459th Air Refueling Wing tests its mettle in readiness inspection Published April 10, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Amaani Lyle 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. -- Members of the 459th Air Refueling Wing deployed three KC-135 aircraft, five aircrews and nearly 400 support people to the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, Miss., March 25. The Air Mobility Command Inspector General-helmed weeklong exercise exposed wing members to rigorous time-compressed scenarios that gauged the unit's Ability to Survive and Operate during attacks and demonstrate Self Aid Buddy Care. "Our warriors should feel proud that their dedication and tenacity contributed to the successful conclusion of this inspection," said Col. Stephen D. Goeman, 459th ARW vice commander. The wing received an overall strong "Satisfactory" in the four major areas: Initial Response, Employment, ATSO and Redeployment. Two of the four sub-areas were graded "Excellent." The IG recognized the following exceptional performers and awarded each of them coins: Capt. Kinda Eastwood, 459th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Capt. John Stratton, 459th ARW First lieutenant Leroy Finch Jr., 459th Operations Support Flight Chief Master Sgt. Tony Parris, 756th Air Refueling Squadron Tech. Sgt. Michele Boyd, 459th ARW Tech. Sgt. Derrick Jones, 459th AMXS Tech. Sgt. Denise Patterson, 459th AMXS Staff Sgt. Camacho Cardona, 459th Security Forces Squadron Staff Sgt. Cyrene Fisher, 459th SFS Staff Sgt. Robert Tull II, 459th ARW Senior Airman Michael Rausch, 459th AMXS Senior Airman James Ritchie, 459th AMXS The IG also recognized the following teams: 459th Civil Engineer Squadron Civil Engineer Minimum Operating Strip Cell Team 459th ARW Religious Support Team