JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
The 89th Airlift Wing has been awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the wing's commander announced Nov. 23.
Colonel Steve Harrison sent an e-mail to Airmen of the wing congratulating them on the accomplishment.
"This significant achievement is a direct reflection of the outstanding pride, dedication, and unwavering sense of service that each of you have demonstrated throughout the past year," he wrote. "Your ability to execute the mission while showcasing the highest standards of professionalism consistently garners 'top honors' from both Air Force leadership as well as our nation's senior leaders."
Covering events from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009, this year marks the 22nd consecutive year for awards. Those assigned to the wing have already had their personnel records updated, military personnel section officials said.
"I am very proud of each of you, and I look forward to your continued success in the future ahead!" Colonel Harrison wrote. "SAM FOX!"
The 89th mission is enabling national interests through global transportation for America's senior leaders ... "Safe, comfortable, reliable, connected and protected!"
Highlights from this award period include:
- Wing aircraft flew 1,027 missions through 3.2 million miles to over 100 countries.
- It flew 1,618 hours in 656 sorties for 127 presidential support missions spanning 173,000 miles to 18 nations.
- They oversaw $132 million communications switch modification upgrading the world's oldest 747 with cutting-edge technology for White House support.
- The wing provided unprecedented access for National Geographic's "On Board Air Force One" series, which gave the public priceless insight to the mission.
- It deployed 47 warfighters for 7,039 days and 864 days of predeployment training.
- Crews flew 4,758 combat hours in 1,179 combat sorties.
- They delivered 268 tons of medevac assets on 162 missions to operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
- Air Force-unique Executive Airlift Training Center trained 56 pilots, 16 flight engineers, 18 communications systems operators and 12 flight attendants.
- With the lowest mishap rate in AMC, Air Force chief of staff hailed flight safety program as "outstanding."
- Team managed 5,262 transient alert missions with an unmatched 99.4 percent departure rate.
- Innovative aircraft scheduling drove 5,786 man-hour savings per year by eliminating administrative process waste and redundancy.
- Wing led launch and recovery of 11,297 aircraft lifting 15,670 tons of cargo and 95,486 passengers with a 99.8 percent on-time rate.
- Crews flawlessly flew 546 sorties through 20 countries for vice president, first lady, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the secretaries of state and defense.
- Airmen maintained Defense Department's $1.4 million airborne network lauded by CJCS as "best comms ever."
- Wing enabled diplomacy with the first operational use of diplomatic messaging system, making 20,000 mission changes without missing a clearance.
- Airmen performed 32.5 hours of aircrew intelligence training, qualifying 20 Air Force One and 250-plus 89th Operations Group aircrews.
- Wing led AMC's largest wing-level special security program, managing more than 200 special clearance investigation billets.
- Airmen awarded first and second places in premiere Flight Attendant Egress Competition at 2009 AMC Rodeo.