Clinton Resident Aikins Awarded Meritorious Achievement Medal

The 224th Air Defense Group (ADG) at the Eastern Air Defense Sector recently presented outstanding service medals to seven New York Air National Guardsmen. The Airmen were:

Tech. Sgt. Robert Aikins, Clinton, Meritorious Service Medal. A Security Forces Flight Chief with the 224th Support Squadron, Aikins re-wrote standards for eight exercises and conducted more than 60 evaluations that certified Airmen for critical duties. Aikins coordinated 185 training events, provided 300 hours of instruction and was the lead coordinator for EADS support of an Air Force One security detail during a Presidential visit to Rome.

The 224th ADG is composed of the 224th Air Defense Squadron and 224th Support Squadron, located in Rome, and Detachment 1 and Detachment 2 that serve in the Washington, D.C. area. The 224th ADG provides the forces to conduct the Eastern Air Defense Sector's (EADS) mission. Part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the Sector is responsible for the air defense of the eastern U.S.

For more information about the New York Air National Guard, visit www.dmna.ny.gov. For more information on the Eastern Air Defense Sector and the 224th Air Defense Group, visit www.eads.ang.af.mil.