12th Fighter Squadron wins air-superiority award

  • Published
  • By Airman David Carbajal
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The 12th Fighter Squadron celebrated its 25th anniversary of winning the 1981 Raytheon Award by earning a second.

The soon-to-be decommissioned squadron is the winner of the 2006 Raytheon Award. Started in 1953 by Hughes Aircraft Company, the trophy is given annually to the top air-superiority or air-defense squadron in the Air Force.

"To put it in perspective, the Dirty Dozen (12th FS) was awarded this honor out of nearly 50 squadrons," said Lt. Col. Alan Kollien, 12th FS commander. "It's truly a great achievement for the fighters and our 12th AMU (Aircraft Maintenance Unit)."

During 2006, the Dirty Dozen flew 4,089 sorties and 6,380 hours in support of peacetime and North American Aerospace Defense Command contingency operations, while maintaining around-the-clock Response Posture Immediate alert.

From Jan. 22-Feb. 7, 2006, the 12th FS participated in the first-ever Coalition Coal Warfighter Red Flag. It was the largest Red Flag exercise in more than three years, involving 26 units from five countries with more than 1,650 maintainers and more than 500 operators flying 131 aircraft. The squadron deployed 12 F-15Cs and flew 145 sorties for 321 hours, with an overall mission capable rate of 95 percent and zero safety incidents.

During the 2006 Northern Edge, the Dirty Dozen led the Pacific Command, flying 169 sorties and 467.9 hours -- the largest squadron contribution to the most relevant large force exercise ever executed, said Colonel Kollien.

Despite the Alaskan climate, the 12th AMU had the highest F-15C mission-capable rate in the active duty Air Force -- 86.9 percent. Additionally, the 12th AMU compiled the best maintenance statistics in most major categories and met all Air Force maintenance indicator standards for the entire fiscal year.

"The 12th AMU's outstanding efforts in 2006 were among the best in the Combat Air Force and we quite honestly would never have won had they not done such an exemplary job," said Capt. Ryan "Jolt" Pelkola, a 12th Fighter Squadron pilot.

The squadron experienced no mishaps - aircraft losses or damage exceeding $20,000 or personnel injuries causing lost work time -- in 6,380 hours of flying and only four reportable events which was zero cost to the Air Force.

The 12th FS also received an "Excellent" rating on the wing's annual safety inspection.

"The men and women of the 12th AMU took an enormous amount of pride in delivering the world's finest fighter aircraft to our operators every day," said Capt. Jason McFeaters, 12th Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer in charge. "Whether it was here at Elmendorf providing top-cover for our nation, or on the road honing our combat skills at various training events, we enjoyed a tremendous relationship with our operators and possessed an understanding that at any time we were ready to hit the road as a team and take overwhelming air power to our enemy."

This is the second Raytheon Award given to a fighter squadron at Elmendorf in six years. The 19th Fighter Squadron won this honor in 2000. The 12th FS will be inactivated in October and has begun transferring some personnel and aircraft to the 19th FS.