Photo By Master Sgt. Darin Hubble | The 122nd Fighter Wing proudly received the Carl S. Spaatz trophy, Sept. 13, 2015....... read more read more
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FORT WAYNE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ind. – The 122nd Fighter Wing proudly received the Carl S. Spaatz trophy, Sept. 13, 2015. This prestigious designation is presented annually to the highest-rated Air National Guard flying unit.
This award was adopted by the National Guard Association of the United States in 1967. It had been presented by the National Guard Bureau from 1949 until 1967, to recognize the most outstanding squadron in each existing Air Guard Wing. The award, named in honor of the first Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, General Carl S. Spaatz, is today presented to the overall outstanding flying unit in the Air National Guard, at NGAUS’s annual conference.
Selection of the winner is based on overall combat readiness during the reporting year and the unit's performance with respect to all other Air Guard flying units.
“The outstanding contributions of the 122nd Fighter Wing make them the most deserving of this award,” said Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, Director of the Air National Guard. “Their selection for this prestigious award reflects great credit upon themselves, the state of Indiana, and the Air National Guard.”
Factors included in the evaluation are flying safety; aircraft operation readiness; weapons firing; unit alerts; unit manning; skill level qualifications; retention; drill attendance; operational readiness inspections; outstanding accomplishments and special missions and exercises.
“It took every airman's due diligence and concentrated effort to ensure that the 122nd was able to receive this award,” said Col. Patrick R. Renwick, 122nd Fighter Wing Commander. “In fine fashion, the 122nd has taken the fight to the enemy and placed iron on target in an appropriate and efficient manner. At both home and abroad, Blacksnakes have proven that they can accomplish the mission successfully, that they are the proven choice in combat firepower and the first choice at homeland defense, Congratulations Blacksnakes!”
Some of the unit’s achievements that went into the selection of the award were exercises and mobilizations to include the 122nd Medical Group’s overseas annual training, Brave Defender, Combat Shield, Red Flag-Alaska, Green Flag and Silver Flag, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Inherent Resolve.
The notable accomplishments during this period were consistently deploying more than 300 members, on-time, to multiple areas of responsibility with no discrepancies and performing more than 1,986 home-station sorties; totaling 3,509 flying hours. The unit expended 82,000 pieces of ordinance, 28,000 gallons of A-10 fuel; pilot’s performed 133 wartime sorties, 107 Close Air Support and Combat Search and Rescue sorties culminating in 422 combat flying hours.
The unit’s high-visibility participation in American-led coalition operations; successfully destroying crucial enemy assets deployed for direct OEF support, made history by assisting in the bare-base stand up, as the 122nd Fighter Wing Operations Group Commander, Col. Mike Stohler assumed command of the reactivated 332nd Air Expeditionary Group. The 122nd was the first A-10C Squadron to support OIR, continuous CAS & CSAR, expending more than 272,000 pounds of Air-to-Ground munitions, 22,470 munitions in countermeasures, 47,000 30mm rounds and 110 rockets; supporting 12 A-10C’s on 718 combat sorties, racking up 3,575 flying hours while degrading OEF/OIR enemy capabilities.
The unit also deployed 25 expertly-trained Security Forces Defenders to support OEF/OND/OIR/CJTF-HOA with zero security incidents. The 122nd accomplished all of this while taking care of families and maintaining their 15th consecutive year of outstanding manning records at 105 percent end-strength, of 100 percent manning with a 96 percent retention rate; the unit is truly a bedrock for Indiana!
The 122nd Fighter Wing is a multiple recipient of the Carl S. Spaatz trophy. The award has been previously presented to the unit in 1959 and 1960.
| Date Taken: | 09.17.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 09.20.2015 14:49 |
| Story ID: | 176679 |
| Location: | FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 459 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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