944th MSG receives ROA award

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. David Thoreson
  • 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The Reserve Officers Association has named the 944th Mission Support Group as the 2008 Outstanding Reserve Non-flying Unit of the Year. 

Lt. Col. Michael Boutet, 944th MSG deputy commander, accepted the award on behalf of the group during the ROA's National Convention in Orlando July 8 through 11. 

Each squadron assigned to the group contributed to the win, said Colonel Boutet. 

"To win an ROA award at the national level is a prestigious honor," he said. "Only three awards were presented (at the convention) and only the best-of-the-best received them. Winning this is very special because it culminated a year of hard work for us." 

Throughout 2008, the 944th MSG deployed almost 40 percent of its group to overseas locations while still maintaining the mission at Luke Air Force Base. 

"Everyone stepped up to support (the mission)," said Col. Linda McCourt, 944th MSG commander. "In addition to those who deployed, the members who stayed behind took care of the families and did double the work here at home." 

Colonel Boutet credits winning the award to the group's teamwork required to support so many deployments with diverse missions. 

"The MSG team pulled together some of the best deployment processes and partnered with the 56th Fighter Wing to streamline the process," he said. "We became very efficient at deploying and redeploying our folks." 

The 944th MSG has garnered other awards throughout the year for their accomplishments, including the 944th Mission Support Flight winning the Defense Department Reserve Family Readiness Award. Two members were also recipients of the Air Force Reserve Command Personnel Technician and Manager of the Year. 

"I am so proud of our group and the outstanding job our Airmen continue to do," Colonel McCourt said. 

The ROA is a 65,000-member, professional association of officers, former officers and spouses of the uniformed services of the United States, primarily the Reserve and National Guard. Their purpose is to advise Congress and the president on issues of national security on behalf of all members of the Reserve component. 

More information about ROA can be found on at www.roa.org.