More than Awards

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott G. Herrington
  • 148th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DULUTH, Minn. --  The 148th Fighter Wing recognized the efforts of its award recipients, recent retirees and hometown heroes in a ceremony Jan. 23, 2011 in the main base hangar. Plaques, certificates and other various awards were given to Airmen that had made a distinguishable mark during 2010, to retiring members for their selfless service, and to members eligible for the Hometown Heroes Award.

Members received awards from not only the 148th Fighter Wing, but the Air National Guard, National Guard Bureau and 1st Air Force as well. The accomplishments and exceptional qualities of the honored Airmen were read, providing the audience with a sampling of the ways that wing members have set higher standards for the rest of the Air Force.

Lt. Col. Scott Chambers received the Bronze Star for his efforts while deployed in Afghanistan in 2010. Lt. Col. Chambers, as the Commander of the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineers Squadron, 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, led a team of engineers, planners, project managers, and tradesmen in managing a Senior Airfield Authority made up of more than 1,000 acres and 300 facilities. Through his efforts, Lt. Col. Chambers oversaw 400 million dollars of construction, successfully directed an Emergency Operations Center, and greatly expanded the capabilities of Afghanistan's pre-eminent power projection platform.

The Family Readiness Group was awarded the Department of Defense Family Readiness Award for 2009, due to a superior family program which ensures wing members are able to deploy effectively, and the needs of their families are met during a deployment. This award is given by the Department of Defense to the top units in each of the seven reserve components.

A personalized, framed letter of appreciation coupled with the Hometown Hero Salute Coin were awarded during the ceremony to wing members having been deployed in support of contingency operations for 30 or more consecutive days away from home station since Sept. 11, 2001.

Retiring members of the wing were presented with a flag that had been flown over the 148th Fighter Wing in honor of their years of service, leadership, sacrifices and mentorship.

Every 148th Fighter Wing member received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. The award recognizes the top 10 percent of Air Force units who have distinguished themselves by clearly setting themselves apart from similar units through meritorious service or outstanding achievement. The wing's award worthy accomplishments included a deployment to Iraq, an Air Sovereignty Alert mission in which 148th pilots were the first to intercept a stolen Canadian Cessna near Michigan's Upper Peninsula, an "Excellent" rating in a phase-two Operational Readiness Inspection, and its support of Flood Fight 2009.