14th FTW receives Outstanding Unit Award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jacob Corbin
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Air Education and Training Command officials recognized the excellence and hard work of Team BLAZE when they announced the 14th Flying Training Wing was the recipient of the Outstanding Unit Award Feb. 27.

Those permanently assigned to the 14th FTW from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010, are eligible for the award. This includes reservists, guard members and those on TDY orders assigned or attached to the 14th FTW, but not those attending training or in student status.

"This award merely validates what I've known since becoming wing commander - Team BLAZE is outstanding at everything they do," Colonel Seguin said. "In every aspect of our mission to Produce Pilots, Advance Airman and Feed the Fight, the 14th FTW performs with excellence and dedication."

During the award period, Team BLAZE marked itself as being the best at what it does by being the top sortie-producing and busiest airfield in the Air Force, producing over 61,000 sorties for a total of over 86,000 flying hours. In the end, Team BLAZE produced 389 U.S. and allied pilots.

All while accomplishing its primary mission - producing pilots - the wing hosted it's first-ever, two-day air show and open house, showcasing both the Air Force Thunderbirds and Army Golden Knights.

None of this could have been accomplished without the aid of the local community, who was recently named the best supporting community of any wing in AETC.

In addition, the wing flew 50 air combat training sorties alongside F-22s, providing training not only for our pilots, but Raptor pilots as well.

While feeding-the-fight by deploying 154 members, the 14th FTW also took care of its Airmen back home, constructing new $4.2 million gates to increase force protection.

This is the tenth time Columbus AFB has received the AFOUA and the eighth time since the wing was designated the 14th FTW in 1972.

For those who arrived on-station at Columbus AFB before June 30, 2010, their records will be updated automatically, according to R.J. Childers, 14th Force Support Squadron Military Personnel Flight.

Civilian personnel are also eligible for the AFOUA and can update the award in their record in Defense Civilian Personnel Data System thru My BIZ. The AFOUA lapel button is authorized for wear by civilians assigned to the 14 FTW during the period July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.

"There is no need for each member to contact the MPF concerning the update of this award," Mr. Childers said. "The MPF has completed a batch update for all permanently assigned members."