14th FTW receives AF Outstanding Unit Award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jacob Corbin
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The men and women of the BLAZE Team were recognized for their excellence and hard work Nov. 25 when Air Education and Training Command announced they were the recipient of the AF Outstanding Unit Award.

Those permanently assigned to the 14th Flying Training Wing during the time period between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009, 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. For those stationed at Columbus AFB currently, their records have been updated automatically by the military personnel flight. Those who have changed assignments should contact their local MPF for more information.

"(This award) is a testament to how hard everyone has worked over the last two years," said Col. Roger Watkins, 14th FTW commander.

Colonel Watkins added it is also an achievement that shows the wings excellence is recognized both at the Air Education and Training Command and Air Force levels.

From July 2007 to the end of June 2009, the 14th Flying Training Wing produced 649 Air Force and 32 international military pilots, including the first-ever US-trained Iraqi pilot, while flying over 171,000 hours and 123,000 sorties as the Air Force's second busiest airfield.

The AFOUA is the culmination of a series of awards and accolades received by the wing over the last two years. These include five Air Force Best Practices, the Air Force's Civil Engineer Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award, Air Education and Training Command's Air Force Verne Orr Award and the command's Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award runner-up, as well as over 60 Air Education and Training Command, 16 Air Force and two Department of Defense unit and individual awards.

During the last two years the wing has been a leader in change and innovation, spearheading the way with the first prototype wing in the Air Force's Force Support Squadron transition. The transition combined the bases Services Division and Mission Support Squadron into one unit, the 14th Force Support Squadron, focused on taking care of the BLAZE Team.

Also, the wing was the first in AETC to merge its comptroller and contracting squadrons.

The unit has seen further changes in the retirement of the venerable T-37 Tweet and the transfer of an Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals mission to the base.

The base also engaged state officials and local education officials to launch its school of choice program, allowing greater decision making capabilities to BLAZE Team parents with children in kindergarten through twelfth grade.

While improving quality of life for its members and accomplishing its mission, the 14th FTW also helped care for its local community and others. The wing provided refuge to 145 Hurricane Gustav refugees; and emergency response and volunteer clean-up to a local school devastated by a tornado.

This is the eighth time the 14th FTW has received the AFOUA.