1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:03,620 During their March training weekend , 2 00:00:03,620 --> 00:00:05,787 members of the Iowa Air National Guard 3 00:00:05,787 --> 00:00:07,898 learned that they were the recipients 4 00:00:07,898 --> 00:00:10,120 of the Air Force meritorious unit award 5 00:00:10,120 --> 00:00:12,287 as a result of the state's involvement 6 00:00:12,287 --> 00:00:14,453 in operation allies . Welcome . During 7 00:00:14,453 --> 00:00:17,040 2021 the announcement for members of 8 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:18,984 the one 85th air refueling wing in 9 00:00:18,984 --> 00:00:21,207 Sioux City , Iowa came at a commander's 10 00:00:21,207 --> 00:00:23,484 call event during the training weekend . 11 00:00:23,484 --> 00:00:25,690 It's good to see the recognition come 12 00:00:25,690 --> 00:00:28,110 back . Um You know , from the national 13 00:00:28,110 --> 00:00:31,030 level of the wings efforts , Lieutenant 14 00:00:31,030 --> 00:00:33,141 Colonel Jennifer Carlson was one of a 15 00:00:33,141 --> 00:00:35,252 group of volunteers from Sioux City's 16 00:00:35,252 --> 00:00:37,252 one 85th air refueling wing and Des 17 00:00:37,252 --> 00:00:39,370 Moines one 32nd wing who received 18 00:00:39,370 --> 00:00:42,042 extremely short note orders to help 19 00:00:42,042 --> 00:00:44,209 with operations that were taking place 20 00:00:44,209 --> 00:00:46,832 at joint base mcguire Dix Lakehurst in 21 00:00:46,832 --> 00:00:49,372 New Jersey . We knew how many people 22 00:00:49,382 --> 00:00:51,732 and enlisted versus officer and that 23 00:00:51,732 --> 00:00:53,788 was pretty much it . So when you got 24 00:00:53,788 --> 00:00:56,032 out there , that's when the people on 25 00:00:56,032 --> 00:00:58,199 the ground out there would take a look 26 00:00:58,199 --> 00:01:00,365 at what you're a FSC was and where you 27 00:01:00,365 --> 00:01:02,199 fit best into the organization . 28 00:01:02,199 --> 00:01:03,976 Carlson said the group provided 29 00:01:03,976 --> 00:01:06,032 logistics and sustainment support as 30 00:01:06,032 --> 00:01:08,254 part of the Afghan refugee operation at 31 00:01:08,254 --> 00:01:10,344 Fort Dix . She said the tasking was 32 00:01:10,344 --> 00:01:12,504 outside what is considered normal but 33 00:01:12,504 --> 00:01:14,226 added that being a part of the 34 00:01:14,226 --> 00:01:16,448 operation gave them a front row seat to 35 00:01:16,448 --> 00:01:18,560 an historic event . It's a remarkable 36 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,044 point in American history for this 37 00:01:21,044 --> 00:01:23,044 event and to participate in such an 38 00:01:23,044 --> 00:01:25,211 operation . Carlson said that she came 39 00:01:25,211 --> 00:01:27,433 to another realization about the people 40 00:01:27,433 --> 00:01:29,544 she was serving during the deployment 41 00:01:29,544 --> 00:01:31,600 as they're getting ready to head out 42 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:33,488 the door . What you realizes that 43 00:01:33,488 --> 00:01:35,488 you've got to interact with some of 44 00:01:35,488 --> 00:01:38,076 America's newest citizens as Carlson 45 00:01:38,076 --> 00:01:40,187 and the rest of the unit attended the 46 00:01:40,187 --> 00:01:42,354 awards event in Sioux City . They were 47 00:01:42,354 --> 00:01:44,520 left with a heartfelt . Thank you from 48 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:46,632 their commander , but now also have a 49 00:01:46,632 --> 00:01:48,465 new award as a reminder of their 50 00:01:48,465 --> 00:01:50,687 contributions to a successful operation 51 00:01:50,687 --> 00:01:52,576 in Sioux City , Iowa . I'm senior 52 00:01:52,576 --> 00:01:53,666 master sergeant Instagram .