HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The 1st Special Operations Support Squadron received the 2009 Outstanding Operations Group Intelligence/Operations Support Flight Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Unit of the Year award for their tremendous accomplishments at Hurlburt Field Oct. 14.
Brig. Gen. Robert Otto, ISR Capabilities director, deputy chief of staff for ISR, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., presented the award to Maj. Erwin Waibel, 1st SOSS intelligence flight commander, in front of the men and women who contributed to the award.
"I'm here because it's important to recognize the best in the Air Force," General Otto said before he presented the plaque. "What you all do is really cutting edge and vital to today's fight."
The 1st SOSS Intelligence flight contributed more than 5,000 deployed days in support of Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom and operations in the Horn of Africa and the Pacific Command. In addition, 35 percent of the flight is always on the front line, contributing directly to many special operations missions.
"The work hours and deployments are tough to match in this department," said Kevin Chisholm, 1st SOSS intelligence flight deputy commander. "We have won this award a couple times before and it's because we have such a unique mission here."
The Airmen of the 1st SOSS intelligence flight enabled 5,000 joint special operations forces missions which led to more than 2,000 enemies killed in action and 850 others detained.
"You guys change the game," General Otto said. "You all figure out critical pieces of intelligence which help take out the enemy and support aircraft missions."
During a visit to Baghdad, 1st SOSS Airmen flowed essential intelligence to the president's security team which was key to assessments, security and over watch.
The men and women of the intelligence flight work just as hard at home as they do in a deployed environment. They created and presented around 2,000 intelligence briefs Hurlburt-wide. They prepared around 1,200 fliers on seven Air Force Special Operations Command airframes for worldwide operations by implementing a cutting-edge intelligence training plan.
"You all have an incredible NCO corps and the Airmen have unbelievable responsibilities," General Otto said. "What you do really matters and it's truly unique amongst Americans."
The men and women of the 1st SOSS Intelligence conduct training to prepare and brief Airmen for deployment and decode critical pieces of information, which contributes directly to the mission. The important information they relay to Airmen on the frontlines is used effectively which helps save lives.
"When you all do your job successfully, an Airman gets to come home," General Otto said. "It's a true testament to leadership and my hat goes off to you."
Even though the general mentioned leadership, the leadership of the award-winning flight expressed the large part the Airmen play. They stressed winning the award wouldn't have been possible without them.
"This is really a tribute to the Airmen and NCOs because they are always going full throttle," said Master Sgt. Barrett Fine, 1st SOSS Intelligence flight acting superintendent. "They are the smartest and hardest workers and they pay attention to detail."