509th BW Airmen receive Meritorious Unit Award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephen Linch
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  The 509th Bomb Wing recently received recognition for outstanding achievement in direct support of combat operations when Air Combat Command officials bestowed the Meritorious Unit Award.

The MUA, the services' newest unit-level award, was created in March 2004 to recognize active duty, Reserve and Guard units for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding achievement or service in direct support of combat operations for at least 90 continuous days during the period of military operations against an armed enemy of the United States on or after Sept. 11, 2001.

Gen. John Corley, ACC commander, presented the wing with its first MUA for the time period June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2007. Anyone serving within the wing for the minimum of a day during this time period is eligible to wear the MUA ribbon. Devices may be worn by those who already possess the ribbon from another unit.

The commander of the 509th BW, Col. Garrett Harencak, said it was with great pride that the men and women of the wing received this award. The colonel noted that during this time period the wing continuously provided on-call, global B-2 combat capability for all combatant commanders from the heartland of America as well as providing bomber presence from a forward location in the Pacific.

"Here at the world's only B-2 wing, we prepare every day to hunt down and destroy America's enemies," Colonel Harencak said. "This award is testament to the dedication and professionalism of the men and women of the 509th BW in their pursuit of that mission."

During the award period, the flying squadrons deployed four times and completed 28 global power missions by placing B-2 operations in every area of responsibility and ensuring a worldwide operational focus. In addition to this support, the wing achieved the highest possible rating during a Joint Nuclear Surety Inspection and was distinguished as the highest-rated wing in ACC during the past 27 Conventional Operational Readiness Inspections.

The accolades continued throughout 2007 when the wing won the U.S. Strategic Command 2006 Omaha Trophy for having the best strategic aircraft operations in the Department of Defense. The mission couldn't get done without maintenance, and the mission at Whiteman couldn't get done without the best maintenance in ACC as designated by the 2007 Clements McMullen Memorial Daedalian Weapon System Maintenance Trophy.

Going above and beyond the B-2 mission, the wing deployed more than 2,300 warriors in support Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, who received more than 30 Bronze Stars and five Purple Hearts.

The following subordinate units will share in the MUA:

509th Mission Support Group:
509th Civil Engineer Squadron
509th Contracting Squadron
509th Communications Squadron
509th Logistics Readiness Squadron
509th Mission Support Squadron
509th Security Forces Squadron
509th Services Squadron
509th Medical Group:
509th Medical Operations Squadron
509th Medical Support Squadron
509th Maintenance Group:
509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
509th Maintenance Squadron
509th Maintenance Operations Squadron
509th Munitions Squadron
509th Operations Group:
13th Bomb Squadron
325th Bomb Squadron
393d Bomb Squadron
394th Combat Training Squadron
509th Operations Support Squadron
509th Comptroller Squadron