F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- Maj. Gen. Anthony Cotton, 20th Air Force and Task Force 214 commander, unveiled alert milestone patches to 20th AF leadership at the 20th AF Senior Leadership Conference here, Sept. 18 to 21.
Patches will be awarded to missileers for every 100 alerts they complete at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, Malmstrom AFB, Montana and Minot AFB, North Dakota.
"As a missile combat operator achieving milestone career alerts is no small feat, and I'm thrilled our missileers can showcase, with pride, their warfighting competence," Cotton said. "We are not just recognizing hard work or time spent deployed, we are saluting the men and women who take pride in skillfully carrying out the ICBM mission.”
Capt. Julio Perez, 20th AF commander’s action group deputy director, said the idea came from a Force Improvement Program recommendation in 2014.
“I’m glad we have a way to showcase our commitment, pride and dedication to service and the ICBM mission,” Perez said.
Perez added Airmen will also gain 20th AF level recognition, which is a good goal to strive toward and a great start to a new tradition, he said.
“When you see an individual walking around with a 200 or 300 alert patch, it shows their credibility and you can see they have that operational experience,” said Capt. Bryce Acres, 20th AF chief of programs and policy. “Crewmembers can strive to achieve these milestones and showcase their contribution to safe, secure and effective operations.”