Wing Receives Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Rich Curry
  • 507th Air Refueling Wing
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Oklahoma --  The Air Force Reserve Command has announced the 507th Air Refueling Wing has been selected to receive the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

The award recognizes the 507th ARW for exceptionally meritorious service from January 1, 2009 through July 31, 2010.

The 507th ARW was one of 14 AFRC wings receiving this award. During this period, the 507th Air Refueling Wing accomplished its mission with a maximum degree of wartime capability. Wing aircrews and maintenance members achieved an all-time record of 4,492 hours flown, with a stellar safety record, refueling 1,043 receivers with 6,922,900 pounds of fuel in support of the United Nations, as well as national objectives with Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, UNIFIED RESPONSE and NOBLE EAGLE.

The wing shattered flying hour records in 2010, with 735 flown in January and 678 in February and provided 495 volunteers for Expeditionary Air Force deployments, including direct contact with the enemy. The Maintenance Group achieved a deployed departure reliability rate of 96.77% and their annual Aircraft Mission Capable Rate repeatedly exceeded Air Force standards.

Wing aircrew and maintenance members proudly participated in Rim of the Pacific Exercise, the largest joint multi-national maritime exercise in the world, providing more than 2.2 million pounds of fuel to 314 aircraft while fearlessly leading first-time attending C-17s on 56 missions.

Beyond the wings flying mission, more than 500 wing members deployed world-wide during this period with their accomplishments contributing to the wing's success. According to wing commander Col. Jeffery R. Glass, "Our wing has one of the highest overall deployment percentage rates of any Air Force Reserve wing and our annual volunteer deployment rates exceed many active duty wings." Colonel Glass added that a majority of the wing's deployments came about from individual volunteers. "It's interesting to note that our members are deploying, primarily as volunteers. We could not accomplish this without the tremendous support we receive from Oklahoma employers. It would be fair to say that we share this award with all Oklahoma businesses employing our reservists," he said.

During the rating period, the wing' s activated Security Forces Squadron redeployed from Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq, where they were lauded for their exceptional airbase ground defense, protecting and defending soldiers, Airmen and Iraqi local nationals with exacting precision.

Members of the 72nd Aerial Port Squadron repeatedly deployed assuring the successful shipment of tens of thousands of tons of equipment and thousands of personnel. Wing medical personnel deployed in support of active duty backfill, humanitarian mission and combat support requirements. Likewise, wing civil engineers provided superior support while serving in locations across the country and in combat zones. Finally, the wing's 1st Aviation Standards Flight kept international airways safe through their inspection and certification of 100 navigation aids and over $2 million in precision radars, assuring all-weather combat operations. The accomplishments of all the wing's reservists contributed to the wing receiving

"Our wing impacts operations Air Force -wide and internationally. Throughout it all, this wing continues to excel in excellence. I am proud of their accomplishments," Colonel Glass said.