The North Dakota Air Nationwide Guard’s 178th Assault Squadron (ATKS) was acknowledged because the Basic Atomics Remotely Piloted Plane Squadron of the 12 months at an occasion hosted by the Mitchell Institute on Dec. 9, 2022, on the Fargo Air Museum in Fargo, N.D. The award is given yearly to the Squadron that distinguishes itself by way of its deployment of Remotely Piloted Plane (RPA) in meritorious service. The 178th was chosen from a subject of greater than 30 RPA squadrons and it’s the primary time an ANG Squadron has obtained the award.
In 2021, the 178th Assault Squadron continued to solidify their place because the trail-blazing MQ-9 unit by main in innovation, capabilities, and modernization. The “Pleased Hooligans” have accomplished their unprecedented fifteenth straight 12 months of 24/7/365 fight operations whereas supporting each U.S. Central Command and U.S. Africa Command. They’ve distinguished themselves in present fight operations whereas advocating for MQ-9A relevancy in strategic competitors.
Moreover, the Hooligans have accelerated change throughout the Joint Drive through progressive Dwell, Digital, Constructive (LVC) and live-fly MQ-9 coaching. Twenty-one supported items from every of the 4 companies, working in three completely different Combatant Instructions, have partnered with the 178th to advance readiness and enhance RPA employment. Moreover, the Pleased Hooligans are the enterprise chief because the producers of essentially the most Dwell-fly Continuation Coaching. They’ve powered MQ-9 coaching and readiness applications for 10 completely different Operations Teams within the Air Nationwide Guard, Air Fight Command, and Air Drive Particular Operations Command.
“The 178th ATKS has made a big influence on a number of areas of duty over the previous few years, and particularly this 12 months,” mentioned GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “We’re happy with the 178th’s dedication and keenness to bettering MQ-9 operations and showcasing the MQ-9’s multi-role capabilities.”
The Pleased Hooligan’s accomplishments, as they paved the best way for future RPA functionality, distinctly determine them because the U.S. Air Drive’s most excellent RPA squadron and reveal the nice energy of this nation with cutting-edge fight capabilities. The 178th Assault Squadron is a unit of the North Dakota ANG’s 119th Wing stationed on the Fargo, Hector IAP, N.D.
