TOP STORY >>463rd Operations Support Squadron on top of game

By Staff Sgt. Beth Orlen
314th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The 463rd Operations Support Squadron is the 2006 best small OSS unit in Air Mobility Command, announced Air Force officials recently.

Members of the unit beat out other AMC units for a sixth time in seven years to be known as the best in their class.
It’s not luck that is the reason this team of 56 people has garnered this award - it’s the extremely dedicated and superior performers we have, said Senior Master Sgt. Steve Burt, 463rd OSS superintendent.

“We have an indelible culture of excellence,” said Lt. Col. Mark Czelusta, 463rd OSS commander. It is that excellence that AMC and Central Command looked for when needing a team to help develop the Joint Precision Airdrop System. JPADS is a parachute-based system that uses GPS-guided steering to precisely deliver loads of supplies like ammunition, fuel, food and water in most weather conditions and in a cost-effective manner from altitudes outside of the range of enemy fire.
“They came to us because we are good, and we have a track record of delivering,” said the colonel.

But JPADS is only one area where the unit excelled.

According to the citation, “the squadron made uniquely exceptional contributions to the Air Force’s and Air Mobility Command’s global missions by leading key initiatives to include ... C-130 convoy communications support and by hosting an exceptionally successful Joint Airborne/Air Transportability Training conference.

While continuously supporting Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, the men and women of ‘Mission Central’ ensured the success of Little Rock Air Force Base’s garrison mission through innovative programs to include block ground training, combat simulators, intensified local flight training, and integrated tactics, training and standardization/evaluation reporting.
This leadership culminated with the 463rd Airlift Group’s overall ‘Excellent’ rating in its Unit Compliance Inspection, and ‘Outstanding’ rating for aircrew performance during its Aircrew Standardization/Evaluation Visit.”

Colonel Czelusta credits winning the award to keeping unit standards high.

“I am extremely proud and humbled by the culture of creativity in this squadron,” said Col. Czelusta. “It only proves what we already know in the squadron — we have it going on.”