916th Operations Group wins top aviation honor Published June 10, 2015 By Senior Airman Jeramy Moore 916th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The 916th Operations Group recently learned they won what is considered one of the most prestigious aviation awards in the nation - the 2014 Grover Loening Trophy. This award is given to the most outstanding all-around aviation program in Air Force Reserve Command. Col. Anthony Polashek, 916th Operations Group commander, described the competition as fierce and summarized the range of achievements that earned them the trophy. "The men and women of 916th OG earned this award because they are committed to excellence and they are mission oriented," said Polashek. "They want to be the best at what they do and I think that they are." He said during the 2-year period of evaluation, operations group personnel were responsible for many courageous and difficult tasks. Among those were ramrodding aerial refueling efforts on the first night of military action over Syria by refueling two EA-6B Prowlers and four F/A-18 Hornets, which successfully completed strikes against several Islamic State group targets. In addition, they executed 30 Operation Coronet Nighthawk missions during which they successfully transferred 950,000 pounds of fuel to facilitate the movement of 62 aircraft. The operations team also executed the biggest East Coast large-force exercise which included nine bases, 360 aircraft, 950 personnel, 15,000 man hours, and saved the Air Force more than $719,000. The unit also provided support to Eglin AFB for a critical test and evaluation mission while off-loading 344,000 pounds of fuel to 71 aircraft. This year, two 916th ARW pilots were selected to participate in the initial testing for the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus, an aircraft that the Air Force is purchasing to replace the aging KC-135R Stratotanker fleet. Polashek said receiving this recognition from outside the organization not only motivates Airmen in the operations group, but can inspire others in the wing as well. "I consider this award to be reflective of the efforts and achievements of the entire wing, since our operators can't do their mission without the support of all of them," he said. The Loening Trophy is the rarest and oldest of all aviation awards. It was awarded for the first time in 1929 by Dr. Grover Cleveland Loening, the first aeronautical engineer for the Wright Brothers, to recognize the most outstanding achievements of the nation's top aviation programs. Loening, along with Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart and Navy Commander John Towers, judged the first competition.