178th Sustainment Services Flight wins national award

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio --      The 178th Fighter Wing' s Sustainment Services Flight was named "ANG Sustainment Services Flight of the Year" for 2011 by National Guard Manpower and Personnel. Criteria for the selection for this award included: mission accomplishments and innovation, leadership and management, and customer focus.
     Comprised of 21 servicemembers, the 178 FSV served 9,150 meals, managed the wing' s Honor Guard Program responsible for the performance of 245 military funeral honors and color guard details and provided comprehensive services for 178th Mission Support Group's annual training, saving the wing money in per diem and allowing more time for servicemembers to devote to training. 
     The list of this year's accomplishments continues.
     The unit has deployed 11 Airmen this year in support of the war on terrorism for a combined total of 1,530 days. 
     "Every year multiple people have volunteered to deploy," said Senior Master Sgt. Dave Franzen, flight superintendent. "When we say we're going to do something or support something we do, we never shortfall."
     Since 9/11, 86 Airmen have deployed voluntarily and involuntarily to nine locations for a total of 8,226 days, while also supporting 15 wing deployments. 
     "Our members are known as prolific deployers," said Capt. Matthew Smith, a Force Sustainment officer. "Our members typically seek additional duties and impress deployed leadership with their attitude and abilities resulting in a continuous stream of accolades and honors flowing back to Springfield in praise of the efforts of our flight members."
     On these deployments, services' responsibilities run the gamut.
     "Often, in the ANG, services is seen only as the provider of meals, but in reality, only about 6 percent of deployed Airmen will work in food service." said Smith.
     Services runs morale and welfare facilities, organizes activities and sustains the mortuary affairs program, said Smith.
     "Involvement with (National Guard Bureau) Services helps set the 178th Sustainment Services Flight apart from other units. Membership on NGB committees and a willingness to engage with A1S leadership on national issues helps to keep the 178 FSV engaged and instills a level of pride throughout the entire flight.," Said Capt. Smith. 
     The culmination of this unit's accomplishments was being named "ANG Sustainment Services Flight of the Year" for 2011.
     "This award really validates what we feel we've done. We've been very responsive to what the bureau needs. We're very proud of our customer service," said Franzen.
     "This outstanding group of dedicated men and women consistently exceed expectations to complete the mission," said Col. Gregory Schnulo, 178th Fighter Wing commander.