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Team Fairchild earns Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Emerald Ralston
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The 92nd Air Refueling Wing was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for exceptional contributions to the Air Mobility Command and Air Force missions during the September 2007 to August 2008 time frame. 

The AFOUA is awarded to any unit of the Air Force which performs exceptionally meritorious service or accomplishes specific acts of outstanding achievement. 

"Clearly the outstanding Airmen of Team Fairchild made every single part of this award possible," said Col. Thomas Sharpy, previous 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander. "They are responsible for the many successes at Fairchild and across the globe. The leadership is also responsible, because without their dedication to accurate documentation, the incredible wing would not have gotten the recognition they deserve." 

While many things contributed to earning the 92nd this prestigious award, a few things stood out that helped Fairchild surpass other wings as the best of the best. 

"There are far too many things to list as the most important," Colonel Sharpy said. "But there are three things that do stand out -- preparing our Professional Expeditionary Airmen for combat, caring for their families and taking 'Team Fairchild' from a slogan to a reality with our Classic Association." 

Another thing that stood out was the community relationship around Fairchild. 

"The community is the absolute best we have ever been associated with," Colonel Sharpy said. The community partners are instrumental every single day in the lives of our Airmen and families, and are definitely key members of Team Fairchild. Fairchild is a special place and my family and I feel blessed to have been part of something special. This award validates how truly special it is." 

Col. Robert Thomas, current 92nd ARW commander, noted that the attitudes of the Airmen stationed here is a huge contributor to winning the award. 

"We are all always training for the future, always getting better, and the attitude of these Airmen makes all the difference," he said. "Fairchild should be proud of this accomplishment and realize we're on track to doing it again - Total Force Integration, many offices relocating, preparing for the upcoming inspections - there is a lot of hard work being done by the Airmen here every day." 

Members of Fairchild who were stationed here at any point during that time frame are now authorized to wear the AFOUA ribbon or respective device.