RAF MILDENHALL, England - RAF Mildenhall was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for exceptionally meritorious service from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011.
During that period the 100th Air Refueling Wing accomplished its mission with a maximum degree of war readiness by responding to NATO calls to secure Libyan airspace.
Members assigned to the 100th ARW during that period are authorized to wear the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon on their "blues" uniforms. The 100th Force Support Squadron decorations section recently loaded the ribbon on affected members' records. The 100th Force Support Squadron recommends members check their records and if the ribbon is not loaded, contact the decorations section at DSN 238-2298.
In support of Operation Unified Protector and Odyssey Dawn, the 100th ARW flew 2,073 sorties, offloading more than 80 million pounds of fuel to more than 7,000 receivers from 14 coalition nations.
The wing's skill and oversight of a 12,000-hour, $37 million annual flying-hour program led to 95 percent mission effectiveness rate and supported more than 1,400 short-notice Joint Chiefs of Staff "Priority-1" missions without fail.
The 100th ARW was responsible for the readiness and welfare of more than 7,600 active-duty, civilian and local national personnel, and their dependents, while supporting more than 15,700 aerial operations from a World War II-era airfield. RAF Mildenhall operations served four Air Force major commands and five combatant commands.
Finally, the 100th ARW achieved "excellent" ratings in numerous inspections including the Logistics Compliance Assessment Program, the Air Traffic Systems Evaluation Program, the Standardization and Evaluation Program for Weather Operations, and completed an overall "excellent" performance during its compliance inspection by the U.S. Air Forces in Europe inspector general.
In addition to the 100th ARW, the following U.S. Air Forces in Europe units were also awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 17th Air Force, Ramstein Air Base, Germany (July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011); 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy (June 1, 2009 through May 31, 2011); 65th Air Base Wing, Lajes Field, Portugal Oct. 1, 2008 through Sept. 30, 2010); 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base (July 1, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2010); 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, Ramstein Air Base (July 16, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2010).
Facts about the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award:
Background
The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award was authorized by Department of the Air Force General Order 1, Jan. 6, 1954.
Criteria
It is awarded by the secretary of the Air Force to numbered units that have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding achievement that clearly sets the unit above and apart from similar units. The services include; performance of exceptionally meritorious service, accomplishment of a specific outstanding achievement of national or international significance, combat operations against an armed enemy of the United States, or military operations involving conflict with or exposure to hostile actions by an opposing foreign force.
Ribbon Description
The ribbon has a narrow red stripe, flanked by a thin white stripe, a wide blue stripe, a thin white stripe, edged with a narrow red stripe. A bronze "V" device is worn on the ribbon to denote award for combat or direct combat support actions.
Authorized device: Oak leaf cluster; valor "V" device
Weighted airman promoted system point value: 0