CT National Guard Wins Best Airlift Wing in the Country!

November 1, 2024


I would like to congratulate Connecticut National Guard’s 103rd Airlift Wing for being recognized as the best airlift unit in the Air National Guard. The award is a prestigious accomplishment commemorating the most outstanding Air National Guard wing for its success of the Mobility Air Forces mission.

The Airlift/Tanker Association, a group of aviation professionals dedicated to supporting  of military airlift, will honor the unit with the Major General Stanley F.H. Newman Award at is annual convention in Texas.

Organizers selected the 103rd Airlift Wing for the award for its exceptional service from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. In that time, the unit led a four-ship C-130 Hercules force element while in the Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility during Exercise Mobility Guardian. The unit also provided expert tactical airlift capability for the European Command area of responsibility during exercise Air Defender.

Additionally, the 103rd Airlift Wing brought a C-130 Hercules aircraft to Uruguay in support of the Connecticut National Guard’s State Partnership Program and United States Southern Command’s campaigning objectives. In May 2024, the unit completed its Air Mobility Command, Inspector General-observed, Readiness Exercise Validation, where the 103rd Air Wing Inspector General was lauded as the “gold standard” in their ability to plan, execute, and report on a largescale combat readiness exercise.
This impressive achievement showcases the unwavering dedication, professionalism, and outstanding service from the Connecticut National Guard’s 103rd Airlift Wing. It perfectly represents a commitment excellence and leadership. I am incredibly proud of what their body of work and wish them continued success.