Five Georgia Air National Guard Units Receive Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards

ATLANTA - Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that five Georgia Air National Guard units have been named recipients of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

“The men and women of the Georgia National Guard make extraordinary contributions both here at home and overseas in defense of our nation,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “All Georgians can be proud of these units for receiving this much deserved award.”

The Outstanding Unit Award is awarded by the Secretary of the Air Force to units that have shown exceptionally meritorious service and outstanding achievement that clearly sets them above and apart from similar units across the country.

“To have five units from Georgia be awarded this prestigious honor in the same year is absolutely remarkable,” explained Maj. Gen. Scott Hammond, the commander of the Georgia Air National Guard. "In spite of the enormous operational tempo to which our units are being subjected because of commitments around the globe, these units continuously perform at the highest level.”

Georgia units receiving the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award are:

- 165th Air Support Operations Squadron (Savannah)

- 116th Air Control Wing (Warner Robins)

   - 283rd Combat Communications Squadron (Dobbins ARB, Marietta)

- 202nd Engineering Installation Squadron (Macon)

- 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron (Brunswick)

“This award is testimony to the outstanding work by the members of these units,” said Maj. Gen. Terry Nesbitt, Georgia's Adjutant General. “Only a handful of Air National Guard organizations nationwide ever receive this honor. To have five units from one state is unprecedented.”

The Georgia National Guard is made up of more than 13,000 men and women from across the state. In the past six years, more than 10,000 Army and Air Guard citizen-soldiers and airmen have mobilized in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

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