News

461st ACW receives Meritorious Unit Award

  • Published
  • By Jenny Gordon
  • Robins Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The 461st Air Control Wing has received its first ever Meritorious Unit Award. The award is particularly notable since the 461st ACW just stood up Oct. 1, 2011.

The award recognizes active duty, Reserve and Guard organizations for outstanding achievement or service in direct support of combat operations. A formal presentation was made Dec. 21.

Col. Dean Worley, 461st ACW commander, pointed out that during the award period. Team Joint STARS not only maintained readiness at home with training, but also supported five different combatant commands across the globe.

"The real interesting part is this all took place during the highest ops tempo in JSTARS history," said Worley. "This again shows you the national asset nature of JSTARS."

The Air Force's E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System is an airborne battle management, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform whose primary mission is to provide ground surveillance and targeting in support of attack operations.

The wing, working in partnership with the 116th Air Control Wing, has a workforce total of over 1,300 military members and civilians.

"It's also recognition that we didn't stand down to activate our wing, but kept right on going," he continued. "Looking ahead, JSTARS will continue to have tremendous ops tempo. As a weapons system we have a truly unique capability, which is to see large swaths of the earth in a great amount of detail, and direct joint forces to accomplish our military objectives."

There were 92,000 man days in total downrange during the award period, with Joint STARS logging more than 80,000 hours in a combat environment over the last 10 years.

As the wing continues to conduct around-the-world operations on an unending basis, there will be continued emphasis on taking care of Airmen families, as well as increasing opportunities for leadership, recognition and professional development.

This award truly signifies a team effort which will continue into the future.

"I'm very proud of this organization," Worley concluded. "Our Airmen's level of commitment is phenomenal. This level of recognition is uncommon - but their valor and drive is very common here."