TOP STORY > >Black Knights satisfy inspectors

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Months of rigorous, strenuous and exhausting preparation, training and executing reached its conclusion for the Airmen of the 19th Airlift Wing Oct. 21, at the base theater, as the Air Mobility Command’s Inspector General team announced an overall rating of “Satisfactory” for the wing following its operational readiness inspection Oct. 11-18.

“I’m proud of the hard work and dedication of our Black Knights. The men and women of the 19th never cease to amaze me with their superb skill,” said Col. Mike Minihan, 19th Airlift Wing commander. “The IG witnessed first-hand the professionalism, attitude and enthusiasm that fuels C-130 Combat Airlift. This week was a snapshot of the tireless efforts our Airmen and families invest in our mission daily at home and abroad.”

The inspection team members evaluated the wing’s Ability to Survive and Operate skills and how Airmen get the job done in accordance with Air Force guidance and instructions. The inspection tested the 19th AW’s readiness for contingency operations capabilities, which focused on the wing’s ability to mobilize and operate in a deployed environment, and force protection of the base.

“I would say that this is an amazingly well-lead and combat ready wing, “said, Col. Adam McMilllan, AMC ORI team chief. “From my stand-point, the men and women of this wing are exceptional, but that’s from the giving end. There’s a lot of things, day to day, that the wing does exceptionally well. Performing their mission, maintenance, flying, these are things the wing does exceptionally well.”

The ORI team chief added that the inspection is intentionally designed to test the not-so day-to-day operations of the wing as well.

“We test for things that you don’t normally do,” the colonel said. “But we do test to a combat level standard. Some of these amazing young Airmen can tell you better what this is like. I hope they all got something out of it.”

In addition to announcing the wing’s overall grade, the AMC IG team handed out awards for teams and individuals.

11 sections were recognized as “superior teams” by the IG:

19th Logistics Readiness Squadron:

Aerial Port Team

Emergency Operations Center Post Attack Reconnaissance Team

19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron:
Aircraft 1811 Generation Team

19th Civil Engineering Squadron:

Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Team

Airfield Damage Assessment and Minimum Operating Strip Cell Team

CE Unit Control Center Team

Folded Fiberglass Mat Team

19th Airlift Wing:

Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team

Mission Planning and Tactics Team

19th Force Support Squadron:
Food Service Team

61st Airlift Squadron:
Puma 21-Team

11 Airmen were recognized as “top performers” by the IG:

19th Operations Support Squadron:

Capt. Bret Echard

19th AMXS:

Senior Master Sgt. Mark Brekken

Master Sgt. Steven Hood

19th LRS:

Master Sgt. Joshua Johnson

Senior Airman Felicia Barnes

Senior Airman Garrick Tilley-Grantz

19th Maintenance Operations Squadron:

Tech. Sgt. Kevin Dunlap

19th FSS:

Tech. Sgt. Sonya Long

19th AW:

Daniel Phoenix

19th Security Forces Squadron:
Airman 1st Class Jaren Bishop

19th Operations Group:

Airman 1st Class Thomas Johnson

Seven Airmen and one civilian were coined by the IG:

19th Aerospace Medicine Squadron:

Capt. Vivien Miller

19th LRS:

Tech. Sgt. William Crouch

19th CES:

Tech. Sgt. Jason Wallace

19th AW:

Staff Sgt. Juan Santoy

19th OSS:

Senior Airman Alexandria Osmundson

19th CS:

Airman 1st Class Kharon Turner