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Charleston Airmen accept Verne Orr Award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Melissa White
  • 437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Charleston Air Force Base members accepted the Verne Orr Award during the Air Force Association's 24th Annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington, D.C., Sept. 15.

"Our people are the best in working together to get the job done and that's exactly what the Verne Orr Award recognizes," said Col. John "Red" Millander, 437th Airlift Wing commander, in an interview after the ceremony. "They continually amaze me with their ingenuity, their hard work and their dedication to the mission and service to our great nation."

The 437th AW was named the Verne Orr Award recipient earlier this year for delivering more than 213 million pounds of cargo, 24,000 passengers, and executing more than 19,000 missions, 23 percent more than any other wing, with an Air Mobility Command-best reliability rate of 96 percent. The wing also developed an emergency fuel plan allowing 16,000 predator flight hours, a 30 percent increase from original planning. Leading AMC, the wing initiated the aerial port expeditor program, saving more than 199 man-hours per month and reducing the launch sequence of events by 55 percent.

"It is a fantastic recognition for our team efforts to 'Take the Fight to the Enemy!'  I'm so proud to command the No. 1 of 288 wings in the Air Force," said Colonel Millander.

To help represent the importance of the teamwork that earned this award, approximately 50 Airmen from the wing's organizational groups joined Colonel Millander in accepting the award.

"I felt honored to be part of the group that went up to receive the award," said Master Sgt. Eric Sifers, 437th Civil Engineer Squadron NCO in charge of expeditionary engineering. "It was great to represent the work and effort everyone in the wing has contributed to earn this recognition."

In addition to going to the awards ceremony at the AFA Conference, the group of Airmen had the opportunity to experience a Pentagon tour which included a chance to see the new Pentagon Memorial. They also received a tour of the United States Capitol and the Senate Chamber.

"It was great trip and I think it was definitely a learning experience for everyone who went," said Capt. Justin Ginther, 437th AW Command Post duty officer. "It's definitely an honor to be recognized as one of the best wings in the Air Force and it was awesome to have such great representation from every group."