Asymmetric Warfare Group receives top honor

By Story and photos by Maj. Charles Barrett, AWG, Public AffairsMarch 17, 2015

Asymmetric Warfare Group receives top honor
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. John P. Petkosek, commander, Asymmetric Warfare Group, speaks to audience members during Thursday's ceremony at Fort Meade, Md. The AWG was presented with the Army Superior Unit Award for its actions from Nov. 1, 2011 to Aug. 22, 2013 for suppo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Asymmetric Warfare Group receives top honor
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Kevin W. Mangum, deputy commanding general, Training and Doctrine Command, speaks to members of the Asymmetric Warfare Group Thursday at Fort Meade, Md. during AWG's Army Superior Unit Award ceremony. The award was presented in recognition ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Asymmetric Warfare Group receives top honor
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Kevin W. Mangum, deputy commanding general, Training and Doctrine Command, speaks to members of the Asymmetric Warfare Group Thursday at Fort Meade, Md. during AWG's Army Superior Unit Award ceremony. The award was presented in recognition ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT MEADE, Md. -- The Asymmetric Warfare Group held a ceremony Thursday at its headquarters here in recognition of receiving the Army Superior Unit Award.

The dates of the award span from Nov. 1, 2011 to Aug. 22, 2013, and include actions taken by the unit's operational advisors and support personnel during Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn.

"[AWG] forged an impressive record of rapid solution development to enhance Soldier survivability and combat effectiveness," said Deputy Commanding General for the Army's Training and Doctrine Command, Lt. Gen. Kevin W. Mangum, who presided over the ceremony. "And critical to me, is the AWG's contribution to the Army's future, informing the concepts and requirements as we shape Force 2025 and as a catalyst to spark innovation across the Institutional Army."

The Army Superior Unit Award is a decoration established by the Secretary of the Army which is awarded to an Army unit that displays outstanding meritorious performance in a difficult and challenging mission carried out under extraordinary circumstances.

"[The award] is a true testament to your time here," said Col. John P. Petkosek, the AWG commander.

Since its creation as the Army's Improvised Explosive Device Task Force in 2003 the AWG has adapted its mission to addressing current and emerging asymmetric threats.

"We identify capability gaps within the Army as well as our adversaries, and then create material or nonmaterial solutions to bridge those gaps," said Lt. Col. Tommy Broome, AWG executive officer.

Those gaps are most often identified by the AWG's operational advisors who work closely with Army units worldwide.

"It's not uncommon for an advisor to have more than twenty years of experience," said Broome. "The proximity to the problem, duration of our missions, and experience level of our advisors allows us to do that very well."

Members of the AWG know that the ASUA is an accolade that shall not soon be forgotten, and it represents the enduring role of the AWG as the United State faces ever more present asymmetric threats worldwide.

"Any AWG success translates to fewer casualties on the battlefield, and that's a win in my book," said Petkosek.

More information about the Asymmetric Warfare Group is available on their official Facebook page www.facebook.com/asymmetricwarfaregroup.

Interested in joining AWG? Contact a recruiter through the AWG website www.army.awg.mil.

Related Links:

Asymmetric Warfare Group official Facebook page