The Omaha Trophy, which is sponsored by the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) and the STRATCOM Consultation Committee, is awarded each year to U.S. military units with intercontinental ballistic missiles, strategic aircraft, strategic space and information operations, as well as to the best ballistic missile submarine.[1] The trophy is currently presented in four official categories:[2]

  • Global Operations
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
  • Strategic Bomber Operations
  • Submarine Ballistic Missile
Omaha Trophy
Omaha Trophy being presented in 2009
Awarded forExcellence in strategic deterrence
CountryUnited States
Presented byUnited States Strategic Command
First awarded1971
Websitehttp://www.stratcom.mil/

Selection for the award in each of the categories is based on formal evaluations, meritorious achievement, safety, and other factors, such as community involvement and humanitarian actions. This is then awarded to a notable person who has followed these values.

History

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The Omaha Trophy was created by the Strategic Command Consultation Committee, located in Omaha, Nebraska. The trophy was originally presented as a single trophy to a unit of the U.S. Air Force's Strategic Air Command (SAC) on behalf of the citizens of Omaha. The committee requested the trophy be presented annually to the command's best wing as a token of recognition and appreciation. It was first presented in 1971, with the number of awards increasing over the years as the U.S. Strategic Command's mission and structure changed. After the inactivation of Strategic Air Command and the creation of U.S. Strategic Command in 1992, the committee authorized two awards. One was for the best ICBM or fleet ballistic missile submarine unit, and the other was for the unified command's best strategic aviation unit. In 1998, the missile category was divided into two separate awards, with one to be presented to land-based units, and the other to sea-based missile units. In 2003, a fourth category was added. This new category was strategic space and information operations, which was used until 2006. It became the cyberspace category in 2007, and global operations in 2008.[3]

The current award of the Omaha Trophy reflects the command's primary missions, emphasis on strategic deterrence, and evolving role in global operations.[4] The trophy rotates between installations annually. Officials present a miniature, replica trophy or plaque and certificate to each winning unit after the presentation trophy has been returned at the beginning of the next competitive cycle.

Omaha Trophy Winners
Category Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Ballistic Missile Submarine Strategic Bomber Strategic Aircraft Global Operations
2005[5] 90th Missile Wing

F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming

USS Alaska (SSBN 732)

Naval Base Kitsap, Washington

5th Bomb Wing

Minot AFB, North Dakota

Joint Space Operations Center

Vandenberg AFB, California

2006[6] 90th Missile Wing

F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming

USS Louisiana (SSBN-743)

Naval Base Kitsap, Washington

509th Bomb Wing

Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri

Joint Task Force Global Network Operations

Arlington, Virginia

2007[7] *Awarded as the Deterrence Operation Trophy

341st Space Wing

Malmstrom Air Force Base, Great Falls, Montana

*Awarded as the Space Operations Trophy

Joint Space Operations Center (JSPOC)

Vandenberg Air Force Base, Lompoc, California

*Awarded as the Cyberspace Trophy

Joint Functional Component Command – Network Warfare

(JFCC-NW), Fort Meade, Maryland

2008[8][9] USS Maryland (SSBN-738)

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia

Strategic Communications Wing One

Tinker AFB, Oklahoma

2009[10] 341st Space Wing

Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana

USS Kentucky (SSBN-737)

Naval Submarine Base, Bangor, Washington

55th Wing

Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska

67th Network Warfare Wing

Lackland Air Force Base, Texas

2010[11] 91st Missile Wing

Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota

USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740)

Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, Ga.

5th Bomb Wing

Minot AFB, North Dakota

50th Space Wing

Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado

2011[12] 90th Missile Wing

F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming

USS Alaska (SSBN 732)

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia

55th Wing

Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska

67th Network Warfare Wing

Lackland Air Force Base, Texas

2012[13] 90th Missile Wing

F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming

USS Alaska (SSBN 732)

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia

Strategic Communications Wing One

Tinker AFB, Oklahoma

50th Space Wing

Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado

2013[14] 90th Missile Wing

F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming

USS Nebraska (SSBN 739)

Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Washington

509th Bomb Wing

Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri

67th Cyberspace Wing

Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas

2014[15] 91st Missile Wing

Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota

USS Alaska (SSBN 732)

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia

50th Space Wing

Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado

2015[16] 341st Missile Wing

Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana

USS Wyoming (SSBN 742)

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia

2nd Bomb Wing

Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana

92nd Air Refueling Wing

Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington

460th Space Wing

Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado

2016[17] 90th Missile Wing

F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming

USS Alaska (SSBN 732)

