Mighty Deuce named 2015 best strategic bomber wing

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joseph A. Pagan Jr. and Senior Airman Benjamin Raughton
  • 2nd Bomb Wing

The 2nd Bomb Wing here was presented the 2015 Omaha Trophy for U.S. Strategic Command’s (USSTRATCOM) best strategic bomb wing during a ceremony today. The award recognized Team Barksdale’s outstanding support of the command’s strategic deterrence mission and their dedication to providing a safe, secure, effective and ready deterrent force.

U.S. Navy Adm. Cecil D. Haney, USSTRATCOM commander, and Mr. W. Gary Gates, Strategic Command Consultation (SCC) Committee member, presented the Trophy, noting the winning organization demonstrated “the highest standards of performance in support of USSTRATCOM’s global, diverse missions.”

“It’s all about you and your ability to work as a team that make all the accolades you received here over the last year.” Haney said. “It’s great for me to get back to Barksdale and salute you for your remarkable performance. Not just through the period of time for the Omaha Trophy, but to include everything you’ve done even since then. You’re still doing great things.”

The Omaha Trophy, presented annually, was originally created by the SCC in 1971 to show appreciation to the command’s best wing.

Since then, the tradition has evolved to unit-level awards that recognize USSTRATCOM’s premier intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) wing, ballistic missile submarine, strategic bomber wing and global operations (space/cyberspace) unit. This year, a new category was added to include the combatant command’s top strategic aircraft wing. Those receiving awards represent organizations throughout USSTRATCOM which are critical to the command’s primary mission to detect, deter and prevent strategic attacks against the United States and its allies.

Other 2015 Omaha Trophy winners include:

- ICBM: 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana

- Ballistic Missile Submarine: USS Wyoming (SSBN 742), Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia

- Strategic Aircraft: 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington

- Global Operations: 460th Space Wing, Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado

“I can’t thank you enough,” Haney said. “As one team, I encourage you to continue with your Omaha Trophy-level performance as you fly through 2016.”