Col. John B. Morrison, Jr (right, in red beret) presents 224th detachment commander, Major Charles West (left saluting) with the unit's fifth Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. At far left (saluting) is 224th J1 Director, Captain Ray Sili.

Georgia 's 224th Joint Communications Support was presented its fifth Air Force Outstanding Unit Award on Saturday, June 21st at award ceremonies held at the Brunswick-based unit.

The award, presented by Col. John B. Morrison Jr., Commander of the Joint Communications Support Element, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. , was made before unit members, families and friends of the unit.

The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award is awarded by the Secretary of the Air Force to numbered units which have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding achievement above and apart from similar units. 

The 224th was recognized for its exceptionally meritorious service in the accomplishment of a significant mission against an armed enemy involving conflict with or exposure to hostile actions by an opposing foreign force.  

The citation recognized the 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron, Joint Communications Support Element, United States Joint Forces Command which distinguished itself by exceptionally meritorious service from January 2006 to December 2007. It was during this period that the 224th JCSS successfully deployed thirty-four percent of its Citizen-Airmen to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of joint special operations forces in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. 

While deployed, the squadron is credited with the delivery of a full spectrum of communication services, often under fire, at areas like Camp Al-Saliyah , Qatar , Balad Air Base, Camp Habbaniya and Camp Taji , Iraq and Forward Operating Base Solerno, Afghanistan .  The citation further acknowledged the 224th's technical expertise as the Department of Defense's 'cutting edge leader' in the deployment of the latest tactical communications technology. 

The fifth AFOUA adds to the squadron's recent award of the Joint Meritorious Unit Award presented twice in the past five years for its exceptional service in the Global War on Terrorism.

| News Home | GaDOD Home |