177th Receives AFOUA

Senior Airman Matthew McCune, a crew chief, unveils the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award emblem on the tail of an F-16C Fighting Falcon with the 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, during a ceremony at the Atlantic City Air Guard Base facility in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., Oct. 5, 2003. The wing received the award for exceptionally meritorious service from January 1, 2000 thru December 31, 2001. This is the first time the 177th has received this award. The AFOUA, established by the Department of Defense in 1954, recognizes units that have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding achievement that clearly sets the unit above and apart from similar units. The 177th was one of the first units to have its aircraft flying after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released)