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Most outstanding contribution to flight in DoD

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. J. Paul Croxon
  • 319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The 906th Air Refueling Squadron was recently awarded the Air Force Association 2008 David C. Schilling Award.

According to the AFA's Website, the award is given to units with the, "most outstanding contribution in the field of flight."

The citation noted that the 906 ARS gave the, "most outstanding contribution to national defense in the field of manned flight in the atmosphere or space by either a military member or Department of the Air Force civilian, unit or group of individuals."

Those contributions included everything from wartime support to training and even humanitarian assistance.

"The most obvious contribution is the support we provide to the war fighter in [Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom]," said Lt. Col. William Snyder, 906 ARS commander. "We have crews deployed 365 days a year, providing air refueling support to close-air support aircraft and therefore the troops on the ground. "

The 906 ARS flew 800 combat sorties while maintaining a mission effectiveness rate of 98 percent. Additionally, the squadron offloaded 50 million pounds of fuel to aircraft supporting OIF, and another 10 million pounds of fuel to aircraft over Afghanistan.

"Additionally, we flew air refueling operations around the globe including Presidential travel and security, coronets moving fighter aircraft across the Atlantic and Pacific, and aeromedical evacuation missions transporting our wounded and sick Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and families, said Colonel Snyder. "Finally, we supported training and test/evaluation missions at Edwards AFB, Red Flag-Nellis and Red Flag-Alaska."

The 906 ARS had tough completion to win this award as noted my Colonel Snyder.

"This wing, the Air Force, sister services, and other federal agencies are overflowing with aviators and units engaged in amazing operations to protect this great nation," said Colonel Snyder.

"This award is a tribute to the exceptional Airmen in the 906 ARS and Grand Forks AFB," said Colonel Snyder. "The [906 ARS] Dakrats could not succeed without the incomparable leadership and support of the entire 319 Air Refueling Wing...which flew more than 31,000 flight hours last year."

Colonel Snyder will accept the award on behalf of the 906 ARS and team Grand Forks Sept. 15 at the 2008 Air and Space conference in Washington D.C.