Units, Airman recognized for exceptional performance

  • Published
  • By Jamie Haig
  • 1st SOW Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  While the Installation Excellence Award team is here, they will pay extra attention to one Airman, one flight, one wing staff agency and three squadrons who were selected for special recognition by Air Force Special Operations Command for outstanding accomplishments in the past year.

As the only individual Airman recognized, one of Tech. Sgt. Petina Hunt's jobs in the 1st Special Operations Communications Squadron is being Hurlburt Field's emission security expert. She ensured the base was 100 percent EMSEC compliant on all secure Internet protocol router network connections.

The 1st Special Operations Services Squadron Family Member Programs Flight provided more than 6,500 hours of free child care and is in the top three in the Air Force for providing extended, emergency and military mission service. Recognized as the best child development center in the Air Force two years running, this shows the success of the program and the satisfaction of the parents.

The 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs staff distinguished themselves by leading a worldwide multimedia campaign focusing on the special operations mission. Public affairs placed 1st SOW Airman at more than 200 local events with audiences totaling more than 1 million people. This educated the local community on the mission, equipment, personnel and the base, resulting in ironclad public support.

The 1st Special Operations Contracting Squadron stands apart from the rest with a list of accomplishments to be proud of. After several devastating hurricanes, the 1st SOCONS are the base recovery experts, expediting $11 million in facility repairs which prevented unnecessary down time for Hurlburt Field.

The 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron has managed an astounding workload, completing more than 50 projects in one year with another 16 underway. They completed an $18 million command and control facility, increasing C2 warfare training capability by 40 percent. The squadron deployed more than 130 people to 10 separate locations in support of U.S. Special Operations Command missions.

The 1st Special Operations Communications Squadron maintained an impressive 99.9 percent network availability, handling more than 16,000 trouble calls with the highest customer service rating. They delivered high-speed MQ Predator video feed to Air Force Special Operations Forces with real-time situational awareness for AFSOC warfighters. More than 500 pounds of communications security aids were delivered to Airmen in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedoms, facilitating secure communications for more than 600 special operations forces.

The squadrons, flights and individual accomplishments show the rest of the Air Force that Team Hurlburt takes ownership and pride in the job, the mission and the people.