Fighter Wing takes Outstanding Unit award

  • Published
  • By Carol O'Maley
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
"Kicked the tires, lit the fires!" "World's largest and best fighter training wing ..." Those are just two of more than 100 descriptions and accomplishments listed about the 56th Fighter Wing by its commander, Brig. Gen. Tom Jones, when he nominated his wing for the 2006 Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

And win it, they did. General Jones wants all Airmen who served at Luke during the award period to know they will receive acknowledgement in their personnel files of the Air Education Training Command honor.
 
"During the award period of July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006, we trained more than 378 F-16 pilots and 275 maintainers, all while deploying more than 647 Airmen overseas.  Additionally, we won numerous Defense Department, Air Force and AETC level awards and many awards from surrounding communities and the state of Arizona,"
General Jones said. 

"We achieved an incredible 75.8 percent eight-hour fix rate, giving us the leading maintenance turnaround time for the entire Air Force. The citation accompanying the award notes that the 56th FW also is responsible for base support functions for 7,500 military, 1,000 civilians and 118,800 retirees and family members." 

All 56th FW Airmen who served during the award period will have their personnel records updated to acknowledge this honor, according to Lt. Col. Eric Bass, 56th Mission Support Squadron commander.
 
"Once the special order is received from AETC headquarters, the Luke Military Personnel Flight will update records by May 31 for members currently assigned to Luke who meet the award eligibility dates.
 
Personnel assigned to Luke during the award period who have since had a permanent change of station, will need to contact their current commander support staffs and verbally request that the honor be added to their personnel records," Colonel Bass said.
 
"Those with permanent changes of station can confirm their receipt of the award through the Air Force Personnel Center's Web site at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil  use their enlisted or officer performance report or decoration as justification. For promotion board purposes, this award does not carry promotion points. Members can log on to virtual MPF and expect to see this award updated in their records by June 1,"
he said.