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia

5th Bomb Wing

Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota

92nd Air Refueling Wing

Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington

21st Space Wing

Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado

2017[18] 341st Missile Wing

Malmstrom AFB, Montana

USS Alabama (SSBN 731)

Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Washington

509th and 131st Bomb Wings

Whiteman AFB, Missouri

Strategic Communications Wing One

Tinker AFB, Oklahoma

460th Space Wing

Buckley AFB, Colorado

2018[19] 341st Missile Wing

Malmstrom AFB, Montana

USS Nevada (SSBN-733)

Naval Submarine Base Bangor, Washington

509th and 131st Bomb Wing

Whiteman AFB, Missouri

117th Air Refueling Wing

Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base, Alabama

21st Space Wing

Peterson AFB, Colorado

2019[20] 91st Missile Wing

Minot AFB, North Dakota

USS Alaska (SSBN-732)

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia

5th Bomb Wing

Minot AFB, North Dakota

Wing One Task Group 114.2

Tinker AFB, Oklahoma

100th Missile Defense Brigade

Schriever AFB, Colorado

2020[21] 90th Operations Support Squadron

F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming

USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN-730)

Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Washington

96th Bomb Squadron

Barksdale AFB, Louisiana

Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron FOUR

Tinker AFB, Oklahoma

2021[22] 12th Missile Squadron,

Malmstrom AFB, Montana

USS Alaska (SSBN-732)

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia

509th Operations Support Squadron,

Whiteman AFB, Missouri

Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron FOUR

Tinker AFB, Oklahoma

2022[23] 40th Helicopter Squadron

Malmstrom AFB, Montana

USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740)

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia

37th Bomb Squadron

Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota

Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 4 (United States Navy)

Tinker AFB, Oklahoma

2023[24] 341st Missile Wing

Malmstrom AFB, Montana

USS Kentucky (SSBN-737)

Naval Submarine Base Bangor, Washington

2nd Bomb Wing

Barksdale AFB, Louisiana

92nd Air Refueling Wing

Fairchild AFB, Washington

Omaha Trophy Honor Wall

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U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) and the Strategic Command Consultation Committee (SCC) unveiled the Omaha Trophy Honor Wall at USSTRATCOM headquarters on March 14, 2022. The Omaha Trophy Honor Wall showcases 125 patches from every unit that has received the award in chronological order with room for future recipient units. [2]

References

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  1. ^ Affairs, This story was written by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gretchen Albrecht, Commander, Submarine Group 9 Public. "USS Kentucky Awarded Omaha Trophy". Retrieved 28 September 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Strategic Command celebrates a legacy spanning over 50 years". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  3. ^ "Air Forces Cyber > Home". 24af.af.mil. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  4. ^ "U.S. Strategic Command - JSpOC wins third Omaha Trophy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  5. ^ "Omaha Trophy winners announced". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  6. ^ "Omaha Trophy winners announced". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  7. ^ "STRATCOM Units Win Prestigious Award - The Omaha Trophy". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  8. ^ "TACAMO Presented Omaha Trophy". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  9. ^ Jackson, Gordon. "USS Maryland awarded Omaha Trophy as a top ballistic submarine". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  10. ^ "Four Units Win Prestigious USSTRATCOM Award". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  11. ^ "Four Military Units Win Prestigious Omaha Trophy". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  12. ^ "Omaha Trophy winners announced". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  13. ^ "USSTRATCOM Announces Omaha Trophy Winners". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  14. ^ "USSTRATCOM Announces 2013 Omaha Trophy Winners". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  15. ^ "2014 Omaha Trophy Winners Announced". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  16. ^ "USSTRATCOM Commander Announces 2015 Omaha Trophy Winners". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  17. ^ "USSTRATCOM Commander Announces 2016 Omaha Trophy Winners". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  18. ^ "Omaha Trophy Winners Announced for 2017". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  19. ^ "USSTRATCOM Commander Announces 2018 Omaha Trophy Winners". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  20. ^ "USSTRATCOM Commander Announces 2019 Omaha Trophy Winners". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  21. ^ "USSTRATCOM Commander Announces 2020 Omaha Trophy Winners". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  22. ^ "USSTRATCOM Commander Announces 2021 Omaha Trophy Winners". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  23. ^ "U.S. Strategic Command Announces 2022 Omaha Trophy Recipients". U.S. Strategic Command. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  24. ^ "U.S. Strategic Command Announces 2023 Omaha Trophy Recipients". Air Force Global Strike Command AFSTRAT-AIR. 2024-02-15. Retrieved 2024-05-31.