Air Force Global Strike Command has cancelled its 2013 Global Strike Challenge competition, typically held at Barksdale AFB, La., due to budget shortfalls, according to a command release. “We regret cancelling Global Strike Challenge this year, but we’re committed to resuming in 2014,” said Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, AFGSC boss, in the April 19 release. “Global Strike sustains our culture of disciplined professionalism by putting our best airmen through the demands of high-visibility competition,” he added. Global Strike Challenge is an annual event meant to recognize the top performers in the Air Force’s bomber, ICBM, and security forces communities. Among its goals are to foster esprit de corps through competition and teamwork and improve combat capabilities through the competition and community crosstalk. The command has also scrapped this year’s technology and innovation symposium that’s normally held in conjunction with the challenge, states the release. (See also Whiteman, Minot Airmen Shine in Global Strike Challenge.)
The Air Force overall reduced its size by 120 aircraft in fiscal year 2021, but kept about the same number of fighter, bomber and attack aircraft, according to data supplied by the service. The F-35 fleet saw the biggest increase while the B-1B bomber fleet saw the largest decline.