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 NEWS
 JOSAC recognizes three Guard flying units By From news releases
 ARLINGTON, Va., - Three Army and Air National Guard flying units
were named "Unit of the Year" by the Joint Operational Support Airlift
Center (JOSAC) for 2009. The 177th Airlift Squadron of the North Dakota Air National Guard received
the Unit of the Year award in the Air Force's small aircraft category.
Detachment 40 of the Missouri Army National Guard was the unit of the year
in the Small Army-West category, while Detachment 36 of the Illinois Army
National Guard won the Small Army-East category. "The Happy Hooligans continue to excel in all their missions," said Army
Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, the adjutant general of North Dakota. "The
119th Wing, through a multitude of aircraft, continues to demonstrate
superior performance worthy of Department of Defense recognition. These
Airmen ensure that the North Dakota National Guard leads the way in
excellence for the entire nation." After the Happy Hooligans ended their 60-year fighter mission in January
2007, they started the new mission with the C-21A Lear Jet. In 2008, they
began supporting missions for JOSAC, providing airlift to dignitaries all
over the United States. "JOSAC is a unique mission for us because our pilots get to interact with so
many individuals on a daily basis. You can be sure that the Happy Hooligans
and the great state of North Dakota are recognized by our customers," said
Lt. Col. Rick Omang, the 177th Airlift Squadron commander. The Happy Hooligans have been in the lead since October 2009 for the number
of missions they have flown for JOSAC. From October to February, they flew
997 hours, which is 141 hours more than any other unit in their category
flying for JOSAC in the nation. "Our customers often request us to fly for them because we keep our aircraft
in excellent condition, we're well-trained at what we do, and we treat our
passengers with the Midwest hospitality that the Happy Hooligans are known
for," said Omang. In a letter announcing the award, Navy Capt. Peter R. Davenport, chief of
JOSAC, said, "The 177th Airlift Squadron's dedication and professionalism
set the mark for all other C-21 units in the Department of Defense. We
sincerely appreciate the superior effort of your Happy Hooligans, crews and
support personnel alike, while performing the OSA (operational support
airlift) mission." The North Dakota Air Guard has embraced the C-21 mission. The Happy
Hooligans made Air Force history by creating a military maintenance program
for the C-21 aircraft at the 119th Wing. This was the first of its kind
program for the entire Air Force since the maintenance of C-21s had
previously been done by civilian contractors. Because of this program, N.D. Airmen were able to keep their maintenance
jobs while waiting for the new C-27J Spartan aircraft mission that is
expected to arrive in 2012. Also, last summer the Happy Hooligans deployed several of their C-21 Lear
Jets, to include pilots and maintenance personnel, to Qatar, which was
another first for the 119th Wing. Never before had the Happy Hooligans
deployed their aircraft into a theater of war. Within two months of being
deployed, they won "Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit of the Month" in
June 2009. The Happy Hooligans have been making a name for themselves from the start
with the C-21 mission, and they don't plan on stopping anytime soon, Guard
officials said. "Regardless of what we're flying, whether it's the current mission of the
C-21 or our future mission of the C-27, we will do everything we can to
ensure that we are the best at it. That's what being a Happy Hooligan is all
about," said Omang. "It's still early, but we're already ahead for the most
JOSAC flying hours for March. Hopefully we'll keep it up and take the lead
for the sixth month in a row." The Decatur-based Illinois Army National Guard unit led the eastern part of
the nation with more than 670 flight hours and 164 missions across all parts
of the U.S. They transported about 700 passengers and hundreds of pounds of
cargo in 2009. "It is a nice honor to be recognized for what we have done," said Chief
Warrant Officer (5) James Marley of Cerro Gordo, the detachment commander.
"Our primary focus is to assure our pilots and personnel are trained and
ready to deploy anywhere at any time. Real-life missions are much better
training than any training flight." Detachment 36 is a unique group of eight personnel, who are tasked with
flying a C-12 military aircraft to different parts of the country,
transporting military personnel and cargo seven days a week. The aircraft is smaller than most fixed wing military aircraft, holding up
to 10 military personnel per flight. The unit's total flight hours were
641.57.
It flew 100 missions with 490 passengers, JOSAC officials said. "Many of the flights are for Soldiers or leadership personnel traveling to
different parts of Illinois or other states on military orders," Marley
said. "The flights help save federal money since the servicemember is not
using commercial transportation, while giving us valuable flight time and
real mission experience. It is a win-win." Detachment 40, a unit based in Jefferson City, Mo., deployed to Afghanistan in
August of last year. During the deployment, the unit has flown distinguished visitors around
Afghanistan, said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Don Muschler. Flying primarily in
the C-12 Huron, a twin-engine turboprop airplane, the unit performs similar
missions in Missouri when not deployed. The nine-member unit trained at Fort Benning, Ga., where they completed
pre-mobilization exercises then deployed to Afghanistan in support of the
Global War on Terror. Brig. Gen. Stephen Danner, the adjutant general of the Missouri National
Guard, said he is extremely proud of the unit's accomplishments. "This is an auspicious occasion," Danner said. "The unit has done extremely
well. Their role is vital and all of Missouri takes pride in what they are
doing and prays for their safe return." Detachment 36 was mobilized in 2007 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The
seven-person crew flew more than 450 combat missions during a seven-month
time span in support of U.S. Central Command. The group expects to be
deployed to Afghanistan this fall. This award recognizes Marley and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Darin Anderson, the
two full-time pilots, who support most of the missions. Sgt. 1st Class Jaime
Perrot is the full-time operations coordinator, who schedules the flights.
The others who were honored include: Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kim Schwab,
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Charles Maroon, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen
Kenney and Sgt. Nathaniel Chambers. "We never expected to be recognized for doing our job," Marley said. "It is
great to know we are appreciated and we are a success in the eyes of others
in the nation." JOSAC is the airlift branch of the U.S. Transportation Command,
headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Ill, that specializes in air
transportation of senior defense officials within the continental U.S. Currently, 89 units support JOSAC. Units are comprised of aircraft squadrons
from all branches, to include the Marine Corps, Army, Navy and Air Force. (Capt. Penny Rippenger of the North Dakota National and Mike Chrisman of
the Illinois National Guard contributed to this report.)
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