CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Maintenance groups on Charleston AFB were recently recognized as the best in the Air Force.
The 315th and the 437th Maintenance Groups were awarded the 2008 Air Force Clements McMullen Memorial Daedalian Weapon System Maintenance Trophy Award.
Both maintenance groups last won the Daedalian Trophy at the Air Mobility Command level in 2005.
"This is a great achievement for the men and women of the 437 and 315 MXGs," said Col. Tammy Livingood, 437 MXG commander. "This award was achieved through the hard work, attention to detail and quality maintenance of our Airman, civilians and contractors who consistently accomplish the demanding work necessary to keep our C-17s flying every day around the world. It is a tremendous recognition they so rightly deserve."
During the past year, Airmen of both groups generated more than 18,00 worldwide C-17 departures while limiting maintenance-related departure delays to only 4 percent. Of these missions, more than 3,000 were directly supported by flying crew chiefs who accumulated more than 12,000 days "on the road." The active and associate reserve team also generated more than 9,000 missions in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. Although deployed throughout U.S. Central Command, many of these are missions currently supported from one deployed location by approximately 90 Charleston AFB maintainers at what is otherwise known as "Charleston East."
The two groups will now be competing at the Department of Defense level for the DOD Phoenix Award and the 437 MXG will also be competing for the DOD Large Maintenance Unit Award.