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166th Airlift Wing earns Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for two year period

Release Number: 010212

Published February 03, 2012

Members of the 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard in unit formation on the ramp at the New Castle ANG Base, New Castle, Delaware on Oct. 3, 2010. Several of the C-130H2 model Hercules transport aircraft flown by the unit are in the background; on the right is the new aircraft maintenance hangar under construction. In the background, left, is the base fire house. 166th AW Commander Col. Jonathan Groff, front and center, leads the formation. All groups, squadrons and flights of the wing are represented. (U. S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Keith Strouss)
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Members of the 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard in unit formation on the ramp at the New Castle ANG Base, New Castle, Delaware on Oct. 3, 2010. Several of the C-130H2 model Hercules transport aircraft flown by the unit are in the background; on the right is the new aircraft maintenance hangar under construction. In the background, left, is the base fire house. 166th AW Commander Col. Jonathan Groff, front and center, leads the formation. All groups, squadrons and flights of the wing are represented. (U. S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Keith Strouss)

C-130H aircraft tail number 40210 from the 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard on a takeoff roll on the runway at the New Castle ANG Base, Del. on Sept. 22, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lionel Castellano)
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C-130H aircraft tail number 40210 from the 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard on a takeoff roll on the runway at the New Castle ANG Base, Del. on Sept. 22, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lionel Castellano)

An Airman keeps in contact with fellow maintainers as engines run on C-130H aircraft tail number 40207 from the 166th Airlift Wing on the Delaware Air National Guard ramp at the New Castle ANG Base, Del. on Sept. 22, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lionel Castellano)
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An Airman keeps in contact with fellow maintainers as engines run on C-130H aircraft tail number 40207 from the 166th Airlift Wing on the Delaware Air National Guard ramp at the New Castle ANG Base, Del. on Sept. 22, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lionel Castellano)

C-130H aircraft with The First State tail number 40212 from the 166th Airlift Wing on the Delaware Air National Guard ramp with the maintenance hangar in the background at the New Castle ANG Base, Del. on Sept. 22, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lionel Castellano)
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C-130H aircraft with The First State tail number 40212 from the 166th Airlift Wing on the Delaware Air National Guard ramp with the maintenance hangar in the background at the New Castle ANG Base, Del. on Sept. 22, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lionel Castellano)

166th Operations Group director of operations Lt. Col. Rob Culcasi, and First Sergeant Master Sgt. Sean O’Neill, holding unit guidon, with over 210 Airmen from the 166th OG, 166th Maintenance Group and 166th Mission Support Group of the Del. ANG, their families and invited guests at a welcome home ceremony Oct. 16, 2011 in the main maintenance hangar at the New Castle ANG Base, Del. The Airmen completed missions lasting three to six months in various locations in Southwest Asia (primarily in Afghanistan), Europe and the U.S., chiefly in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Matwey)
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166th Operations Group director of operations Lt. Col. Rob Culcasi, and First Sergeant Master Sgt. Sean O’Neill, holding unit guidon, with over 210 Airmen from the 166th OG, 166th Maintenance Group and 166th Mission Support Group of the Del. ANG, their families and invited guests at a welcome home ceremony Oct. 16, 2011 in the main maintenance hangar at the New Castle ANG Base, Del. The Airmen completed missions lasting three to six months in various locations in Southwest Asia (primarily in Afghanistan), Europe and the U.S., chiefly in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Matwey)

Airmen of the 166th Civil Engineer Squadron, Del. Air National Guard at Canadian Forces Station Alert July 26, 2011 for a two-week training mission. CFS Alert, on the northeastern tip of Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, is the northernmost permanently inhabited place nearest the North Pole, 817 kilometers (508 miles) away. The 166th CES Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force personnel deploy anywhere in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jessica Griffith)
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Airmen of the 166th Civil Engineer Squadron, Del. Air National Guard at Canadian Forces Station Alert July 26, 2011 for a two-week training mission. CFS Alert, on the northeastern tip of Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, is the northernmost permanently inhabited place nearest the North Pole, 817 kilometers (508 miles) away. The 166th CES Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force personnel deploy anywhere in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jessica Griffith)

U.S. Air Force crew chiefs, from the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, change out the front tires on a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, April 9, 2011. The Airmen are deployed from the Delaware Air National Guard’s 166th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, New Castle, Del., supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. William Greer)
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U.S. Air Force crew chiefs, from the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, change out the front tires on a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, April 9, 2011. The Airmen are deployed from the Delaware Air National Guard’s 166th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, New Castle, Del., supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. William Greer)

U.S. Air Force crew chiefs, from the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, change out the front tires on a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, April 9, 2011. The Airmen are deployed from the Delaware Air National Guard’s 166th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, New Castle, Del., supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. William Greer)
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U.S. Air Force crew chiefs, from the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, change out the front tires on a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, April 9, 2011. The Airmen are deployed from the Delaware Air National Guard’s 166th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, New Castle, Del., supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. William Greer)


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The 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard has been selected as a recipient of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the two year period of Nov. 1, 2009 to Oct. 31, 2011, making the 166th AW in New Castle, Del. just one of 36 ANG wings and one of four ANG C-130 wings to receive the award.

This is the second consecutive time that the 166th AW has been selected for this award, having last received it in 2009 for the period of Nov. 1, 2007 to Oct. 31, 2009.

The Air National Guard recipients of the AFOUA were announced by ANG Director Lt. Gen. Harry N. Wyatt, III, who recently visited Delaware as the main speaker at the Delaware National Guard Senior Leaders' Call in Dover on Jan. 7, 2012. "Please pass on my personal congratulations ... for being selected as recipients of the AFOUA based upon meritorious service," said Gen. Wyatt in his message to state National Guard adjutant generals announcing the units that received the award.

Major Gen. Frank Vavala, the Adjutant General, Delaware National Guard, said, "This award is a tremendous testament to the selfless dedication and competency of the Airmen of the 166th Airlift Wing. Your service around the world in multiple combat zones and assistance to fellow citizens at home during natural disasters has received appropriate recognition at the highest levels of the Air Force."

In a message to wing Airmen, Brig. Gen. Carol Timmons, the Assistant Adjutant General for Air, Delaware National Guard, said, "On behalf of our Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala and me, congratulations for your continued outstanding performance for the past 24 months, resulting in your selection for the prestigious Air Force Outstanding Unit Award to the 166th Airlift Wing. I am proud of each of the nearly 1,100 men and women in the Delaware ANG who all contributed to earning this highly competitive distinction. It is because of your hard work, dedication to duty, and passion to serve that continues to keep the 166th AW at the top of the pyramid as one of America's premier flying wings. Enjoy this well deserved accolade. You have earned it. You have been fighting two wars, supporting the State of Delaware during numerous snow storms and hurricanes, and performing with distinction through a myriad of exercises and inspections. Most importantly, you have done it safely, with nearly 50 years of accident free flying. I am proud to serve side-by-side with you."

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