Blended flight wins top level award Published June 12, 2009 By Maj. Shannon Mann 916th Public Affairs SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- It's no secret that aircrews are the front men of any Air Force flying wing, but in order to do their jobs they need the support of the team that stands behind them. Here at that the 916th Air Refueling Wing, Air Force Reserve, one of those teams was recognized for their outstanding efforts. The 916th Aircrew Flight Equipment Flight was recently named outstanding program of the year by Fourth Air Force and Air Force Reserve Command. The shop, comprised of five full-time members, four traditional reservists and eight active duty Airmen, demonstrated that small can also mean efficient when it comes to doing their jobs and doing them well. The flight procured equipment from another wing that was closing, saving more than million dollars in equipment costs. They worked as a team to revitalize the use of old workspace saving the wing $30,000 and they rejuvenated a cost per flying hour program that saved the wing $500,000. In 2008, Reserve life support members of the 916th merged with active duty members of the 911th Air Refueling Squadron to become a flight under the 916th Operations Support Squadron. They excelled in just one year together. "They won the award by being the model of Total Force Integration," said Lt. Col. Eric Jorgensen, 916th Operations Support Squadron commander. "All their efforts indicate it doesn't matter what major command patch they are wearing, they work together to get it done." The flight successfully passed two inspections, merged career fields, deployed, saved millions in government dollars and continued to excel as individuals in their communities and here on base. "It was a team effort by all," said Senior Master Sgt. Dana Bates, flight superintendant. "We were very happy and humbled to have won, we all worked very hard to pull together during this time frame."