Yokota Comm named best in Air Force!

  • Published
  • By 374th Communications Squadron
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  The 374th Communications Squadron recently won the Air Force Information Dominance Maj. Gen. Harold M. McClelland (Large Unit) Award for 2011.

The Air Force Information Dominance Maj. Gen. Harold M. McClelland Award is given annually to the best cyberspace/information dominance squadron, with 201 or more members, for sustained superior performance and professional excellence while managing core cyberspace and/or information dominance functions, and for contributions that improved Air Force and (or) DoD operations and missions most. It is considered to be the highest recognition of cyberspace excellence.

In 2011, members of the 374th CS provided around-the-clock communications in response to the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck northeast Japan. The communication squadron not only enabled the three primary missions of Operation Tomodachi: Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief, Authorized Voluntary Departures, and Nuclear Consequence Management, they also supported the bed-down of more than 2,000 deployed relief forces.

One of their most notable accomplishments was the follow-on communications support to the 353rd Special Operations Group, who reopened the Sendai Airport. Their efforts helped search and rescue teams launch 58 sorties, saving 179 lives.

The 374th CS also enabled the delivery of five million pounds of relief supplies and safe departures for 7,713 military dependents.

Despite this high workload, the 374th CS was still consistently first in Pacific Air Forces for network security compliance, eliminating 21,000 Category I vulnerabilities.

"I am extremely proud of the men and women of the 374th Communication Squadron," said Lt. Col. Rocky Favorito, 374th CS commander. "They shined brilliantly during Operation Tomodachi and beyond, always exceeding the cyber needs of Yokota Air Base."

"I'm especially proud of our Japanese employees who served side by side with us, delivering much needed relief to the citizens of Japan," he added. "This was truly a team effort."

This is the first time that the 374th CS has won this prestigious honor.