two-hour period during Global Strike Challenge.
“We have to respond accordingly in accordance with all of our directives and tech data,” said Roberts.
Training inside of a missile procedures trainer for the challenge can generate a lot of stress, according to Roberts.
“The nuclear mission is a no-fail mission, so when we do our job, we have to do it with precision and we have to be right every time. The ultimate effect of us doing our job is lethality,” said Roberts.
Global Strike Challenge ensures that units are maintaining mission readiness and are capable of performing under pressure.
“Our nuclear umbrella is international,” said 1st Lt. Linda Rivera Matsuo, combat missile crew commander, 321 MS. “There are plenty of countries who are counting on us to be able to do that mission at a moment's notice.”
Operators need to be well-versed with their job in order to succeed in both the challenge and operational settings.
“The deeper knowledge of the weapon system, how it integrates down the chain, the big picture all the way up into the White House, usually equips us with better knowledge to make decisions toward Global Strike Challenge,” said Rivera Matsuo.
Global Strike Challenge is the world's premier Bomber, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, Helicopter Operations and Security Forces competition featuring units from Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard.