News

19th ARG earns Air Force Meritorious Unit Award

  • Published
  • By Holly Birchfield
  • 78th ABW/PA
Robins Air Force Base, GA --  The 19th Air Refueling Group is making the most of its time before deactivating this summer. The unit's efforts were recognized recently as the 19th ARG earned the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award.

The Air Force Meritorious Unit Award, which has been in effect since Sept. 11, 2001, is awarded to active-duty, Guard, and Reserve units for exceptionally meritorious conduct in several areas, including outstanding services for at least three months during military operations against an armed enemy, outstanding devotion to duty and superior performance of exceptionally difficult tasks setting them apart from other units with similar missions.

The Black Knights have proven themselves worthy of such an honor, and Col. Chris Bence, 19th ARG commander, said the achievement is truly an honor.

"The award is given to units for exceptionally meritorious conduct during military operatives against the enemy and the performance is such that it sets itself apart (from) and above other units with similar missions," he said. "So, being one of two Air Mobility Command units to be awarded this award was indeed an outstanding honor and represents all of what the men and women of the 19th ARG do every day in serving their country."

Colonel Bence said the group, which is AMC's only stand-alone air refueling group, has a lot to be proud of.

"The 19th ARG set an all-time group flying record in its 80-year history of 10,508 hours, which sets us apart from other units, especially since we have only 13 assigned airplanes, two of which are undergoing modification and program depot maintenance at all times. So, with an 11 airplane fleet total, we were able to set all of those records and accomplish all of the things we've been doing."

That 10,000 plus hours of flying went 213 percent above what the unit was scheduled to fly, according to Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Hamilton, 19th ARG superintendent.

Colonel Bence said the award was not only accomplished through the unit's everyday mission, but also through the unit's contributions in non-traditional roles in the global war on terrorism.

Maj. Donnie Starling, deputy chief of the 19th ARG's Base Realignment and Closure Operations, stepped into a mission in 2007 that gave way to working with other services.

"I deployed to Northern Iraq in Kirkuk to support the Army's counter IED (improvised explosive device) mission or their deterrence against counter IEDs," he said.

The major said the mission was totally outside of the norm for him.

"The Army had a need," he said. "The Air Force decided to help them out, so I deployed on about two and a half weeks notice for six months over there. I didn't touch an airplane the whole time I was gone. I was working in Humvees and did all of my Army training and worked right inside of an Army command post for basically what we would call a squadron, on their counter-IED mission and equipment they have on their vehicles."

Major Starling said his deployment was just one of many examples the unit has of its members stepping out of the norm to serve the greater mission.

Chief Hamilton said since he began serving with the unit in 2004, he has seen the unit do great things.

"Whether you go to the quarterly awards ceremony, the annual awards ceremony, or wherever you go, you hear the Black Knights screaming, 'Out Front,' and truly the Black Knights are an out-front organization. Even as leadership changes, the Black Knight culture is such ingrained that they continually achieve higher and higher milestones, this being a perfect example."

Colonel Bence said the award speaks highly of not only the unit, but of those who helped get the group where it is today.

"It's indeed an honor because it talks not only to the members in the unit, but all of their families who support and allow the members to their job, as well as the base and local community for their unwavering support for all of the Black Knights in the 19th ARG."

With the Black Knights saying farewell as their unit deactivates in June, Chief Hamilton said the honor is a nice cap to a great unit's history.

"I think it's a phenomenal honor that we were presented with this (award)," he said. "As we close, I guess it's a way for the Black Knight heritage to go out in style."

The 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., was also named for the award. Both units will be presented with their honors at a later date.