ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
Members of the 459th Air Refueling Wing deployed three KC-135 aircraft, five aircrews and nearly 400 support people to the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, Miss., March 25 for an Operational Readiness Inspection.
The Air Mobility Command Inspector General held a week-long exercise exposing wing members to rigorous time-compressed scenarios that gauged the unit's Ability to Survive and Operate during attacks and demonstrate Self Aid Buddy Care.
"Our warriors should feel proud that their dedication and tenacity contributed to the successful conclusion of this inspection," said Col. Stephen D. Goeman, 459 ARW vice commander.
The wing received an overall strong "Satisfactory" in the four major areas: Initial Response, Employment, ATSO and Redeployment. Two of the four sub-areas were graded "Excellent."
The IG recognized the following exceptional performers and awarded each of them coins:
Capt. Kinda Eastwood, 459th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; Capt. John Stratton, 459 ARW; 1st Lt. Leroy Finch Jr., 459th Operations Support Flight; Chief Master Sgt. Tony Parris, 756th Air Refueling Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Michele Boyd, 459 ARW; Tech. Sgt. Derrick Jones, 459 AMXS; Tech. Sgt. Denise Patterson, 459 AMXS; Staff Sgt. Camacho Cardona, 459th Security Forces Squadron; Staff Sgt. Cyrene Fisher, 459 SFS; Staff Sgt. Robert Tull II, 459 ARW; Senior Airman Michael Rausch, 459 AMXS; Senior Airman James Ritchie, 459 AMXS.
The IG also recognized the following teams:
459th Civil Engineer Squadron Civil Engineer Minimum Operating Strip Cell Team, 459 ARW Religious Support Team.