Air Force declares 931st 'Outstanding'

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MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  It's official. The 931st Air Refueling Group is an "outstanding" place to be.

The Group is one of 15 Air Force Reserve Command units selected to receive the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for 2009. Selections were announced Tuesday following a memorandum from Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., AFRC commander, to unit commanders.

Col. Edsel A. "Archie" Frye Jr., commander of the 931st ARG, quickly followed with a congratulatory email to thank his Airmen.

"That is incredible since we were not an independent unit last year," he wrote. "To achieve this in our first year as a direct reporting unit to 4th (Air Force) ... speaks volumes about the people we have and the great work you are all doing to make the 931st arguably the best wing in the command."

The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award is given by the Secretary of the Air Force to numbered units that have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding achievement that clearly sets the unit above and apart from similar units. 

Award-winning unit traits include: performance of exceptionally meritorious service, accomplishment of a specific outstanding achievement of national or international significance, combat operations against an armed enemy of the United States, or military operations involving conflict with or exposure to hostile actions by an opposing foreign force.

The 931st ARG previously received the award in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2003. The Department of the Air Force established the award in 1954. The 931st stood up at McConnell AFB in 1995.