352nd MXS earns 11th maintenance effectiveness award

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Marelise Wood
  • 352nd Special Operations Group Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  About a year ago, a young lieutenant in the 352nd Maintenance Squadron was tasked with writing a package for an award the squadron had won 10 years in a row.

No pressure, right?

During a recent visit from Lieutenant General Donald Wurster, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) Commander, Lt. Col. Dean Judge, 352nd MXS Commander, walked across a stage and was presented the squadron's 11th consecutive AFSOC Maintenance Effectiveness Award in the small aircraft maintenance category.

"I was notified via e-mail that we'd won the award," said 1st Lt. Lindsay Freeman, 352nd MXS Assistant Officer in Charge and the young lieutenant mentioned above. "I was relieved because all I could think about was how awful it would feel to be the first person in 11 years to not write an award-winning MEA. After that initial feeling wore off and it sank in that we'd won, I was honored to be able to work on a document that showcased all of the hard work that the men and women of our squadron demonstrated throughout the year. "

Hard work netted not just this award, but several individual awards for 352nd MXS members to include, most recently, three AFSOC Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award winners. Staff Sgt. Joseph Siler won in the Aircraft Maintenance Technician Supervisor category, Tech. Sgt. Jason Hazelwood won in the Munitions/Missile Technician Supervisor category, and Michael Potter won the Civilian Manager Aircraft Maintenance award.

So what accounts for this squadron's award-winning success?

"One of our biggest highlights was the Operational Readiness Inspection," said Lieutenant Freeman. "The squadron successfully launched 31 of 31 sorties on time, and that's a lot of sorties for the three-week span of the operational readiness inspection. It was a heavy workload for our maintainers."

The lieutenant emphasized just how great a feat producing all tasked sorties on time was, considering the age of the aircraft.

"We have the oldest planes in AFSOC's fleet," she said. "Our oldest plane is from 1964 - a 46-year-old aircraft. It's challenging to keep them flying, but despite these challenges, we led AFSOC in 16 out of 20 maintenance indicators, which encompasses everything from mission capability rates to how well we scheduled the flying hour program. To lead AFSOC in 16 out of 20 key metrics with the oldest aircraft in the command's inventory is a testament to the quality of our maintenance personnel."

In addition to the hard work and 24/7 maintenance schedule required for consistent mission success, the lieutenant also credits good supervision and training.

"Supervision, training and trusting our folks are key," said Lieutenant Freeman. "Backing them, supporting them, and letting them do their job while highlighting their accomplishments gets them the recognition they deserve."

It appears this approach is paying off judging by Sergeant Siler's reaction to the news that he won the AFSOC Leo Marquez Award.

"It was really flattering to be nominated because working on the flight line, you often feel taken for granted," he said. "You never think you're going to get an award in maintenance because you're usually the dirty guy everyone avoids at the commissary. So it was really cool to think that the squadron, group and command leadership thought I deserved this."
Sergeant Siler and the other AFSOC Leo Marquez Award winners join a group of one Department of Defense, seven Major Command, 11 group-level, and three base-level award winners in the squadron since 2009.

Listed in its credits for Fiscal Year 2009, the squadron has supported more than 30 deployments and exercises, has maintained the lowest MC-130H Combat Talon II ground abort rate in AFSOC for four years running, and produced 807 sorties generating almost 4,000 flying hours.

"When you look at the number of people who have come through this squadron and the turnover, at any point someone could have dropped the ball, but no one did ... and here we are with our 11th win in a row," said Lieutenant Freeman. "It's amazing!"

Colonel Judge, outgoing commander for the 352nd Maintenance Squadron, had nothing but praise for the personnel he has worked with over the last two years.

"I have been truly blessed having the team I have had these last two years," he said. " From the lowest-ranking Airmen to the chiefs and company grade officers, there was a sense of teamwork and family.

"One of the things I like about being a part of special operations is that you do not have to constantly remind folks how important they are to the mission -- they already know," he continued. "Many organizations overuse the term 'tip of the spear,' but when you are part of the 'Quiet Professionals' in AFSOC, no one has to tell you ... you already know that you are the point on that spear. You will always see a sense of urgency on the flight line and pride in making the mission happen, because our young folks are briefed the importance of our mission from the day they arrive on station.

"That is why it is not a surprise that the 352nd Maintenance Squadron has won 11 MEAs in a row," he added. "The young men and women in the back shops and out on the flight line produce results and allow us to send off our aircrews with confidence that they will successfully complete their missions. It has been an honor to command such an outstanding squadron and I wish them well for number 12!"

Second Lt. Sean Allen, maintenance operations flight commander, has been selected to write next year's package. Let's wish him all the best in keeping the winning streak going. No pressure.