by Master Sgt. Karin Krause, Alaskan Command Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFPN) -- While 2007 was a very challenging year for the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, known as ANR, and its partners, it ended up being a very rewarding year when ANR was named NORAD's outstanding unit for 2007.
Col. Kevin Booth, ANR director of operations, accepted the Partridge-Slemon Award on behalf of Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, ANR commander, at the recent NORAD-US Northern Command Commander's Conference.
The Partridge-Slemon Award recognizes the outstanding directorate, region, sector, Air Force Space Command warning unit or other contributing unit in support of the NORAD air defense mission.
This award has two significant meanings, said Col. Sylvan Bedard, ANR deputy commander and member of the Canadian air force.
"The first is in the name itself, which is a clear depiction of the importance of the bi-national agreement between the United States and Canada. The award was named after the first commander and deputy commander, Gen. Earle E. Partridge and Canadian Air Marshall C. Roy Slemon, to highlight that bi-national agreement," he said.
"And second, it can be awarded to any NORAD unit, anywhere, be it in the United States or Canada. Given the sheer number of units that contribute to the NORAD mission -- that is, missile defense, air defense headquarters, air operating centers, regions, etc. -- to be selected from such a wide range of units truly highlights ANR's accomplishments in 2007," the colonel said.
However, the path to the Partridge-Slemon Award was filled with challenges, both old and new.
ANR's mission is to deter, detect, intercept and defeat any threat to the air sovereignty of Alaska and North America, according to Col. Booth. In 2007, they experienced an increase in operations tempo as they executed that air sovereignty mission in order to respond to the greatest increase in Russian long range aviation since the Cold War ended more than 17 years ago.
In the midst of this increased ops tempo, ANR was inspected by members of the NORAD Inspector General in the 2007 Regional Alert Force Evaluation and earned an "Outstanding" rating.
There also were equipment challenges when the F-15 Eagle fleet was unexpectedly grounded in late 2007. However, officials at the Canadian NORAD Region immediately responded and provided CF-18 Hornets to support ANR. During that same period, 3rd Wing at Elmendorf AFB expedited the delivery of the F-22 Raptors to be used for the NORAD alert postures, Col. Booth said.
"Regardless of the challenges, ANR and its partners never failed Commander NORAD in the execution of the NORAD mission in Alaska," the colonel added.
"In reality, the Partridge-Slemon Award belongs not only to the region but to each of our partners who worked together to execute the ANR mission," said Col. Booth.
Those units include both U.S. and Canadian forces working in the 611th Air Operations Center, the 176th Air Control Squadron and the 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron, and the U.S. forces of the 11th Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, the 3rd Wing, the 354th Fighter Wing, the 168th Air Refueling Wing and the 611 AOC's associate Guard unit, 112th Air Operations Squadron, State College, Penn.
"Truth be told, ANR's success at the operational level is not possible without the outstanding relationship we have with our partners at the tactical level," said General Atkins. "The pride and professionalism displayed by all in the execution of the ANR mission is evident daily and this recognition from Headquarters NORAD shows just how successful the entire region has been."
