28th SFS earns MAJCOM award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jarad A. Denton
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Air Combat Command officials recently named the 28th Security Forces Squadron as the 2010 Air Combat Command Outstanding Medium-sized Security Forces Squadron of the Year due to its numerous accomplishments, both at home and abroad.

The 28th SFS will receive the award during an awards banquet at the ACC Security Forces Conference in August.

"Our defenders conducted outside-the-wire ground combat patrols, trained Iraqi and Afghanistan security forces, integrated with other joint services in executing counter insurgency operations and provided base defense for our air bases in the area of responsibility," said Maj. Steven Ohlmeyer, 28th SFS commander. "At home station, we also made significant upgrades to our facilities."

Some of those upgrades include a fully enclosed combat arms range, two new installation entry control facilities - with a third currently under construction - and a new camera and alarm system.

"Most importantly, we've changed numerous processes and procedures to make Ellsworth a 'harder target,'" Major Ohlmeyer said. "However, out of all our accomplishments over the past year, taking second place out of 10 teams at the Global Strike Challenge was nothing short of spectacular."

For the Global Strike Challenge, the 28th SFS had only three weeks to prepare, following an operational readiness inspection and deployment overlap. That, combined with their outstanding performance throughout the year at both the individual and squadron level, earned them the ACC award.

"I couldn't be more proud of my DEFENDERS (28th SFS)," said Col. Trent Edwards, 28th Mission Support Group commander. "They not only deploy around the world providing exceptional combat support to the joint war fighter, but also protect the Airmen, families and assets and infrastructure at Ellsworth. They help make Ellsworth a safe place to live, work and play."

Both Colonel Edwards and Major Ohlmeyer agreed that this award was a shared victory by the entire squadron.

"This was a great achievement for the squadron, given the operations tempo at the time," he said. "Even though there were too many star performers to name individually, we are all part of a team and this accomplishment was a team effort."

Major Ohlmeyer said this award will serve as a motivational tool for the squadron to maintain its level of excellence.

"Getting to the top is one thing, staying there is another," he said. "We don't stop pushing ourselves just because we won this award. We will continue to evaluate our processes and procedures and make improvements whenever possible. Excellence isn't an accident. Training and hard work will always pay off in the end."

He said every Airman in the squadron must be ready to put forward their best effort, at a moment's notice.

"I expect every defender to be disciplined, professional and always ready," he continued. "If the worst were to ever happen, we must be ready."