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Maintenance named outstanding unit

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jeff Kelly
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. --  The 315th Airlift Wing Maintenance Group has been awarded the Outstanding Non-flying Unit Award for 2006 which distinguishes them as the finest non-flying group in the Air Force. 

The award was presented to the 315th MXG at the national Reserve Officers Association convention that was held in San Antonio, Texas, in late July. 

In order to qualify for the Outstanding Non-flying Unit award, the 315th MXG had to show exceptional skill in several different operational and non-operational areas including supporting deployments, training, safety, community outreach and unit accomplishments. 

One of the largest of these unit accomplishments was the 315th MXG being selected for the Secretary of Defense Field-level Maintenance Award. These awards are presented annually to recognize outstanding achievements in military equipment and weapon systems maintenance. 

"It makes me feel good," said Tech. Sgt. Michele Summers, a crew chief with the 315th MXG. "As busy as we are here at home and also deployed supporting the war fighting effort, it is good to know that we are being recognized for the hard work that we do." 

The numbers tell the full story of how efficient and reliable the 315th MXG has been in the past. 

The 315th MXG maintained an amazing 95.2 percent launch reliability rate for 51,497 flying hours last year, while accomplishing 34 percent of the total C-17 aircraft production here at Charleston Air Force Base. The congressional mandate for an associate unit's production is 7 percent. 

They also ensured the seamless maintenance support of a staggering 13,823 C-17 sorties worldwide, airlifting more than 111,592 tons of cargo and 68,387 passengers safely last year alone. 

"I am very proud of the people who work directly for me, the squadron and the maintenance group as a whole," said Master Sgt. Chris Mong, section chief for the 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "Members of the maintenance group work long hours, long days and long deployments keeping the aircraft flying and capable of bringing the equipment and people needed to the fight." 

"This award is a tribute to the wide range of talents the people in this group posses and the willingness to always volunteer and help others," said Sergeant Mong. "Stepping up to the challenge and always working hard runs rampant in this group." 

The 315th MXG should be proud of this accomplishment, as they are a model for other groups not only at Charleston Air Force Base but across the Air Force. The 315th MXG continuously strives to meet the highest possible standards of service and professionalism displaying excellence in all they do. The words of their commander echo this sentiment. 

"Members of the 315th Maintenance Group have served over 665,000 days on activity since 6 Oct 2001," said Col. James Joyce, commander of the 315th MXG. "Two hundred members are serving today. At every commander's call I tell them how proud am I to be part of the 315th and how lucky our nation is to have people willing to spend their precious time supporting and defending our constitution. I don't need awards to make me feel good about our folks; I am humbled to serve with them."