USS Alaska Earns Fifth Omaha
Trophy
The Brunswick News,
Ga. | 7 Aug 2017 | by Gordon Jackson
ST.
MARYS -- An Ohio-class submarine home ported at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay
has won the Omaha Trophy.
The
ballistic missile submarine USS Alaska is no stranger to the award, winning it
for the fourth time since 2012, and a fifth time, overall.
Vice
Adm. Charles "Chas" Richard presented the trophy to the crew
Thursday, praising them for their hard work and dedication.
"You
have all worked incredibly hard to bring this trophy back to the Alaska for the
fifth time," Richard said.
The
award, created by the U.S. Strategic Command Consultation Committee based in
Omaha, Neb., and first presented in 1971, is in four different military land
and sea commands responsible for nuclear deterrence: global operations,
intercontinental ballistic missile, strategic aircraft operations and submarine
ballistic missile. Selection for the award in each category is based on
evaluations, achievement, safety and factors such as community involvement and
humanitarian actions.
The
Alaska spent 270 days at sea in 2016, conducting three strategic patrols,
including the longest continuous alert period of any unit from Kings Bay the
past four years.
"You
and your families should be proud of this," said Richard. "You
provide an invaluable asset to the U.S.'s strategic forces and provide peace to
the American people."
The
Alaska competed against the Navy's 13 other Ohio-class ballistic missile
submarines to earn the award. The boats, nicknamed "boomers," are
considered an undetectable launch platform for ballistic intercontinental
missiles as a retaliatory deterrent to nuclear attack.
The
two crews of the Alaska, that alternate patrols, also earned the 2016 Battle
Efficiency Award for the best command in Submarine Group 20.
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