185th earns Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
The National Guard Bureau in Washington D.C. announced this week that the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing based in Sioux City, Iowa has been awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for exceptionally meritorious service.
This is the third year in a row the unit has earned the outstanding unit award. The evaluation period for this award was from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. This is the 13th time in the unit’s history they have earned the award.
185th ARW Wing Commander Col. Mark Muckey said everyone in the unit is a significant contributor to this kind of award and all are to be congratulated. “This is a testament to all of our unit member’s hard work and efforts to continue making the 185th ARW a top notch organization.” Muckey said.
The unit is made up of numerous organizations that are a part of the 185th Air Refueling Wing. Units that are a part of the 185th Aircraft Operations, Aircraft maintenance, Mission Support and Medical Groups, including the 133rd Test Squadron in Fort Dodge are all mentioned in the award citation.
The 185th is equipped with the U.S. Air Force KC-135 Statotanker and is made up of a mixture of full time and drill status unit members as well as full time, state and federal employees. The unit’s main mission is mid-air refueling but is also task with moving people and equipment around the world; as well as developmental testing and evaluation.
The wing is also tasked with supporting the state of Iowa and other states when called, during state and national emergencies where they provide humanitarian and national disaster response.
According to the Outstanding Unit Award citation, the 185th has continued to provide mission capable aircraft and Airmen for deployments around the world for both flying and support operations.
The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award is given to units that have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding achievement that clearly sets the unit above and apart from other Air National Guard units.
For questions concerning this release please contact Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot (712) 233-0732 (office), (712) 266-5699 (cell). 185th ARW b-roll video to accompany this release is available on DVIDS