9th RW earns Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Siobhan Bennett
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
The 9th Reconnaissance Wing has been awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for exceptionally meritorious service from June 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012.

This is the fourth consecutive year the 9th RW has earned this award.

During the time period, the 9th RW successfully engaged enemies in virtually every corner of the globe.

According to the citation, the 9th RW, "...worked at a blistering pace to ready their people and equipment for every contingency. They have been the first to bring revolutionary weapons and capabilities to bear, and they continue to maintain the best medical readiness rates in ACC, ensuring every Airman is a ready and capable weapon. The result of this diligent work has been widespread, leading to continuous home and combat success; Airpower at its finest."

The 9th RW provided intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to combat operations, sensitive reconnaissance operations, and treaty verification requirements throughout six combatant commands.

The 9th RW also flew more than 18,000 combat and operational missions, totaling more than 125,900 flight hours and more than 629,000 images in support of major theater combat and regional contingency operations. The wing provided intelligence support for Operation ODYSSEY DAWN and the NATO-led Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR.

Both U.S. Africa Command's Director for Strategy, Plans and Programs and the 17th Air Force Commander hailed support of these operations as "superb" and "heroic."

"I am extraordinarily proud of the hardworking men and women in our wing," said Col. Phil A. Stewart, 9th RW commander. "Earning this award recognizes the exceptional efforts our Airmen put forth on a day-to-day basis. My congratulations to them for a job well done and for making the wing and our unique mission here at Beale what it is today. It is nothing short of outstanding."