22nd ARW earns 7th consecutive Meritorious Unit Award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Victor J. Caputo
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  The 22nd Air Refueling Wing received  the Meritorious Unit Award for the seventh consecutive year in recognition of the impact it has made in the continued success of global U.S. and allied missions.

A large contributing factor toward earning the award is the fact that the 22nd ARW led 42 percent of Air Mobility Command refueling missions using only 14 percent of the KC-135 Stratotanker fleet.

"This award goes to show how well the 22nd Air Refueling Wing executed its Air Force mission, fully supporting every combatant commanders' and Department of Defense leadership's goals across the world," said Col. Albert Miller, 22nd ARW commander. "We not only ensured the safety of Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen in combat safe by refueling the fighters and bombers patrolling the skies; our Airmen also refueled the fight in other ways as well. From expert Defenders keeping watch over the installation, either here or downrange, to our outstanding medics, who ensured the wing was combat-ready; each and every Airman refueled the fight!"

Wing personnel have led the way while preparing to receive the new Air Force tanker, the KC-46A Pegasus, awarding seven projects under budget, saving the Air Force $58 million, and preventing the unnecessary use of 30,000 square feet of redundant facilities around the base.

A plethora of Air Force-level awards and number one rankings also contributed to the award, ranging from top individual medical readiness levels amongst continental U.S. bases to being the home of the Air Force Provider of the Year in the Child Development Center.

"Airmanship is what happens here on a daily basis, from the lowest ranking Airmen, to our commanders, to our civilian teammates around base; we are a true team," said Chief Master Sgt. Shawn Hughes, 22nd ARW command chief. "We are dedicated to taking care of the mission and our families and it shows."