Georgia ’s 116th Air Control Wing has been awarded the Spaatz Trophy, awarded to the nation’s most outstanding Air National Guard unit.

The announcement from the National Guard Association of the United States about the award came in late June. Look for personal comments from Brig. Gen. Tom Lynn, the 116th’s commander, about the unit’s accomplishment in First Friday’s August issue.

The Spaatz Trophy, presented by the National Guard Association of the United States , is named for Gen. Carl Spaatz, the first chief of staff of the independent Air Force. The award criteria covers events of national and international significance, exercises and deployments, operational airlift missions, human resources, accident-rate history, unit awards and community involvement.

The Association in 1967 adopted the award. The National Guard Bureau presented it from 1949 until 1967, to recognize the most outstanding squadron in each existing Air Guard Wing. Selection of the winner of the Spaatz Trophy is based on overall combat readiness during the reporting year and the unit’s performance in respect to all other Air Guard flying units.

Categories included in the award evaluation are flying safety; aircraft operation readiness; weapons firing; unit alerts; unit manning; skill level qualifications; retention; drill attendance; operational readiness inspections; outstanding accomplishments and special missions and exercises. Also taken into consideration are any circumstances that were considered adverse to the unit mission and beyond the unit’s contol.