Air Force ISR Award Nominations Abound for 25 AF Airmen

  • Published
  • By Lori A. Bultman
  • 25th Air Force

Airmen from 25th Air Force have once again demonstrated their proficiency in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, earning 12 of 19 individual nominations, and one of the two unit nominations, by Air Combat Command for the 2017 Air Force ISR Awards program.

 

The annual ISR awards distinguish the “best of the best” among the thousands of outstanding Air Force ISR Airmen and units, according to the nomination instructions distributed earlier this fiscal year.

The Airmen of Detachment 5, 544th ISR Group, 70th ISR Wing, earned distinction when they were selected as the 25th Air Force Outstanding Operational Group Intelligence/Operational Support Flight ISR Unit of the Year, and now they have been selected by ACC to compete at the Air Force level.

“I am so proud of the Airmen at Det. 5,” said Col. Thomas Hensley, 70th ISR Wing commander. “Despite the relatively small size of the detachment, they shoulder tremendous responsibilities and execute their mission with passion and exquisite precision. I often tell them that they punch well above their weight class.

“All of their mission partner senior leaders speak praises of their level of expertise, dedication and innovation,” Hensley said. “I am humbled to be their commander and honored to call them my colleagues. I am so happy they were selected as this year's ACC nominee and wish them the best at the next level.” 

The awards program also recognizes ISR Airmen for their individual contributions to Air Force ISR missions. The awards are separated for active duty, Reserve and Guard and civilian Airmen, and this year, Airmen from 25th Air Force scored 12 ACC nominations.

“For almost two years, I have had the distinct pleasure of meeting many of the incredible Airmen in the 25th Air Force enterprise, so it comes as no surprise to me that so many nominees from within our NAF have been selected to represent our Major Command at the Air Force level ISR awards program,” said Maj. Gen. Bradford Shwedo, commander, 25th Air Force. “It is an amazing recognition to be selected as a nominee from among the thousands of world-class Airmen in Air Force ISR. I applaud our nominees and know they will represent us very well at the Air Force-level competition.”

“Functional awards like this underpin who we are as Airmen,” said Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman, command chief, 25th Air Force. “They celebrate our excellence as technicians and reward those Airmen who dedicate themselves first and foremost to their mission. Each of them has my utmost respect.”

The Air Force level winners, military and civilian, will be authorized to wear the Air Force Recognition Ribbon or lapel pin, per Air Force Instruction 36-2820.