137th Space Warning Squadron garners national award again

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Coulter
  • 140th Wing Public Affairs
The 137th Space Warning Squadron, Colorado Air National Guard has won the prestigious National Guard Association of the United States Mission Support Trophy - again.
The NGAUS Mission Support Trophy is the highest award a non-flying Air National Guard unit can receive.
Awarded to the 137th SWS in 2008, a recent announcement from Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Director of the Air National Guard, stated the 137th SWS will be awarded the trophy for a second year in a row.
Some of the accomplishments listed in the award praised the 137th SWS for:
· Unequalled 100 percent mobile missile warning availability with zero downtime using a 28-year-old system.
· 100 percent mission success on Air Force Space Command taskings
· Logistics coordinated a local repair of sub-systems resulting in a real $3.6 million savings
· Undermanned by 22 percent, the 137th maintained 100 percent operational up-time rate and executed 429 preventive maintenance inspections on all systems - 100 percent on time
· Entire unit deployed from Colorado in record time in support of the North American Aerospace Defense Command
· Received praise from NORAD for outstanding mission support on overseas deployments
Air National Guard Col. Loren Johnson, commander of the 137th SWS said, "I'm incredibly proud of the men and women assigned to this unit and what we do on a day to day basis to support the security of this nation. This is a one-of-a-kind mission, not only in the Air National Guard but in the military. Nobody else does what we do and I'm proud of the fact that my folks have gotten recognized for their sacrifice, professionalism and service again."
The 2009 Mission Support Trophy isn't the only award in the unit's trophy case. In 2001, 2003, and again in 2004, the unit was recognized as a recipient of NGAUS' Distinguished Mission Support Plaque, given to only five outstanding units throughout the National Guard. The award highlights outstanding ability. In 2003, The 137th Security Forces Flight earned the Air Force Outstanding Security Forces Air National Guard Unit award.
"In the entryway of our headquarters building it says in bold letters, 'Through these doors pass the world's most dedicated citizen soldiers and space warriors.' I think that sums it up," said Johnson.