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| Association of Air Force Missileers "Victors in the Cold War" - sponsors several awards to recognize active duty officer and enlisted missileers and missile units. Air Force Global Strike Command - On 1 December 2009, the Air Force ICBM force moved from Air Force Space Command to the new Air Force Global Strike Command. This move will result in changes to AAFM recognition progrtams - these changes will be announced when plans are final. Guardian Challenge will be replace with a Bomb and Missile Competition, most likely beginning in 2011. The General Samuel Phillips Award for Operations - awarded annually by Air Force Space Command to the outstanding missile operations squadron. General Phillips was a pioneer in intercontinental ballistic missile development. The recipient for the 2007 award was the 319st Missile Squadron, 90th Missile Wing, FE Warren AFB. The Colonel Edward Payne Award for Maintenance - awarded annually by Air Force Space Command to the missile maintenance squadron that does the most to improve the quality of life for maintenance technicians. Colonel Payne served both at Vandenberg and Ellsworth as a missile maintenance squadron commander and Deputy Commander for Maintenance. The recipient of the 2007 award was the 341st Missile Maintenance Squadron, 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB. Air Force Space Command Enlisted Recognition Program - AAFM is a sponsor of the annual Outstanding Airmen of the Year program, the program that results in the selection each year of the Air Force´s Twelve Outstanding Airmen. Our support helps fund events at Peterson AFB for those selected to compete at the AF Space Command level. We began this support through a generous donation from an AAFM member who served at Vandenberg in the early missile days, and continue with generous donations from several members. Guardian Challenge - The Space and Missile Competition, Guardian Challenge, which began as the SAC Missile Competition, Curtain Raiser in 1967, and continued as Olympic Arena from 1969 to 1993, is traditionally conducted annually at Vandenberg AFB, California. The event, now every two years, was 7-9 May 2008 at Peterson AFB, Colorado. Missile and space wing teams competed on their home turf, with the 20AF and 14AF evaluators going to each base for the comp exercises. Events at Peterson included the contractor expo, score posting and the awards banquet. AAFM was part of the expo and once again provided coins to each participant. The 341SW from Malmstrom won the Blanchard Trophy. The Schriever Trophy for Best Space Launch Wing was the 45SW, Patrick AFB. The Aldridge Trophy for Best Space Operations Wing was the 50SW, Schriever AFB and the new King Trophy went to the Space Development and Test Wing at Kirtland AFB. Air Force Enlisted Hall - AAFM Board Member CMSgt (Retired) Mike Kenderes was inducted to the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Hall as the first USAF enlisted member to be recognized for contributions during the Cold War. Mike was inducted in a ceremony in August 2004 at Peterson AFB. General Lord, AFSPC Commander, AAFM President Lieutenant General (Ret) Jay Kelley and the Director of the Enlisted Hall at Maxwell AFB Gunter Annex, Alabama, took part in the dedication at a luncheon attended by many AAFM members and attendees of the Space and Missile Pioneers meeting in Colorado Springs. Maj Gen Tom Deppe, the vice commander of AF Space Command, was inducted into the Enlisted Heritage Hall Wall of Achievers in 2007 - he was enlisted for eleven years, rising to the rank of technical sergeant, before being commissioned. Link: http://afehri.maxwell.af.mil/  CMSgt (Ret) Raymond Kelsay, a Life AAFM Member, served in Jupiter in Italy and Atlas in the 556 SMS, and lived in Las Vegas, NV LtCol (Ret) Francis (Frank) McDermott, a AAFM Life Member, served in Minuteman in the 321 SMW and lived in Ontario, CA |
