Maine wins 'Omaha'

Trophy recognizes excellence in strategic deterrence

By JO1(SW) Rick Collins - United States Strategic Command public affairs

USS Maine (SSBN 741), homeported here, is one of three recipients of the 2002 Omaha Trophy for the command’s outstanding contributions to strategic deterrence.

The other winners are the 91st Space Wing from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, and the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB in California.

The award is given annually to three operational units by the commander of STRATCOM, Adm. James Ellis. The three competitive categories are Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Command, a Submarine Ballistic Missile Command, and the original Strategic Aircraft Command.

The SSBN trophy was awarded to Cmdr. Kevin Zumbar and Cmdr. Jeffery Hoyle, the commanding officers of USS Maine, at a ceremony in STRATCOM’s headquarters building. The remaining commands will receive their trophies at a later date.

The annual competition for the trophies is extraordinarily keen according to Maj. Robert Mayfield, STRATCOM’s 2002 Omaha Trophy program manager. He said this makes the selection process difficult due to the quality of the finalists in each of the categories.

Mayfield explained that the STRATCOM selection panel only reviews the best in each category. He said there might be one finalist or multiple finalists per category and the Air Force or Navy “brass” usually determines who those are.

“When we get the packages, we usually only get two out of all the boats out there doing STRATCOM’s mission – one from the Pacific Fleet and one from the Atlantic Fleet,” said Mayfield. “Essentially, we are getting their number-one picks, so the competition between the two boats is pretty tight.”

Mayfield explained the panel members look for a variety of items in the nomination packages but other than following written general competition guidelines, the individual commands competing in each category decide what they want to submit for consideration.

For example, some of the information Mayfield said the packages received from USS Maine and the other SSBN finalist, USS Georgia, included mission-related data, how the subs faired in Navy inspections ranging from battle stations to safety and formal awards earned by the crews during the previous year.

“USS Maine was picked as the winner because it had won the Battle E competition and both Maine crews performed exceptionally well on their Tactical Readiness Exams and were lauded as the best Trident crews in the area of strategic operations,” said Capt. Michael Oliver, one of eight STRATCOM selection panel members.

Mayfield said each year a new group of officers, almost always 0-6s and above, are selected to comprise the selection panel. Each member represents a different career field bringing a different perspective, personal experience and point of view that they share with other panel members during the selection process. This process ensures the panel’s knowledge base is broad enough to encompass as many mission-related aspects of each category as possible.

“We have a multi-service 0-6 panel representing a variety of different specialties in the Air Force and Navy,” Mayfield said. “What the board members bring to the selection panel is what it can come down to in the final selection.”

And the Strategic Consultation Committee is aware of the difficulty the board has in making the final decision.

“I’m aware of the high standards used to select the team that is honored and the great pride that goes with the units that receive the awards,” said Ken Stinson, the committee’s chairman. “It’s an extremely prestigious award and, on behalf of the committee, I proudly join Adm. Ellis in congratulating USS Maine.

“I ask you to relay to your crews how much the people of our region appreciate your service to our country. This is from the heartland and I think we have a heart-felt appreciation and respect for those who are serving in our armed forces. Many of those you serve with are our sons and our daughters. We’re proud of them and we’re proud of all of you for what you do for our country, so on behalf of the people of Omaha – thank you!”

Unique to the Navy, all ballistic missile submarines have two commanding officers because they have two crews – a blue and gold crew. The need for two crews is necessary because the submarines spend so much of their time underway.

Hoyle was at sea with his crew preparing for a major exercise involving Maine’s first-ever launch of two Trident missiles. Hoyle said the exercise was a very important test and evaluation of his ship’s mission capabilities.

“It was a huge boon to crew moral to win the award,” Hoyle said. “The timing was perfect since we got to launch missiles the next day and we celebrated that launch and the award by having Omaha steaks for dinner that night and a cake with missiles and a trophy cup on it. Written on the cake was, ‘Congratulations – Birds Away.’”

Zumbar agreed about the impact on those he leads on underway deployments, which last nearly 80 days at a time.

“They have a lot of things on their plates and for them to be able to receive this type of recognition for a year’s worth of work is really a big boost to their satisfaction for the job they’re doing,” said the blue crew’s skipper.

More than 30 years ago, the citizens of Omaha, Neb., through a special community relations group known as the Strategic Air Command Consultation Committee, wanted to show their appreciation for the vital work being done at the large military base located on their city’s southern edge.

Starting in 1971, the citizen’s plan was to present an award, or trophy, to the command’s best air wing as determined by the SAC commander. The award recognized the hard work of the wing’s men and women, normally 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

During the Cold War-era, SAC headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base was the hub of activity in the air leg of America’s three-pronged nuclear deterrent triad of air, land and sea forces.

The community group is now known as the Strategic Consultation Committee, SAC evolved into STRATCOM and the command’s mission has grown to encompass all of America’s defense and deterrence capabilities.