Wing garners Outstanding Unit Award

Published Dec. 11, 2007
By Senior Airman Stephen Collier
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- The men and women of the 21st Space Wing have been awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

The award, presented to the wing by Gen. C. Robert Kehler, commander of Air Force Space Command, covers the period of Oct. 1, 2005 through Sept. 30, 2007, in which wing personnel "demonstrated world-class execution of their primary missions of space superiority and missile warning in 46 units in five countries.

"I'm extremely proud to be a 21st Space Wing Knight, the best wing in Air Force Space Command," Col. Jay Raymond, 21st SW commander, said. "The accomplishments of this wing reflect on the quality of the Airmen that proudly wear the 'Strength and Preparedness' patch."

During the two-year period, the 21st SW, according to the citation accompanying the award, activated and deployed the nation's first dedicated defensive counter space unit, activated a second offensive counter space unit, transferred an operational unit to the Alaskan Air National Guard and led five major system modifications.

"The 21st SW is on the forefront of space superiority and truly is a cornerstone in the defense of this nation and its allies," Colonel Raymond continued. "The work our people perform everyday, whether military or civilian, helps defend our nation and our allies."

But the wing didn't stop there. Contributing to the National Missile Defense Agency, men and women from the 21st SW took the lead in upgrading two ground-based radars, costing more than $480 million. That upgrade contributed to the MDA's successful test intercepts on mock intercontinental ballistic missiles, proving missile defense was possible.

The wing also supported civilian agencies, namely NASA, with more than 78 million orbital observations reported to analysts at the Joint Functional Component Command for Space, providing "space situational awareness in protection of the International Space Station, the space shuttle and other high priority payloads."

"There's no doubt the enlisted Airmen of the 21st played a pivotal role in capturing this recognition," Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Omdal, 21st SW command chief said. "Anyone can look to (AFSPC), specifically the 21st Space Wing, and see the best and brightest America has to offer."

And the chief emphasized all wing Airmen, from full-bird colonels to one-stripers, should don and wear the AFOUA with pride.

"Each and every Airman should be proud to be a member of this wing, and this award just solidifies my feelings about that," said Chief Omdal. "Each Airman should remember an award like the outstanding unit award is built on teamwork, not by any one person."

The wing also contributed to the Global War on Terror, with more than 1,700 Airmen deployed to locations around the world to help take the fight to the enemy. Support Airmen from the wing also assisted their U.S. Army counterparts, deploying more than 34,000 Soldiers throughout southwest Asia on 523 airlift missions through Peterson.

The wing has been awarded the AFOUA four times prior, the most recent being for actions between Jan. 1, 2000, and Aug. 21, 2001.