Carlos Hill, chief, Maintenance Division, Army Field Support Battalion–Korea, displays the Fiscal Year 2022 Army Award for Maintenance Excellence plaque following the presentation ceremony at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Dec. 8, 2022. (Photo Credit: Galen Putnam, 403rd AFSB Public Affairs) ()
CAMP HENRY, South Korea – The 403rd Army Field Support Brigade is well represented at the Fiscal Year 2023 Army Award for Maintenance Excellence Competition as both of the Powerhouse Brigade’s battalions have been named as semifinalists.
Army Field Support Battalion-Korea, last year’s AAME winner in the Active Army Table of Distributions and Allowances Unit Category, and AFSBn-Northeast Asia, who won in the same category in 2020, will square off with other semifinalists to determine the Army’s best maintainers.
The Army Award for Maintenance Excellence was established in 1982 by the Department of the Army to recognize exceptional accomplishment in Maintenance and provide added incentive to the competitive programs of Major Army Commands. Active Table of Organization and Equipment, Army National Guard TOE, Army Reserve TOE, Directorates of Logistics, and Table of Distribution and Allowances units compete separately, and the competition in each component is divided into three categories: Small, Medium and Large, based on number of authorized personnel. Aligns with the Department of Defense Awards Program and Category Winners are considered for DOD.
The Chief of Staff, Army Award for Maintenance Excellence Program is conducted each year to recognize Army units and/or activities that have demonstrated excellence in maintenance operations. Each unit is evaluated on their effectiveness ensuring that Soldier competency is maintained. Assessments of each unit in the categories of attitude and effective leadership are rated with a benchmark based on those of past winners, and the tenets of exceptional maintenance processes that were exhibited are validated and ranked.
As semifinalists, AFSBn-Korea, the “Anvil Battalion,” and AFSBn-NEA, the “Centurion Battalion” will host an evaluation team from U.S. Army Ordnance Corps & Ordnance School, located at Fort Lee, Virginia, in April.
“Our people are focused on the Warfighter and we strive to be innovative in all we do,” Said Lt. Col. Justin Darnell, commander, AFSBn-Korea. “Here in the Republic of Korea, our nation needs us to be ready to fight tonight and our role in that is to build and generate equipment readiness that our community can see and feel. The Department of the Army designating us as a semifinalist is a testament to the dedication, tenacity, and innovation of our people.”
AFSBn-Korea was also recognized with AAME Awards in 2008 and 2010.
“I am extremely proud of our Soldiers, civilians, and leaders of Army Field Support Battalion-Northeast Asia, for just competing in the competition, let alone being selected to complete as a semifinalist organization at the Department of the Army level of the competition,” said Dennis Cunningham, chief, Maintenance Division, AFSBn-NEA.
AFSBn-NEA previously received AAME Awards in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016 and 2019. The battalion also received the Chief of Staff of the Army Supply Excellence Award in 2011, 2012, and 2013. In addition, the battalion received the 2013 Chief of Staff of the Army Property Book Operations (Level–III) Award.
The FY23 AAME winners and runners-up will be announced in May.
To learn more about the Chief of Staff, Army Award for Maintenance Excellence Program, visit the AAME page on the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps & Ordnance School website.
