WEBVTT

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During their March training weekend ,

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members of the Iowa Air National Guard

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learned that they were the recipients

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of the Air Force meritorious unit award

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as a result of the state's involvement

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in operation allies . Welcome . During

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2021 the announcement for members of

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the one 85th air refueling wing in

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Sioux City , Iowa came at a commander's

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call event during the training weekend .

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It's good to see the recognition come

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back . Um You know , from the national

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level of the wings efforts , Lieutenant

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Colonel Jennifer Carlson was one of a

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group of volunteers from Sioux City's

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one 85th air refueling wing and Des

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Moines one 32nd wing who received

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extremely short note orders to help

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with operations that were taking place

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at joint base mcguire Dix Lakehurst in

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New Jersey . We knew how many people

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and enlisted versus officer and that

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was pretty much it . So when you got

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out there , that's when the people on

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the ground out there would take a look

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at what you're a FSC was and where you

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fit best into the organization .

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Carlson said the group provided

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logistics and sustainment support as

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part of the Afghan refugee operation at

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Fort Dix . She said the tasking was

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outside what is considered normal but

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added that being a part of the

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operation gave them a front row seat to

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an historic event . It's a remarkable

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point in American history for this

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event and to participate in such an

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operation . Carlson said that she came

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to another realization about the people

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she was serving during the deployment

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as they're getting ready to head out

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the door . What you realizes that

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you've got to interact with some of

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America's newest citizens as Carlson

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and the rest of the unit attended the

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awards event in Sioux City . They were

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left with a heartfelt . Thank you from

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their commander , but now also have a

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new award as a reminder of their

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contributions to a successful operation

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in Sioux City , Iowa . I'm senior

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master sergeant Instagram .