Bandits 'steal' Spaatz Trophy: McConnell's 349th ARS named best Air Force air refueling unit

Published May 13, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Armando A. Schwier-Morales
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- The "Bandits" swiped an award recently recognizing the most outstanding air refueling squadron in the Air Force.

The 349th Air Refueling Squadron "Bandits" garnered the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Trophy. The 2011 honors are the second time the 349th ARS has taken the trophy home within three years.

"I am extremely proud of the 349th ARS," said Col. Jamie Crowhurst, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander. "Their superior warfighter support, dedication and volunteering efforts paid off."

With less than 90 members, and more than half deployed at one time, the 349th ARS managed to complete the mission at home and abroad.

"You don't earn this trophy because it's recognition of sustained achievement," said Lt. Col. Andre Briere, 349th ARS commander. "It's really a marathon and that's what's gratifying about it, the fact that our extraordinary efforts are getting recognized."

The 22nd ARW posted a record of 42,000 flying hours, breaking the Air Mobility Command average by 43 percent. The 349th ARS ability to work as a team was also a contributing factor.

"I am happy to be part of this squadron because everybody is working hard and no one wants to be the person that's letting down everyone else," said 1st Lt. Daniel Ouper, 349th ARS executive officer. "We are willing to sacrifice something to make our squadron the best whether it be working a little harder, longer or doing extra work just to help out the next guy."

This effort was included the execution of more than 2,777 combat missions of loading approximately 35.2 million pounds of fuel to more than 1,800 receivers.

"Every flying unit in the Air Force does extraordinary things," said Colonel Briere. "We all look very similar when you match up what we do operationally because we are fighting three wars. What really set us apart is the culture of service in this squadron."

While completing the mission, the 349th ARS continued their history of volunteering in the local Wichita, Kan., community. From participating in Big Brother Big Sisters events throughout the year to providing scholarships for kids in need, the Bandits have garnered a more than 8,400 hours of community service.

"All the volunteering is during a period where we are experiencing our highest operations tempo in the history of this Air Frame," said Colonel Briere.

Weather it's helping Boy Scouts attain their Eagle Scout badges, refueling an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System, serving dinner to the homeless or performing an aeromedical evacuation, the 349th ARS will not stop, said Colonel Briere.

"Being the number one air refueling squadron in the U.S. Air Force two out of three years is very good," said Colonel Briere. "But for the 349th, our goal is to up the ante, and do more for the mission, BBBS kids and the Wichita community every year."