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121st Air Refueling Wing Brings Home NGAUS Distinguished Flying Unit Award

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Wendy Kuhn
  • 121st Air Refueling

RICKENBACKER AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ohio -- The 121st Air Refueling Wing was recently recognized for excellence in combat readiness and operational effectiveness when it was awarded the 2024 National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) Distinguished Flying Unit plaque at the 147th NGAUS General Conference and Exhibition in Milwaukee, Mich., Aug. 25, 2025. Col. Andrew Powers, commander of the 121st Air Refueling Wing, was in attendance to receive the award on behalf of the unit.

“The award is reflective of the Wing’s readiness,” said Powers. “Receiving this award shows that the Wing is postured and ready for whatever we need to do. It’s representative of our motto, ‘All things at all times.’”

According to Powers, one of the things that set the unit apart during the award period was the mobilization and deployment of the Wing’s first-ever Fatality Search and Recovery Team.

“What’s notable about that is that team is entirely made up of Drill Status Guardsmen,” said Powers. “That team came together, mobilized and deployed to North Carolina, providing disaster response support to the authorities there with less than 30 hours of notification.”

Another major accomplishment that stood out was the unit’s efforts to validate inflight tests of the KC-135 Quick Reaction Handbook.

“The 121st led Air Mobility Command’s efforts in this verification and validation, which really is the most significant evolution in KC-135 technical order data, specifically emergency procedures, since the aircraft was originally fielded more than 60 years ago,” said Powers.

The NGAUS Distinguished Flying Unit award is given to the top six Air National Guard flying units, selecting the winners based on performance and overall combat readiness. Some of the criteria measured for consideration include flying safety, operational readiness inspections, weapons qualifications, aircraft operational readiness, skill level qualifications, outstanding accomplishments, and special missions and exercises. Additionally, consideration is given for adverse circumstances that impact the unit mission.