384th ARS earns AFA Award for mission dedication

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Thornbury
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  The 384th Air Refueling Squadron here recently earned the 2015 Citation of Honor Award from the Air Force Association for their dedication to the global reach mission.

According to the AFA website, the Citation of Honors Award recognizes the outstanding contribution of an individual or organization to the development of aerospace power for the betterment of mankind. The Square-patchers are one of four squadrons awarded the Citation of Honor.

Lt. Col. Eric Hallberg, 384th ARS commander, emphasized that it is the Airmen's continued dedication to complete the mission that has driven them to success.

"The most important trait of our Airmen is their dedication to the mission," said Hallberg. "They exemplify a get-it-done attitude day-in and day-out."

The 384th ARS has a variety of missions that could include flying over combat zones while refueling other aircraft, hauling passengers, transporting patients and assisting special operations missions around the world.

In 2014, McConnell Airmen played a vital part in the attempt to seek and capture Joseph Kony, the leader of Lord's Resistance Army based out of Central Africa, by providing refueling support that enabled combat-equipped U.S. forces to stem LRA efforts. Since then, Kony and the LRA has not surfaced since.

"We set up a remote airfield in Africa to build ties with the Uganda government and push the LRA out," said Senior Airman Miguel Perez 384th ARS boom operator. "It was amazing to see how fast we could mobilize, relocate and complete the mission."

Hallberg expressed that the 384th was able to support the mission in Uganda, because of the  support they received from other Team McConnell squadrons.

"It is a unit award, but for the 384th ARS Airmen to put forth the effort, they needed the support from other squadrons and their families," said Hallberg. "We won the citation as Team McConnell. We understand that there are a lot of people who contributed to the efforts and we want to say 'thank you.'"