Minot Wings to Receive 2014 Omaha Trophy

3/5/2015 - OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- The 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, N.D., was named the 2014 Omaha Trophy recipient as the command's premier strategic aircraft operations wing, March 3, in recognition of outstanding support to U.S. Strategic Command's global strategic deterrence mission over the last year.

The 5th Bomb Wing joins the 91st Missile Wing, Minot AFB, N.D., 50th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, Colo.; USS Alaska (SSBN 732), and Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia; who were announced during the Nuclear Task Force Commander's Conference, Jan. 5, as the 2014 Omaha Trophy winners.

U.S. Navy Adm. Cecil D. Haney, USSTRATCOM commander, praised the organizations for demonstrating "the highest standards of performance in support of USSTRATCOM's diverse missions."

"We applaud the members of these professional units, and extend our heartiest congratulations on their selection for this prestigious award," he said. "I am proud of your contributions to our nation's defense."

Ken Stinson, Strategic Command Consultation (SCC) Committee chairman, said he is "proud to recognize the 2014 Omaha Trophy winners on behalf of the great city of Omaha and the surrounding communities."

"Congratulations and thank you for keeping our nation safe," he added.

The Omaha Trophy celebrates USSTRATCOM's premier intercontinental ballistic missile wing, ballistic missile submarine, strategic aircraft operations wing and global operations (space/cyberspace) unit. The tradition began as a single award in 1971, when the SCC created the trophy as a token of appreciation to (then) Strategic Air Command's best wing.

Those receiving awards represent units throughout USSTRATCOM which are critical to fulfilling the combatant command's primary mission: to detect, deter and prevent strategic attacks against the United States and its allies.

USSTRATCOM is one of nine unified commands under the Department of Defense and is responsible for strategic deterrence; space operations; cyberspace operations; joint electronic warfare; global strike; missile defense; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; combating weapons of mass destruction; and analysis and targeting. Adm. Haney utilizes various specialized subordinate commands and task forces to carry out USSTRATCOM's Unified Command Plan-assigned missions.