621st Contingency Response Wing receives Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Published Nov. 6, 2014 By Tech. Sgt. Matthew Hannen 621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIF. -- On Wednesday October 29, 2014, all 621st Contingency Response Wing Airmen were notified by email that their wing had been selected to receive the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) for exceptionally meritorious service resulting from their hard work, dedication, professionalism, and excellence, during the time period October 1, 2012-September 30, 2014. 621 CRW is headquartered at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, with additional forces stationed at Travis Air Force Base; Calif. The 621 CRW deploys teams of versatile mobility Airmen, disciplined to solve problems in complex environments. Past operations include mobility planning for air support over Libya; distribution of humanitarian aid following Haiti's devastating earthquake; multiple building partner capacity engagements in Africa and Central and South America; and re-opening Baghdad International Airport for troop buildup and airflow into Iraq to stop the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The wing's lean force of about 1500 contingency response and mobility advisory Airmen mobilize the fight, provide relief, and advance the peace. They are Air Mobility Command's 9-1-1 force. "Take great pride in your contributions to the mission of the 621 CRW, Air Mobility Command, the Air Force, and the Joint Force," said Col James Copher, Commander of the 621st Contingency Response Wing. "Thank you very much for your hard work and dedication to our wing. I know we will continue to excel!" The Military Personnel Section will update all 621 CRW records of members currently assigned. Col Copher also requested, members who have left the CRW be notified to ensure they receive a copy of the attached citation. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award is awarded to units by the secretary of the Air Force to numbered units that have distinguished themselves by exceptional meritorious service or outstanding achievement that clearly sets the unit above and apart from similar units. The services include; performance of exceptionally meritorious service, accomplishment of a specific outstanding achievement of national or international significance, combat operations against an armed enemy of the United States, or military operations involving conflict with or exposure to hostile actions by an opposing foreign force. AFOUA was authorized by Department of the Air Force General Order 1, Jan. 6, 1954. The AFOUA ribbon has a narrow red stripe, flanked by a thin white stripe, a wide blue stripe, a thin white stripe, edged with a narrow red stripe. A bronze "V" device is worn on the ribbon to denote award for combat or direct combat support actions. The Oak leaf cluster; valor "V" device is authorized with more than one AFOUA ribbon awarded. However, the AFOUA has zero point value when testing for promotion on the Weighted Airman Promotion System (WAPS). 621 CRW currently has deployed Airmen from the 818 Mobility Support Advisor Squadron in Africa and Airmen from the 571 Mobility Support Advisor Squadron in Latin America and Mexico building key partnerships and laying the ground work for long term partnerships through training and advising foreign military forces. About 115 Airmen from the 817th Contingency Response Group at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. and the 571st Contingency Response Group at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., are deployed to Monrovia, Liberia, fighting Ebola in West Africa in support of Operation United Assistance. "Congratulations Devil Raiders!" said Col Copher.