Army news service : units receive DA maintenance awards

Defense AT&L, Nov-Dec, 2004

WASHINGTON -- Twenty-three Army units from around the world received the 2003 Army Award for Maintenance Excellence at a ceremony Aug. 4 in Alexandria, Va.

"These guys are like linemen on the Army's football team. They pound it out every day to keep units combat ready and they don't normally get the glory," said Brig. Gen. William "Mike" Lenaers, commandant of the U.S. Army Ordnance Center and School. "We're taking the time to recognize them."

Awards were presented by Lenaers, Lt. Gen. Claude Christianson, deputy chief of staff, G-4 (Logistics); and CW5 James Wynne, regimental chief warrant officer of the Ordnance Corps.

Winning units received a plaque, a Chief of Staff of the Army Star Note, and a note from the sergeant major of the Army congratulating them for their outstanding accomplishments.

The Army Award for Maintenance Excellence was established in 1982 to recognize units from all Army components for outstanding maintenance programs that increase operational readiness and enhance mission capability.

Army units are better because the competition causes them to take a hard look at themselves, to identify their weaknesses and to build on their strengths, Lenaers said.

Units that received the award displayed competence in maintenance above the standard regulations by improving technical proficiency, increasing operational readiness, and enhancing mission capability, officials said.

"We had a good program to begin with; we just raised the bar to achieve excellence," said Maj. Kira Terhune of the 297th Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Gordon, Ga., runner-up in the category for active large deployable units.

The improvements these units make and the training they implement serve the entire force and are integral to mission success, according to program documents.

"We developed maintenance and driver training programs to improve operator proficiency and equipment readiness," said Maj. Nicole Spruill, who accepted the award for the HHC, 807th Medical Command from Seagoville, Texas. "Our training also benefits subordinate units."

Competition for the award is intense and demanding, participants said. Units from the active Army, Army Reserve, and National Guard submit nomination packages through their major commands for review. Selected packages then advance to the U.S. Army Ordnance Center and School at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., for thorough evaluation. Semifinalists are chosen and scheduled for a rigorous on-site inspection by a team of experts.

The experts, selected by the U.S. Army Ordnance Center and School examine the unit's maintenance programs, observe maintenance activities, and inspect maintenance records and safety programs. They also review tool inventories and interview key members within maintenance operations.

Winners and runners-up are then selected for the Chief of Staff, Army Award for Maintenance Excellence. Six of the winning units are also nominated to compete for the Secretary of Defense's Maintenance Award.

"This took months of preparation, from the ground to the battalion commander," said 1st Sgt. Hopeton Staple of the 532nd Military Intelligence Battalion from Seoul, Korea.

"This award really means a lot to those soldiers on the ground from our unit," he said. "The mechanics and supply clerks are the ones who make it happen; without them none of this would be possible."

The award program is co-sponsored by the National Defense Industrial Association. Units awarded:

ACTIVE ARMY TABLE OF ORGANIZATIONAL ELEMENTS (TOE) UNITS

Small Category

Winner: 11th Signal Detachment, 2nd Signal Brigade (Network Enterprise Technology Command) (Advanced to DoD competition)

Runner-up: Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 501st Military Intelligence Brigade (Intelligence and Security Command)

Medium Category

Winner: 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion (Intelligence and Security Command) (Advanced to DoD competition)

Runner-up: 524th Military Intelligence Battalion (Intelligence and Security Command)

Large Category

Winner: 532nd Military Intelligence Battalion (Intelligence and Security Command) (Advanced to DoD competition)

Runner-up: 297th Military Intelligence Battalion (Intelligence and Security Command)

NATIONAL GUARD TABLE OF ORGANIZATIONAL ELEMENTS (TOE) UNITS

Small Category

Winner: Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), 690th Maintenance Battalion (North Carolina)

Runner-up: 5694th Engineer Detachment (Ohio)

Medium Category

Winner: 732nd Maintenance Company (North Carolina)

Runner-up: A Company, 434th Maintenance Support Battalion (Minnesota)

Large Category

Winner: 2nd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment (Louisiana)

Runner-up: 690th Maintenance Battalion (North Carolina)

TABLE OF DISTRIBUTION AND ALLOWANCES (TDA) UNITS

Small Category

Winner: Aviation Flight Detachment, Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), Operations Group, Combat Maneuver Training Center (CMTC) (U.S. Army Europe) (Advanced to DoD competition)

Runner-up: Equipment Concentration Site 66 (Forces Command)

Medium Category

Winner: 58th Transportation Battalion, 3rd Chemical Brigade (Training and Doctrine Command) (Advanced to DoD competition)