Courtesy Photo | Representatives from the Georgia Army National Guard Directorate of Logistics accept...... read more read more
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Two Georgia Army National Guard units have been recognized among the best in Army maintenance activity with the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence competition. Battery A, 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery in Springfield, Ga. captured first in the Army National Guard Small Unit category while Field Maintenance Shop Winder finished second overall in the table of distribution and allowances unit category.
“Logistics Excellence is among our top priorities,” said Brig. Gen. Thomas Carden, commander of the Georgia Army National Guard. “When it comes to equipment, we have to acquire, secure, account for and maintain it to standard. Maintaining our equipment requires the most direct effort by the unit.”
On Wednesday, September 21, 2016, representatives of the Georgia Army National Guard’s Directorate of Logistics accepted the awards from Brig. Gen. Timothy Wjojtecki on behalf of the units during a ceremony in Washington D.C. The award presentation culminates months of effort by Georgia Guard units and the Georgia Guard DOL.
“Units that maintain their equipment always have higher overall readiness metrics,” said Carden. “I am proud of the Soldiers and leaders in Battery A, 1-118th FA. They have set the standard for the entire organization.”
The Army Award for Maintenance Excellence is a U.S. Army Chief of Staff-level award. Established in 1982, the AAME recognizes exceptional accomplishments in maintenance and incentivizes continuous improvement. Active, Reserve and Army National Guard units compete in separate categories. Each category is further separated into small, medium and large-unit categories based on a unit’s number of authorized personnel.
To be considered for the AAME, units must submit an extensive packet summarizing their maintenance activities for evaluation by Army Headquarters. Battery A’s packet first had to pass battalion and brigade level review before it was forwarded to the Georgia Guard’s G4 office. Field Maintenance Shop Winder’s path to the award was similar, but did not require battalion and brigade review.
Once designated as the state nominees, Battery A and FMS Winder competed against units from other National Guard states, first at the regional level, and then against all regional winners. Battery A and FMS Winder were then selected by the National Guard Bureau to represent the Guard in the Army-wide competition. In March, 2016, semifinalists were visited by a team of Army inspectors who reviewed weapons and vehicle maintenance programs, motor pool and dispatch operations as well as special programs such as hazardous materials handling.
According to Lt. Col. Alex McLemore, this is the first time a Georgia Guard unit has finished first in the competition.
“This award ceremony is much more than a milestone for the Georgia Army National Guard,” said McLemore. “It's the seminal event for a much greater effort to come. We have so many units and Soldiers doing so many great things with logistics that I see Georgia being represented on a larger scale in the years to come.”
McLemore was optimistic about the impact of the award on future logistics endeavors in Georgia.
“Excellence should always be recognized like it was this evening and we are very proud of the units that won,” said McLemore. “The recognition these units received will push them to do even more and influence those around them to follow suit.”
| Date Taken: | 09.21.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 09.21.2016 23:06 |
| Story ID: | 210244 |
| Location: | MARIETTA, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 866 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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