4th FW awarded ACC Air Force Meritorious Unit Award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marissa Tucker
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Airmen here have yet another accolade to add to their ribbon rack and portfolio as the 4th Fighter Wing received its second Air Combat Command Air Force Meritorious Unit Award for its commitment to excellence both at home and downrange from May 2010- May 2011.

"This award acknowledges the hard work and dedication put forth by every 4th FW Airman each and every day," said Col. Patrick Doherty, 4th FW commander. "Every sortie, both combat and training, every convoy and every construction project was made possible through your contributions."

The award year was a stand-out year for 4th FW Airmen, as among many other accomplishments, they completed the first-ever six-month F-15E Aerospace Expeditionary Force deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, resulting in more than 4,000 combat sorties, 16,000 combat hours and 581,000 pounds of weaponry used on enemy forces with a hit rate of 96 percent. The wing also provided 100 percent security for Operation Noble Eagle.

This prestigious honor is awarded to Air Force active duty, Reserve and Guard units for exceptionally meritorious conduct in direct support of combat operations for at least 90 continuous days against an armed enemy of the United States on or after Sept. 11, 2011. The unit must display outstanding devotion and superior performance while completing extremely difficult tasks to set it apart from other units with similar missions. The wing was previously awarded the Air Combat Command Meritorious Unit Award from the period of June 1, 2008 - April 30, 2010.

Airmen of the 4th Fighter Wing, while directly supporting combat operations in the area of responsibility, also earned 12 'Outstanding" ratings during a Phase I Operational Readiness Inspection and captured eight Air Force level and 37 ACC awards. They also directly contributed to the largest construction projects on Seymour Johnson in 54 years, totaling more than $200 million.

Base military personnel technicians will send automatic updates through the virtual MPF for every Airman here during the award period. For any questions about decorations, call the MPF at (919)722-8697.

"It gives me great honor to serve with the men and women of the 4th FW," Doherty said. "This award belongs to not only the Airmen, but the civilians who support wing operations every day, the families who selflessly support their Airmen through their extended work days, sudden and long deployments, and also to the Goldsboro community who provide unwavering support. It is inspiring and motivating to work alongside teammates that continue to raise the bar and live our core values to their fullest--and to be recognized for our efforts and excellence by ACC is a nice touch -job well done!"