Wing receives AFSPC best missile wing award, Outstanding Unit Award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Eydie Sakura
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Outstanding readiness and performances, and the wing's professionalism and dedication to excellence, were the key ingredients to Team Malmstrom winning the Air Force Space Command Colonel Lee R. Williams Award for the best missile wing, and receiving the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

Gen. C. Robert Kehler, commander of AFSPC, recognized the accomplishments of Air Force Space Command personnel during a Commander's Conference luncheon at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., April 30. He presented the AFSPC Colonel Lee R. Williams Award to the 341st Missile Wing commander, Col. Michael Fortney, and the men and women of Malmstrom Air Force Base. 

"It's no secret we had a tough year," Colonel Fortney said. "This is recognition of your hard work doing an extreme mission in an extreme environment to extreme standards while faced with some pretty big challenges." 

Malmstrom's effectiveness toward global security was showcased throughout 2008 in each unit's individual job performances and tasks to mission success; however, a few stand out as key achievements to receiving the best missile wing award AFSPC. They include expertly administering 780 launch control center simulated rides providing more than 5,700 hours of training--that's 135 highly qualified Airmen--the most in AFSPC; acquiring $400,000 for anti-terrorism and force protection for more than 1,400 weapons for the command's largest armory reducing arm time by 50 percent; and providing 1,715 hours of extended duty child care, saving active-duty members nearly $10,300 in extra fees. 

Team Malmstrom also received 37 top accolades including the Omaha Trophy, Blanchard Trophy, Blackburn Trophies for excellence in maintenance and the Verne Orr Award. 

"Congratulations [on the win] and thanks for all you do," Colonel Fortney said. "Thanks again for the hard work; I am proud of you." 

Following the announcement of winning the Williams Award, it was announced the 341st MW personnel are recipients of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for exceptionally meritorious service. Inclusive dates for the award are Oct.1, 2006, to Sept. 30, 2008. 

"I know that this award is presented to units who show exceptional meritorious service, and accomplishes specific acts of outstanding achievement showing a level above and apart from similar units," said Senior Airman Oren Walker, 341st Medical Support Staff Health Service Manager and first-time AFOUA recipient. "I'm excited about this award, not only because it 'beefs-up' my ribbon rack, but because it shows my accomplishments to my peers. We all can be proud to say, 'We are the 341st MW, outstanding unit with the ribbon to prove it'." 

All assigned or attached personnel, including reservists and civilians, who served with the unit at least one day during this period are authorized the appropriate ribbon if they directly contributed to the mission and accomplishments of the wing. 

The 341st MW is a highly decorated unit with five Bronze Star and two Purple Heart recipients, along with 18 Army medals, for war fighting actions. The wing also prepped about 165 RED HORSE engineers for a six-month deployment in eight different areas in Southwest Asia.