[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 101 (Thursday, June 26, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4148-S4149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         NEVADA NATIONAL GUARD

 Mr. HELLER. Madam President, today I wish to recognize the 
Nevada National Guard's 45th Detachment of the Operational Support 
Airlift Agency, DET 45 OSAA, located at Reno-Stead airport. On June 
6th, this unit departed for Joint Base Bagram, Afghanistan, where they 
will be serving for the next 9 months.
  While tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, I am both humbled 
and honored that these brave men and women are willing to go into 
harm's way to put the needs of our country before their own. We owe our 
respect and gratitude to these soldiers, who are sacrificing so much to 
defend our freedoms. The DET 45 OSAA unit has a flawless reputation for 
providing safely executed flight operations both nationally and 
internationally without any accidents for the past 20 years, which has 
earned them a spot among the top 10 units for the past 10 years. I, 
along with my fellow Nevadans are honored that the DET 45 OSAA Unit 
call Nevada home. We as a nation are fortunate to have men and women, 
like those in the DET 45 OSAA unit, to serve and protect us.
  The Nevada National Guard's 45th Detachment plays an integral role 
within the Operational Support Airlift Agency's mission by providing 
high priority, short notice fixed wing air transport support to 
passengers and cargo for all components and members of the Department 
of Defense. DET 45 OSAA has supported many missions both nationally and 
abroad. From 2003 to 2010 the unit flew missions in Cuba in support of 
Special Forces operations, and were deployed to Iraq and Kuwait 
supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the 
United States Africa Command. The DET 45 OSAA unit has also supported 
ground forces by flying an intelligence, surveillance and 
reconnaissance mission with the King Air 300 series Medium Altitude 
Reconnaissance

[[Page S4149]]

and Surveillance System aircraft. Most recently, the State of Nevada 
has contributed to a new intelligence mission by providing soldiers 
working as Aerial Electronic Sensor Operators to perform their newest 
intelligence mission.
  I would like to thank the courageous men and women in DET 45 OSAA for 
their contributions to the United States of America and to freedom-
loving nations around the world. Their service to our country and their 
bravery and dedication to their families and communities earn all of 
these heroes a place among the outstanding men and women who have 
valiantly defended our Nation.
  I ask my colleagues and all Nevadans to join me in recognizing and 
thanking these heroes for their selfless service both at home and 
abroad. May they have another successful mission and a safe return 
home.

                          ____________________