Airmen deserve recognition for national security operations Published Aug. 25, 2004 By Tech. Sgt. David A. Jablonski Air Force Print News WASHINGTON -- Air Force leaders want to ensure Airmen get the recognition they deserve for fighting the war on terrorism at home and abroad, and for many more operations critical to national security.That is why Air Force personnel officials are looking at better ways to apply modern air and space mission criteria to existing awards and decorations to give appropriate credit to outstanding Airmen.Senior leaders realize “that our folks are making tremendous contributions for which they may not be getting the level of recognition they deserve,” said Barbara Murray, chief of Air Force personnel policy’s force sustainment division. She explained that the traditional rule followed by other services, that awards are given to troops who put their feet down on the ground, does not necessarily apply to modern air and space professionals.This new thinking is being applied to the recently created Department of Defense Global War on Terrorism medals. There are two versions, expeditionary for people deployed abroad, and service for those in the continental United States.“These awards represent a necessary step to ensure we recognize all our deserving Airmen,” said Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. “We have Airmen all over the world making sacrifices to protect our nation and to give other countries a chance at freedom. Airmen must be recognized for their great work.”“What the Air Force is doing in transforming the recognition system is demonstrating that, because of the changing nature of warfare, a lot of what we do happens far away,” Mrs. Murray said. “Some of the most important effects achieved in the war were delivered and supported by Airmen stationed [at Whiteman Air Force Base] in Knob Noster, Mo. But to properly recognize the efforts of these folks requires that we move beyond the ’only if you’re in the (area of responsibility)’ thought process.”Two new Air Force awards established in June 2002, the Gallant Unit Citation and Meritorious Unit Award, were designed to appropriately recognize outstanding unit actions in support of wartime efforts.The Gallant Unit Citation is awarded to Air Force active-duty, Reserve and Air National Guard units for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing force on or after Sept. 11, 2001. The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Silver Star, awarded for gallantry and heroism of high degree, including risk of life in action.The Meritorious Unit Award recognizes exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding achievement or service in direct support of combat operations for at least 90 continuous days during the period of military operations against an armed enemy of the United States on or after Sept. 11, 2001. The degree of achievement required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Legion of Merit. Service in a combat zone is not required, but service must be directly related to a combat effort.The first Meritorious Unit Award was recently presented to the 9th Expeditionary Task Force at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, and Al Udeid AB, Qatar, for June 1, 2002, to May 31, 2003, for the success of the Combined Air Operations Centers supporting operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.For OIF alone, the 2,000 people in the CAOC planned and executed more than 40,000 sorties flown by 1,800 aircraft from every service and coalition partners. With the combined operations center for OIF and OEF as the benchmark, air operations centers have become the weapon system combatant commanders rely on for conducting coalition air and space operations.That unit’s performance was described as “nothing less than heroic,” by Brig. Gen. Norman R. Seip, U.S. Central Air Force’s deputy combined forces air component commander.“Their technical skill, dedication and brilliant performance vastly reduced the risk assumed by coalition land forces, saved countless lives and demonstrated the Combined Air Operations Center is the Air Force’s newest and most significant weapon system,” General Seip said.The Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon, approved in September 2003, gives people credit for completing contingency deployments after October 1999. The ribbon recognizes service in operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom to Airmen deployed for 45 consecutive, or 90 nonconsecutive days.The Humanitarian Service Medal is an example of transforming an existing award.“Many Airmen were recognized for their hands-on participation in relief actions in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and other locations,” said Maj. Dan Anderson, chief of recognition and commander’s programs branch in the force sustainment division.But the major explained that to get the recognition to the people who flew relief missions from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., the Air Force had to get a waiver. The State Department never declared a humanitarian operation in Iraq, but the Air Force flew tons of supplies into that area of operation.“General (Tommy) Franks said we need not miss this opportunity because there are a lot of folks who did a tremendous amount of really hard work to make this happen,” Major Anderson said. “Some of the people who became eligible for the HSM under the waiver were not physically on site, so this represents a first for the Air Force in recognizing our reach-forward capability.”The Air Force has flown more than 33,000 mobility missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, delivering about 1.7 million tons of cargo, including 2,206 tons of humanitarian daily rations.In February, DOD officials approved the Korean Defense Service Medal to award Air Force people for military service in the Republic of Korea and the surrounding waters after July 28, 1954, and ending on a future date to be determined by the secretary of defense. This is the first decoration awarded by the U.S. government for service in Korea.During the three years of the Korean War, the Air Force flew 720,980 sorties, dropped 476,000 tons of ordnance and destroyed more than 1,100 enemy tanks, 975 enemy aircraft and 800 bridges. While an armistice was signed to cease hostilities, the Korean War has never officially ended and the Air Force still has a prominent presence in South Korea, with flying bases at Osan and Kunsan. In fact, service in Korea among Airmen is widespread. According to Air Force Personnel Center statistics, more than 220,000 Airmen have been assigned to South Korea since 1954.The most recently approved medals, signed into public law April 29, were the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal. Defense Department officials are working out the details of these new awards that recognize service in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.In March, the secretary of the Air Force approved authorizing a ribbon border to be worn on the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon to represent participation in combat actions. Award of the ribbon border is authorized for wear on the decoration by individuals who served in a combat zone, imminent danger/hostile fire pay area, or who used “lethal” weapons in support of combat actions, to include unmanned aerial vehicle operators. The Air Force does not have a Combat Infantry Badge equivalent, but developed the combat border based on feedback from Airmen. It serves as the most effective way to recognize such achievements, officials said.Air and space operations in the 21st century are significantly changing warfighting, officials said. Combat can originate close to home or thousands of miles away.Additionally, Air Force technology now allows the opportunity and the advantage to fight from home, deploy or initiate a combination of both. These factors are the foundation for the transformation of the awards and decorations program.Airmen should contact their local military personnel flight for more details on these awards.