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20 FW named meritorious unit

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kenny Holston
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The men and women of the 20th Fighter Wing have once again elevated their unit to a distinguished status by achieving the Meritorious Unit Award.

The announcement was made Oct. 1, at the headquarters level, Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, VA, before being relayed to Maj. Gen. Lawrence Wells, 9th Air Force Commander and Col Clay Hall, 20th Fighter Wing commander.

"It goes without saying, I am extremely proud of the men and women assigned to the 20 FW," said Hall. "The word unit is clearly stated in the award title and that's exactly how we obtained this recognition, by operating as one cohesive unit."

The MUA is awarded to recognize organizations for outstanding achievements or service in direct support of combat operations, as explained on the official Air Force personnel center webpage.

Airmen assigned to the 20 FW can expect the MUA to be reflected in their awards and decorations sections on the Air Force portal once the order has been published during the next few weeks, explained 20 FW Commander's Action Group personnel.

To attain this award, the 20 FW directly supported combat operations in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan from June 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012, deploying more than 5,000 personnel and flying more than 1,600 combat sorties, Hall explained.

"Selfless sacrifices were made by Airmen and their families all throughout the year to meet mission requirements," Hall explained. "That's just a testimony to how truly dedicated our Airmen are."

20 FW Airmen provided 9,700 hours of cover for Operations UNIFED PROTECTOR and NEW DAWN and generated a Theater Support Package to Kunsan Air Base, Korea in less than 3 weeks, enhancing regional stability following the demise of Kim Jong Il. In addition, the 20 FW executed a no-notice Operation NOBLE EAGLE tasking, securing the National Capital Region in the wake of Hurricane Irene, Hall explained.

"The precise execution of these tasks shows just how motivated and resilient 20 FW Airmen are," Hall said. "These Airmen stay ready to meet any challenge, anytime, anywhere."

To round out the year's accomplishments, the 20 FW showcased its combat readiness by earning an Air Combat Command 12-month high 87.1 percent pass rate for nearly 2,000 evaluations during the 2012 Logistics Compliance Assessment Program inspection. The 20 FW managed 85 assigned aircraft and flew over 22,000 hours while maintaining a Combat Air Forces F-16CJ fleet best 80.7 percent mission capable rate.