Ohio Air Guard unit earns Air Force award

COLUMBUS, OHIO, UNITED STATES

02.01.2008

Story by James Sims 

Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Springfield-based 251st Combat Communications Group,
commanded by Col. Norman Poklar, received the 2007 Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
signed by Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, Director, Air National Guard.

The decoration is awarded as a ribbon to any command of the U.S. Air Force (including
Reserve and Air National Guard) which performs exceptionally meritorious service,
accomplishes specific acts of outstanding achievement, excels in combat operations against
an armed enemy of the United States, or conducts with distinction military operations
involving conflict with, or exposure to, a hostile action by any opposing foreign force.

"For the last three years, the 251st and subordinate units had numerous challenges of all
kinds," said Poklar. "Our Airmen met these challenges with an enormous amount of energy,
dedication to the job and professionalism and I could not be more proud of all the men and
women of the 251st."

The unit is receiving the award for its performance from August 1, 2005 through July 31,
2007. During this time period, the 251st and its subordinate units participated in a number of
major exercises and deployments:

· providing communication and network engineering support to the National Guard
during the largest Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) exercise (2005)

· deployed to Camp Shelby, Miss., to provide communication and networking support
for National Guard units, local phone companies, emergency management agencies
and Army Civil Support Teams during the response to hurricanes Katrina, Rita and
Wilma (2005)

· completed the Air Combat Command Operational Readiness Inspections (2005 and
2006)

· provided communication support to the National Guard Bureau-sponsored exercise
Vigilant Guard (2007)

· supported Airmen deploying to Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom
251st subordinate units include the 217th Engineering Installation Squadron (EIS), Illinois Air
National Guard; 218th EIS, Missouri Air National Guard; 220th EIS, Ohio Air National
Guard; 239th Combat Communication Squadron (CBCS), Missouri Air National Guard; 241st
Air Traffic Control Squadron (ATCS), Missouri Air National Guard; 264th CBCS, Illinois
Air National Guard and the 269th CBCS, Ohio Air National Guard.

"The 251st combat communications group's dedication and commitment enhances the Ohio
National Guard's ability to perform peacekeeping, humanitarian relief and defense of the
nation missions," said Maj. Gen. Gregory L. Wayt, Ohio's adjutant general.

• Date Taken: 02.01.2008
• Date Posted: 02.01.2008 13:12
• Story ID: 15970
• Location: COLUMBUS, OHIO, US