C004900

Round shaped coin, antique brass in color, 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

SIDE 1 - A globe with grid lines surmounted by a short sword, point down, enveloped by a lightning bolt; all surrounded by a wide band with the unit name, "16th OPERATIONS SUPPORT SQUADRON" above, and a motto, "ALWAYS READY - ALWAYS THERE" below.

SIDE 2 - The insignia of the 16th Pursuit Group (now the 1st Special Operation Wing), above an engraving rectangle (empty); following the curve of the circle, the words, "WORLD CLASS" above the insignia and the words, "OPERATIONAL SUPPORT" below the engraving space; surrounding it all, a wide band with a series of ten unidentified 3-letter acronyms.

An Air Force support squadron supplies all the necessary manpower and equipment needed to continue numerous tasks. An operations support squadron may dictate policy, train aircrews, and maintain airfields based on the missions of the units it supports. This type of unit will also staff the control tower and supply weather forecasts for bases and aircrews.

The 16th Operations Support Squadron was part of the 16th Pursuit Group which has since been succeeded by the 1st Operations Wing. The insignia on the reverse of the coin with the motto "Any Time, Any Place" is now the insignia of the 1st Special Operations Wing which is part of the US Special Operations Command.