[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 13, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S1267]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE

 Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to compliment and 
honor the men and women of Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, MT. 
I recently visited the base to congratulate the personnel at Malmstrom 
for receiving an ``excellent'' rating during their Combat Capability 
Assessment.
  After two weeks of evaluations for technical proficiency and mission 
effectiveness, the 341st Space Wing's operations, security, 
maintenance, communications personnel and equipment were given an 
``excellent'' overall rating. A very high mark for this type of test.
  Col. Thomas Deppe is the leader of Team Malmstrom. He was absolutely 
correct when he said, ``It takes a championship team to accomplish our 
mission across 23,500 square miles of flight line on a daily basis, and 
we do it well.'' Indeed, they do it well. And they make Montanans and 
Americans extremely proud.
  In addition, Col. James Robinson, who is the Combat Capability 
Assessment team Chief, said that the CCA is one of the ``toughest tests 
a wing will ever experience.'' He also said that in the three years he 
has been administering the test, he has ``never seen results this 
good.''
  The 20th Air Force Combat Capability Assessment Team discovered what 
we have known in Montana for years--that Malmstrom is ``excellent.'' 
Mr. President, I can tell you from my recent visit to Malmstrom that 
those folks are very proud of this accomplishment, as they should be. 
I'm proud of them, too.
  That is why today I want to recognize them in this great Senate 
Chamber. And so I say congratulations to Col. Thomas Deppe and the 
341st Space Wing, and to all the men and women who work so hard to make 
Malmstrom Air Force Base what it is--``excellent.''

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