351st ARS makes history by winning Spaatz Trophy, a first for units abroad

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kate Maurer
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Proving their strong dedication to the mission, the 351st Air Refueling Squadron won the 2013 Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Trophy this June.

The Spaatz trophy is awarded to the most outstanding air refueling squadron in Air Mobility Command.

"It's recognition of the great work the Airmen of the 351st ARS have done over the past year," said Lt. Col. Michael Parks, 351st ARS commander. "It was truly a team effort of all the aircrew members and support personnel from the 351st ARS, as well as an acknowledgement of how well the 100th Air Refueling Wing works together as a team to generate KC-135 Stratotanker missions."

This is the first time the Spaatz trophy has been awarded to an overseas unit.

"Our sister squadrons in the U.S. tend to be tasked with a preponderance of training missions ensuring all the [air refueling] receivers in the states maintain their qualifications," Parks said. "But here we're tasked with operational missions everyday supporting aircraft going to and from U.S. Air Forces Central Command and supporting operations in three different areas of responsibility simultaneously."

As the sole tanker fleet for U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, the 351st ARS flew more than 8,400 flight hours, 73 percent of which were priority one missions, achieving an overall mission effectiveness rate of 98 percent.

"I think the fact that we do our job at the level we've been doing it and with the proficiency we've been doing it with really makes us stand out," said Staff Sgt. Michael Eiland, 351st ARS boom operator from Omaha, Nebraska.

Aside from accumulating 10,000 total days deployed - the most in 21 years, the refueling squadron postured 23 crews and procured 21,000 hours of alert status in support of operations in Libya, proving they're always ready.
"We're just carrying the 'Square D' heritage forward," Parks said. "Winning this award builds upon the pride and adds to the legacy of the Bloody Hundredth."

The 351st ARS continued to make their mark in history by being the first U.S. squadron to refuel French fighters over Africa in support of combat operations and the first U.S. tankers to refuel for the Moroccan air force.

"This win feels good," Eiland said. "Ultimately, we're just doing our job refueling aircraft and getting people where they need to go."

Parks added that he couldn't be prouder of the Airmen in the 351st ARS and 100th ARW for supporting the unique and critical refueling mission at RAF Mildenhall.