Email   Print   Share By Staff Sgt. Michael Dator , 3rd Cav. Regt. Public Affairs

Facebook Digg Delicious October 11, 2012 | News

Spc. Benjamin Kelley, a light wheel mechanic from 1-3 Cav. Regt. repairs the wheel of a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle at the squadron motorpool Oct. 3 on post. Staff Sgt. Michael Dator , 3rd Cav. Regt. Public Affairs

Spc. Arnulfo Garcia Jr. (left) and Spc. Benjamin Kelley, mechanics from the 1-3 Cav. Regt., select tools to work on the wheel of a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle Oct. 3 at the squadron motorpool on post. Staff Sgt. Michael Dator , 3rd Cav. Regt. Public Affairs

Mechanics from the 1-3 Cav. Regt. review vehicle maintenance reports Oct. 3 at the 1-3 Cav. Regt. motorpool on post. The squadron was recently named a recipient of the Secretary of Defense Field-level Maintenance Award for the large category. Staff Sgt. Michael Dator , 3rd Cav. Regt. Public Affairs

Spc. Kyle Leftwich (top) and Spc. Joshua Chalker, mechanics assigned to the 1-3 Cav. Regt., provide maintenance to a humvee Oct. 3 at the squadron motorpool on post. Staff Sgt. Michael Dator , 3rd Cav. Regt. Public Affairs

Proper maintenance is essential for keeping an Army up and running. Without it, units wouldn’t be able to accomplish their mission of defending our freedoms at home and abroad. A good maintenance program is based on standards of excellence. Many units strive for excellence, but for one unit on post, excellence is a virtue inherent at its core.

Fort Hood’s 1st Squadron “Tiger,” 3rd Cavalry Regiment is one of six units from across the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force selected to receive a 2012 Secretary of Defense Field-level Maintenance Award. The 1-3 Cav. Regt. was selected to receive the award in the large category for this year.

The award recognizes the most significant achievements in military equipment and weapon systems maintenance from units in the small, medium and large categories. Units selected are acknowledged as having the finest maintenance programs in the Department of Defense.

“It’s a great feeling being able to be a part of something this big,” said Spc. Arnulfo Garcia Jr., a mechanic assigned to Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1-3 Cav. Regt. “I usually don’t get a chance to see how my work affects the unit as whole, so it’s nice knowing that my efforts contributed to gaining us more recognition.”

Senior maintenance team leaders researched, compiled and submitted paperwork to be considered for the award while the unit was deployed to southern Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn.

The unit had to sustain more than 270 combat vehicles, including tanks, Bradleys, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles and humvees during its time overseas. The unit implemented an innovative program that consolidated maintenance teams while instituting comprehensive quality control and assurance efforts through its “repair forward and return to user” philosophy to improve efficiency and mitigate errors. These initiatives resulted in a 50-percent reduction in non-mission capable rates for combat vehicles and contributed to the overall safety of Soldiers going out on missions.

“From the highest level team member, to the lowest ranking private, our success all comes down to proper communication and attention to detail,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 James Spiher, the squadron maintenance officer during the deployment. “Big changes are made at the top, but it is up to our NCOs (noncommissioned officers) to communicate that vision to the junior-enlisted Soldiers who made it a reality.”

The unit had to compete for the Armywide title before moving on to the DoD level. It was subjected to thorough inspections at the motorpool on topics such as preventive maintenance checks and services procedures, dispatching procedures and arms room maintenance policies when the unit returned from deployment. These inspections occurred in the midst of recovery operations from its recent deployment and preparations for its conversion from an armored cavalry regiment to a Stryker-mounted cavalry regiment.

“Our leadership really put a lot of emphasis on fostering a culture of excellence,” said Sgt. 1st Class Steven Helton, the squadron motor sergeant during the deployment. “Because of their support, we were able to put a system in place that allowed us to ensure all the important details were taken care of.”

The field-level awards will be presented during a banquet scheduled for Nov. 15 at the Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition in Grand Rapids, Mich. During the presentation, representatives from each of the six units will find out who will be named “best of the best” with the announcement of the Phoenix Award winner.

The Phoenix Award is the highest-level maintenance award an organization can achieve within the DoD. The award is named after the Phoenix, a mythical creature said to have the ability to renew itself from its ashes. It symbolizes the renewed sense of life maintenance programs bring to equipment and weapons systems.