Reservists earn awards for service in war on terrorism.

Air Force Reservists who deploy in support of the global war on terrorism need to ensure they receive credit for their service.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 30,000 Reservists have been mobilized, and thousands more have volunteered to serve at home and abroad. Many of them have served in combat, with virtually every unit seeing action in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Expeditionary rescue and C-130 airlift units, in particular, have relied on Reservists and their equipment to perform the mission.

To ensure deployed people receive the awards they are entitled to, Central Air Forces, the Air Force component of U.S. Central Command, set up a Web site (https://www.mil.centaf.af.mil/Directorates/A1/CENTAF%20AWARDS/main.htm) listing individual and unit awards.

Reservists who have served in OEF or OIF can go to this site and select the "Unit Awards" button to review the approved awards, listed in unit order. If there is an award for the expeditionary wing or group they served with and the award dates cover the period they were deployed in the combat zone, Reservists can print out the order and take it and other proof of deployment/assignment to their servicing military personnel flight. The MPF will then add the award to their personnel records.

CENTAF's unit award approval process is an on-going effort. Reservists who have recently deployed and do not see their unit listed should check this page periodically. Links to information for global war on terrorism service medals and individual decorations are also available on this Web site.

Several Air Force Reserve Command units have received recognition for their service in OEF and OIF.

Central Air Forces awarded the Meritorious Unit Award to the 919th Operations Group, Duke Field, Fla., for the period Oct. 19, 2001, to July 1, 2003. Members of the group, which includes the 5th and 711th Special Operations Squadrons and 919th Operations Support Squadron, flew more than 1,861 MC-130 combat missions totaling more than 5,000 hours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

They were among the first U.S. forces to conduct combat operations over both countries.

Reservists in the 446th Airlift Wing's 728th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash., earned the same award between Feb. 14, 2003, and Feb. 13, 2005. One of the wing's many accomplishments was having three of the 15 crews in a historic C-17 combat airdrop over northern Iraq.

Two Air Force Reserve A-10 units--the 442nd Fighter Wing and its 303rd Fighter Squadron from Whiteman AFB, Mo., and the 926th FW and its 706th FS from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, La.--received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with a V device for valor. They got the award for service in Afghanistan as part of OEF for the period April 2, 2002, to July 31, 2002.

An AFOUA with V device also went to the 466th FS from Hill AFB, Utah, for the period Jan. 1, 2003, to May 21, 2003. As members of the only Litening-pod equipped F-16 unit in combat operations in Iraq, squadron pilots flew 40 percent of their wing's combat missions with only 16 percent of the wing's pilots and aircraft assigned.

Most recently, McChord's 446th OG was awarded an AFOUA with valor for Oct. 1, 2003, to Sept. 30, 2005, recognizing its work in supporting the global war on terrorism, especially in airlifting troops and equipment into Iraq after the northern front was opened.

Anyone assigned to and deployed with these units, including the various support units, during these periods is entitled to these awards.

The Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell AFB, Ala., will add these awards to the units' lineage and honors history. Units that receive these awards are authorized streamers for their flags and guidons.

As a new award, the Meritorious Unit Award streamer is not yet available in the supply system. However, procurement is in progress, and MUA streamers are expected to be available in the near future. (Jerry White, AFRC Historical Services, Robins AFB, Ga.)