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455th AEW earns Air Force Meritorious Unit Award

  • Published
  • By By Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  U.S. Air Forces Central Command selected the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing for the Meritorious Unit Award June 16, 2014 for outstanding service and support of combat operations at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan and multiple forward operating locations between the dates of July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014.

The award recognizes organizations for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service in direct support of combat operations for at least 90 continuous days during military operations against an armed enemy of the U.S. since Sept. 11, 2001. The unit must display superior performance of difficult tasks that set it apart from other units with similar missions.

"I am extremely proud of the Airmen-warfighters who have contributed to the 455th because it's a team effort to accomplish our mission every day," said Brig. Gen. Patrick Malackowski, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "Everyone on our team should be proud of this recognition because everyone contributed. It's a testament to the quality-way of getting things done by today's Airmen. We've teamed with our joint and coalition teammates to execute the mission, while saving lives and making a difference in Afghanistan, and I'm extremely proud to be part of this team."

During the award period, 455th Airmen flew 23,549 combat sorties for a total of 75,870 hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Close air support assets provided timely assistance to ground forces. Airlift and logistics units moved 500,000 passengers and 165,000 tons of cargo. Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance crews conducted thousands of sorties. Rescue and Aeromedical personnel flew 1,012 sorties, rescued 250 survivors, transported 2,056 wounded and returned 7 fallen heroes.

455th Airmen also managed and completed construction of a 19.4 million dollar runway repair in the Department of Defense's busiest combat logistics hub ahead of schedule. Medical service Airmen provided 2,045 Afghans with life-saving care, treated 278 trauma patients and performed 1,328 surgeries with a 99.7 percent survival rate. Base defense personnel conducted 1,300 outside-the-wire missions capturing high-value-targets and removing improvised explosive devices and weapons caches.

Members can verify their records have been updated by going to the vMPF via the Air Force Portal.