Background on the 21st Air Force Lieutenant General Malcolm B. Armstrong Trophy: This annual trophy is awarded to an active-duty, Guard, and Reserve unit assigned to the 21st Air Force.  The criteria for the award include major deployments, participation in operations, exercises and/or contingency taskings, as well as the results of various inspections received during the calendar year.  In addition, the unit must show upgraded training necessary to accomplish the mission and any innovations used to improve training, performance standards, quality of life, and morale.  Finally, the unit must be in full compliance with environmental regulations and have a good safety record.

Background on the 108th Air Refueling Wings accomplishments toward winning the 21stt Air Force Lieutenant General Malcolm B. Armstrong Trophy: With a force of more than 1,300 men and women, the 108th Air Refueling Wing achieved an overall mission effectiveness for 2001 of 95.5%, with a 98.1% departure reliability rate.  The 108th flew a total of 5042.3 hours, for more than 1,300 sorties, which is broken down to 1,200 air refueling and 300 airlift missions.  From Sept. 11 through the end of 2001, the 108th flew 206 sorties and 878.8 hours in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE, and flew 108 sorties and 712.7 hours from Oman in Southwest Asia in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

Following Sept. 11, the 108th activated nearly 600 wing members in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.  As part of the military response to Sept. 11, the wing provided air refueling for the Combat Air Patrol (CAP) missions operating in the Northeast Corridor.  In October, more than 100 members of the 108th Security Forces Squadron were mobilized to provide security for government installations stateside, and to perform other security missions abroad.  In early December, approximately 200 unit members were deployed to Oman in Southwest Asia in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.  Exemplifying the true meaning of the citizen-airman, eight members of the wing’s Aerospace Ground Equipment Section were sent to the World Trade Center disaster site in New York City with mobile lighting equipment, “light-alls,” and rescue and recovery assistance.  Additionally, many more unit members provided emergency relief and assistance efforts in their civilian roles as firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians, and skilled laborers.