Photo Caption: In an informal ceremony held Oct. 5, members of the 177th Fighter Wing, located at Egg Harbor Township, watched as Senior Airman Matthew McCune, a crew chief, unveiled the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) emblem on the tail of one of the wing's F-16C Fighting Falcon jet aircraft.

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.

“ I'm honored and extremely proud of the wing for receiving this award,” said Col. Michael Cosby, 177th Fighter Wing commander seconds after the unveiling. “We have great people, and this award is testimony to the important role we play in the war on terrorism.”

The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, 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 Fighter Wing was one of the first units to have its aircraft generated with live missiles and flying shortly after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Other 177th Fighter Wing achievements include deploying combat ready personnel to support Aerospace Expeditionary Force Nine. Additionally, numerous unit members volunteered to support other units that were part of the Aerospace Expeditionary Force Expeditionary Combat Support. The wing has also been recognized nationally for it's outstanding environmental stewardship, recruiting efforts and community support.

Congressman Frank LoBiondo, 2nd District, New Jersey, also in attendance stated in his message to the wing, “The efforts of the 177th Fighter Wing have been essential to America's homeland defense and this award honors those efforts. Congratulations to the men and women of the 177th Fighter Wing on receiving the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for their ongoing homeland defense efforts as part of Operation Noble Eagle.”