JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
Through
the period of January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017, the 1st Operations Group at
Joint Base Langley-Eustis showed that they could make the most of their human
resources, and were recognized for such when the 9th Air Force awarded them the
Verne Orr award.
According
to U.S. Air Force 1st Lt Jacob Shuping, 1st OG T-38 Talon pilot, the Verne Orr
award recognizes units that show mission-oriented accomplishments, and focuses
on a unit’s use of its human resources to achieve its full potential to
accomplish the mission.
The four
squadrons that fall under the 1st OG are the 27th Fighter Squadron, 94th
Fighter Squadron, 71st Fighter Training Squadron, and the 1st Operations
Support Squadron. Each squadron is responsible for a part in providing air
dominance for the United States.
“I’ve been
the commander here for the last 18 months,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Gregory
Moseley, 1st OG commander, “We have redeployed a unit from Operation Inherent
Resolve, and we were the first F-22 unit to have a plus up from the Secretary
of Defense into sending more planes into theater.”
A plus up
means that the original tasking of the unit was for a certain amount of
airplanes, yet the unit was asked to send more and was able to by utilizing all
resources available.
According
to Moseley, along with the redeployment and plus up, the unit has also done
multiple red flag exercises, and weapons system evaluation program exercises.
“In
my opinion, it wasn’t individual events that won the award,” said Moseley. “I don’t
think it was the deployment and redeployment of all the different exercises, I think
what it came down to is the squadron commanders empowering their squadrons to
make decisions and empowering their squadrons with a mission focus to execute
and accomplish the mission”
According to Shuping, the team of approximately 275 personnel in the 1st
OG encompasses a wide range of career fields. The 1st OG personnel have
supported 90 Operation Noble Eagle sorties providing presidential protection
with over 500 flight hours. Additionally the 1st OG also participated in eight
joint and multi-national large-scale combat training exercises.
“I’m
very proud of what they have done,” said Moseley. “I’m very excited to have
watched them continue to excel and continue to do things to support the nations
call to provide air dominance anytime, anywhere, enhancing the nation’s
security.”
The 1st OG
is hopeful to win the award at the next level, Air Combat Command.
“I
honestly believe the folks in the group stand a pretty good chance,” said
Moseley. “And if not, it doesn’t take away anything from what they’ve done. We
have a great bunch of squadron commanders leading incredible Airmen.”