315 MXG receives command-level award, will compete at Air Force level Published April 23, 2009 By Capt Bryan Lewis 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. -- The Air Force Reserve Command recently announced the 315th Maintenance Group as the command's winner of the 2009 General George C. Kenney Award for Lessons Learned. The award is sponsored by the Air Force Association and recognizes an active-duty, Reserve or Guard organization that makes the most notable contribution to the Air Force through lessons learned. "The 315th Maintenance Group should be proud of their total effort and commitment to the mission of the Air Force Reserve Command and is truly deserving of this prestigious award," said Lt. Gen. Charles Stenner, USAFR commander. Since 9/11, the 315 MXG provided nearly 800,000 days of additional support to active duty, resulting in a 13.2 percent Reserve production contribution rate for 2008 doubling the Congressionally-mandated standard of 7 percent for the 11th consecutive year. The award, however, is not only a reflection of the 315 MXG's hard work, but a reflection of the total efforts of Team Charleston. "It is certainly an honor to be recognized for the George C. Kenney Lessons Learned Award'" said Col. James Joyce, 315 MXG commander. "Sharing our ideas and learning from the ideas of other units is simply our standard way of doing business in the 315 MXG. We are also very fortunate to have this same sharing relationship with our active duty partners in the 437th Maintenance Group and our contractor partners, Boeing and Pratt and Whitney." Colonel Joyce said that the partnership Charleston maintainers have with Boeing produced 30 separate changes to C-17 technical orders that benefit all Air Force C-17 units. Additionally, the Avionics Section technicians set new standards for repair of components formerly destined for depot repair only, which avoided $24.6 million in unneeded costs. The technicians also pioneered the on-site repair of C-17 simulator and Maintenance Training Device avionic components, reducing the turn around time for these repairs by 136 days, saving an additional $321,000. Though the unit is proud of its recognition, it is not the first time Team Charleston was recognized for it accomplishments. "The close partnership with our 437th partners has yielded tremendous mission accomplishment for them as well as world class training achievement for us, culminating in our joint selection for this year's Air Force Daedalian Weapon System Maintenance Trophy," said Colonel Joyce. The 315 MXG will now compete with the remaining Air Force Command winners for the Lessons Learned Award at the Air Force level.