FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Two members of the 13th Air Support Operations Squadron took top prizes at the 2020 Phantom Challenge, which took place at and around Fort Carson, Colorado Aug. 3-7, 2020.
Staff Sgt. Joshua Walton, 13th ASOS joint terminal attack controller program manager, and Staff Sgt. Alexander Mutcher, 13th ASOS strike team supervisor, took home the award for best overall team, and Walton was awarded best individual performer.
“On all tasks, [Walton] outperformed the majority of individuals, and he was just the most consistent throughout the week,” said 1st Lt. Stephen Stein, 13th ASOS tactical air control party officer and JTAC evaluator. “Whether it was a physical event, a job related task [or] an academic test… SSgt Walton outperformed his peers.”
The 2nd place winners of the phantom challenge were SSgt Joel Fierro and SSgt Jonathan Anderson, 9th ASOS, Fort Hood, Texas and 3rd place went to SSgt Brandon Malinowski & SrA George Alverio, 13th ASOS, Fort Carson, Colorado.
The week long competition culminated with a 13 mile hike to the top of Pikes Peak, where each competition team and members of the 13 ASOS conducted the annual Major David Gray Memorial Pikes Peak Ascent. These two Airmen received their awards at a ceremony August 7, which took place at the 13 ASOS on Fort Carson.
“Phantom Challenge is significant because it pulls together Tactical Air Control Party members from across the Air Support Operations Squadrons allied with III Corps, in order to test their skills in a competitive environment,” said Col. Leland Cowie, 3rd Air Support Operations Group commander. “This event also serves as a stepping stone to prepare these Airmen for the global TACP competition, Lightning Challenge, to be held at Fort Hood the last week of October.”
Typically, each of the squadrons sends three teams, making a total of 12. However, concerns related to COVID-19 resulted in the 9th ASOS of Fort Hood, Texas, sending two teams, and the 10th ASOS of Fort Riley, Kansas, sending one, while the 7th ASOS of Fort Bliss, Texas, was not represented this year.
Lightning Challenge, like Phantom Challenge, is designed to test TACP Airmen’s mental and physical capabilities, provide direct and honest feedback regarding unit’s training effectiveness, and promote camaraderie during the week long competition. Unlike the Phantom Challenge, , TACPs from around the globe will travel to Fort Hood, Texas to participate in this year’s competition being hosted by 3 ASOG. The 13 ASOS will be sending Mutcher and Walton to Lightning Challenge to represent the 13 ASOS and 3 ASOG.