Arkansas is home to many incredibly brave and skilled servicemembers who pledged an oath to protect and defend our country. These heroes are part of our families, in our friend groups and comprise upstanding citizens that our communities depend on. 

I am always proud to share my support and gratitude with them, and for them, every chance I get.

But it is especially rewarding to have the opportunity to applaud their expertise on a national stage, which we recently had occasion to do following an exceptional achievement by a local Air National Guard unit based in Fort Smith.

These guardsmen call Ebbing Airbase home and were recently honored with the 2024 General Atomics Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Trophy.

Known as the “Flying Razorbacks,” the 184th is part of the 188th Wing and merited recognition for its outstanding performance contributing to our national defense and providing cutting-edge, resilient air capabilities.

Awarded to the top RPA squadron across all U.S. Air Force Active Duty, Reserve and Guard units, the servicemembers of the 184th consistently demonstrate their critical skills and effectiveness. The squadron completed 314 combat sorties, providing nearly 6,000 hours of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. This footage is extremely important for monitoring and identifying threats, protecting civilians and ground forces, and can provide real-time updates that enable immediate response.

These efforts are crucial to achieve mission success and protect our nation and interests.

The squadron has fostered a reputation for excellence. In 2024, it became the first presidentially selected unit to ensure the security of humanitarian airdrops by protecting cargo and forces dispensing aid as well as ensuring safe and precise delivery. This distinction represented confidence in the 184th as a hallmark of mission readiness and professionalism.

Additionally, the Flying Razorbacks led the U.S. Air Force in conducting MQ-9 Reaper operations, utilizing the remotely piloted aircraft to complete 66 percent of all non-traditional defensive counter-air and counter-small unmanned aerial system engagements.

These Arkansans are certainly worthy of such distinguished recognition, and I was also pleased to mark their success in the Congressional Record so it is memorialized in the official proceedings of Congress for years to come. In a visit to Ebbing this month, I spoke directly with these personnel and leaders who represent themselves, fellow citizen-airmen and our entire military incredibly well.

It is an honor to acknowledge the men and women of the 184th Attack Squadron for earning this prestigious award and the trust of our national security leaders. Arkansas is proud to commend their dedication and hard work as well as congratulate them on their world-class commitment to bolstering the defense of our country.

Like their colleagues across the 188th Wing, they are carrying out vital missions with great success. In recent years, Ebbing Air National Guard Base has transitioned from an installation on the brink of closure to a vital national security asset. The 184th Attack Squadron, which has been supporting real-world operations for over a decade, along with the new Foreign Military Sales mission training U.S. allies and partners on the F-35 are testaments to the support and investment directed at ensuring it remained viable.

Sharing our gratitude and pride with the 188th Wing personally is always fulfilling. We can be extremely proud of the job they do and the reflection of our state that their efforts embody. I look forward to further supporting these Arkansans, and the policies and resources they need to continue performing their duties with competence, confidence and courage.