Kadena's 67th Fighter Squadron Honored By Air Force CoS
On February 16, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz
announced that Kadena's 67th Fighter Squadron earned the Raytheon
Trophy for 2011. The annual award, originally started by the Hughes
Aircraft Company in 1953, is now sponsored by Raytheon Systems
Corporation and is given to the top air superiority or air defense
squadron in the Air Force.
"The 67th Fighter Squadron clearly displayed its superior
ability to dominate the sky anywhere in the world," Schwartz said.
"My congratulations to the men and women of the 67th Fighter
Squadron."
The Raytheon Trophy is the most prestigious award that can be
bestowed upon any fighter squadron, said Lt. Col. Robert Cioppa,
the 67th Fighter Squadron commander. "Based on our competition, I
feel extremely fortunate and honored the 67th FS was selected above
all the truly outstanding squadrons in the Combat Air Forces,"
Cioppa said.
In the past, he said, only fighter intercept units could compete
for the trophy, but in 1970 the challenge was opened to any
squadron performing air defense as their primary mission, including
the Air National Guard as well as the active duty Air Force. Units
are graded on air defense and air superiority mission performance;
operational mission performance; organizational readiness
inspection results; training exercise participation; unit
achievements and awards; individual achievements and awards; and
unit incentive programs.
Cioppa said the praise for the award should be given to the Airmen
from the squadron and aircraft maintenance unit. "The credit for
this award truly belongs with the men and women of the 67th FS and
AMU," he said. "In my career, I have never seen any fighter
squadron endure the operations tempo the 67th FS had in 2011. We
answered the call on two short-notice, real-world deployments,
deployed aircraft and personnel to three different continents and
ten different countries while supporting multiple joint and
international exercises. When (U.S. Central Command) called for air
superiority, the 67th FS and AMU were in place and stood up
operations within three weeks.
"In my opinion, the U.S. Air Force has never had a finer or more
expeditionary fighter squadron than the 67th Fighter Squadron
Fighting Cocks," he added. "I am pleased all their hard work,
outstanding performance and sacrifices in 2011 didn't go unnoticed
by our senior Air Force (leaders)."
As a power projection platform for the Pacific Air Forces, Cioppa
said winning the trophy further proves the squadron's significance
in today's Air Force, but also said it couldn't have been won
without the Airmen's unwavering dedication to the mission. "Winning
the Raytheon Trophy recognizes the 18th Wing as PACAF's and the
U.S. Air Force's most essential asset for airpower projection," he
said. "This award recognizes the intense work, diligent efforts and
professionalism of not only the 67th, but also the supporting
organizations vital to accomplishing our mission. We could not have
won this award without the extraordinary teamwork between
operations, maintenance and support functions."
Schwartz said the competition this year was keen, with the 493rd
Fighter Squadron, from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, and the
77th Fighter Squadron, from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., also
competing. "Each nominated squadron demonstrated the best our Air
Force has to offer, and I am proud of all of their
accomplishments," he said. (Pictured: Senior Airman David Hicks, a
crew chief with the 44th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, assists Lt.
Col. Rob Cioppa, the 67th Fighter Squadron commander, into his F-15
Eagle.)
ANN Salutes Airman 1st Class Maeson L. Elleman 18th Wing
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