351st ARS earns air refueling award

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Service members from the 351st Air Refueling Squadron proved they've taken the mission to a whole new level, when they recently won the Senior Master Sgt. Albert L. Evans, Outstanding Air Refueling Section of the Year Award, recognizing the top Boom Operator Team in the U.S. Air Force.

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Powell, formerly both the 100th Air Refueling Wing command chief and 100th Operations Group superintendent, was asked to attend the 34th Annual Boom Operator Symposium at Altus Air Force Base, Okla., to receive the award on behalf of the 351st ARS boom operators.

"As a boom operator and 100th ARW command chief during (that time), the award of the Senior Master Sgt. Albert L. Evans trophy to the 351st (ARS) was a perfect ending to my 30-year Air Force career," Powell said.

Jumping at the opportunity, he rode his motorcycle from Houston, Texas, to Altus AFB to attend the symposium and accept the trophy.

"I felt truly honored to be asked to receive the award (on behalf of the 351st ARS) and the Bloody Hundredth," Powell said in an email. "Each year, the Boom Operators' Association holds a symposium/reunion and normally the award-winning unit sends a team to receive the award.

"Due to sequestration, there weren't a lot of units represented and the 351st (ARS) couldn't send anyone, which is why I got the call," he said. "Because of my recent retirement and preparing to move back into our house in San Antonio, I hadn't planned on attending this year - once I received the call, there was no way I would miss it."

The award is a huge deal in the boom-operator world. To put it into context, there are 54 active-duty, guard and reserve tanker squadrons at 29 tanker bases around the world for both the KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender.

"Literally, this award signifies the Best Boom Operator Section in the Air Force," said Chief Master Sgt. Gregory Warren, 100th OG superintendent. "To my knowledge, this is the first time ever that it's been won by an overseas unit. I'm so proud of these Airmen aviators; they definitely deserve this recognition."

Warren was fortunate enough to have been in a squadron which has won this award three times.

"(The 351st ARS) is, for all intents and purposes, the Air Force's tanker contingency response group for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Air Force Africa and Central Command," the 100th OG chief said. "Half of the missions these booms fly are operational - basically, 'fighting the fight' - from home station and deployed."

The significant accomplishments which led to the 351st ARS and boom operators garnering the award include:
  • They were the tanker quick reaction force for all of European Command and Africa Command areas of responsibility, covering 20 million square miles, supporting 28 allied nations, carrying out 1,500 missions.
  • The 351st ARS flew 2,200 combat hours covering 361 missions, and offloaded 18.6 million pounds of fuel to 1,400 aircraft.
  • As a team, they executed 12 Polish Air Force and NATO air refueling missions, offloading 585,000 pounds of fuel in 55 flight hours, sharing tactics training which was critical to offensive counter air and close air support.
  • They coordinated and marched 20 service members in the Remembrance Day Parade, cementing ties with the Royal British Legion and honoring World War II veterans.
  • Boom operators volunteered for a total of 19 hours over seven nights as drivers and chaperones for Airmen Against Drunk Driving, potentially saving 41 lives.
  • They improved the educational environment for 180 foreign students after helping build bookshelves for a Kyrgyzstan library.
"This unit has been called upon three times in the past two years to short-notice deploy for contingency operations, while still fully supporting the fight locally with home-launched missions," said Warren. "Additionally, our booms support a third location with deployments, on an ongoing basis.

"On top of this, they still find the time to go to school and support the base and local community - I could not be any prouder," he exclaimed.