The United States Air Force's Missile Combat Competition is a military competition that recognizes the intercontinental ballistic missile combat crews in the force.
History
Curtain raiser The first missile combat competition, named CURTAIN RAISER, ran from 3–7 April 1967.
United States' Strategic Air Command began the event to allow differing intercontinental ballistic missile units to compete for the title of "Best ICBM Wing".
Olympic arena While the second competition in 1968 was canceled, due to SAC commitments in Southeast Asia, the third competition was held on 19–23 May 1969. The competition was also redesignated OLYMPIC ARENA.Hagopian, M. and Del Papa, M. (1987) OLYMPIC ARENA: The Saga of SAC's Missile Combat Competition. 20 February 1987
Guardian Challenge
After the demise of the Cold War, the event was renamed Guardian Challenge and began to include space operations units, as well as ICBM organizations.
Global Strike Challenge After the transfer of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) from Air Force Space Command to Air Force Global Strike Command on 1 December 2009, Missile Combat Competition has been rolled up under a competition which will be known as Global Strike Challenge. Global Strike Challenge is Air Force Global Strike Command's competition for Air Force ICBM and Bomber Forces. The first Global Strike Challenge took place at Barksdale AFB LA in November 2010.
Blanchard Trophy Blanchard Trophy WinnersYearUnitBaseWeapon System1967 351st Strategic Missile Wing Whiteman AFB Minuteman II1968 NO COMPETITION HELD1969 321st Strategic Missile Wing Grand Forks AFB Minuteman II1970 44th Strategic Missile Wing Ellsworth AFB Minuteman II1971 351st Strategic Missile Wing Whiteman AFB Minuteman II1972 381st Strategic Missile Wing McConnell AFB Titan II1973 90th Strategic Missile Wing F.E. Warren AFB Minuteman II/III1974 321st Strategic Missile Wing Grand Forks AFB Minuteman II1975 381st Strategic Missile Wing McConnell AFB Titan II1976 341st Strategic Missile Wing Malmstrom AFB Minuteman II/III1977 351st Strategic Missile Wing Whiteman AFB Minuteman II1978 91st Strategic Missile Wing Minot AFB Minuteman III1979 390th Strategic Missile Wing Davis-Monthan AFB Titan II1980 381st Strategic Missile Wing McConnell AFB Titan II1981 351st Strategic Missile Wing Whiteman AFB Minuteman II1982 44th Strategic Missile Wing Ellsworth AFB Minuteman II1983 381st Strategic Missile Wing McConnell AFB Titan II1984 90th Strategic Missile Wing F.E. Warren AFB Minuteman II/III1985 308th Strategic Missile Wing Little Rock AFB Titan II1986 341st Strategic Missile Wing Malmstrom AFB Minuteman III1987 321st Strategic Missile Wing Grand Forks AFB Minuteman II1988 91st Strategic Missile Wing Minot AFB Minuteman III1989 351st Strategic Missile Wing Whiteman AFB Minuteman II1990 341st Strategic Missile Wing Minuteman II/III1991 341st Strategic Missile Wing Minuteman III1992 44th Missile Wing Ellsworth AFB Minuteman II1993 351st Missile Wing Whiteman AFB Minuteman II1994 91st Missile Group Minuteman III1995 341st Strategic Missile Wing Minuteman III1996 F.E. Warren AFB 1997 320th Missile Squadron F.E. Warren AFB Minuteman III/Peacekeeper1998 341st Strategic Missile Wing Minuteman III1999 91st Space Wing Minot AFB Minuteman III2000 Minuteman III2001 91st Space Wing Minot AFB Minuteman III2002 341st Strategic Missile Wing Minuteman III2003 NO COMPETITION HELDSpace.com: "Looming War Derails Guardian Challenge Competition", 19 March 2003 2004 91st Space Wing Minot AFB Minuteman III2005 Minuteman III2006 341st Space Wing Malmstrom AFB Minuteman III2007 Minuteman III2008 341st Missile Wing Malmstrom AFB Minuteman III2009 Minuteman III2010 90th Missile Wing F.E. Warren AFB 2011 90th Missile Wing F.E. Warren AFB2012 91st Missile Wing
See also Guardian Challenge LGM-30 Minuteman LGM-25C Titan II
References