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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
Story by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
Soldiers of the 307th Component Repair Company stand in formation following the presentation of the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 27, 2014. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
GREENVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Guard’s 307th Component Repair Company has been named one of the best maintenance companies in the whole Army, and they’ve got the hardware to prove it.
A plaque was presented to the entire unit at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 27, 2014.
Brig. Gen. Scott Campbell presents the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence to Capt. Eric Green, commander of the 307th Component Repair Company at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 27, 2014. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
The unit received the Combined Logistics Excellence Award for the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence for the 2012-2013 Department of the Army competition for the medium category.
Brig. Gen. Scott Campbell, the Land Component Commander for the Kentucky Army National Guard delivered the award to the unit, calling them not only one of the best maintenance companies, but one of the best companies overall in the Army.
Lt. Col. Todd Ewing, commander of the 751st Troop Command said the unit truly understands how to work as a team and their focus on the mission is what impressed him the most about the 307th.
“I am very proud of the soldiers of the 307th,” he said. “They exceeded the standards in every level of competition and represented themselves and the Kentucky National Guard extremely well.”
“I am glad we were able congratulate them here today on a job well done. Each and every Soldier in the 307th has certainly earned it.”
Please see the original story on the award below.
FRANKFORT, Ky. — In July of 2012, the Kentucky Army Guard’s 307th Component Repair Company conducted it’s annual training to transition from a component repair mission to a sustainment maintenance level mission. Even with the change in mission, the Soldiers of the unit continued their efforts to ensure the 307th met and exceed it’s task requirements, regardless of the type of work they received.
The Soldiers’ commitment paid off, and the Central City, Ky.-based unit raked in the awards. For fiscal year 2012, the 307th won four unit awards from the state to National level.
They first were recognized with the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence (AAME) for the medium Modified Table of Organization and Equipment (MTOE) category at the state level for 2012; next was the Region III winner for National Guard Bureau (NGB) for 2012. The 307th then hit the national stage as the NGB winner for 2012 for the medium category
The extraordinary run culminated with the Combined Logistics Excellence Award for the AAME for the 2012-2013 Department of the Army competition for the medium category.
“This competition was a true reflection of how great the 307th was during the 12 months period,” said Capt. Timothy Lee, who commanded the unit from 2011-2013.
“I am extraordinarily proud of my Soldier and their significant efforts, dedication, and sacrifices during this timeframe,” he added. “The Soldiers of the 307th went above and beyond all expectations every drill weekend and every training event. It was a unparalleled pleasure commanding this exceptional unit.”
The 307th is made up of roughly 140 Soldiers with a variety of military specialities that have taught them to repair anything from heating and air units to tracked vehicles. Many Soldiers work full-time in a military maintenance facility, a fact that Chief Warrant Officer Greg Scott said the unit uses to its advantage.
“We are a maintenance unit competing for a maintenance award, we played to our strengths,” said Scott who worked as an engineer maintenance warrant officer. “The 307th not only utilizes maintenance systems and programs, but they seek to understand and master them and become subject matter experts. By doing this, others often turn to us for guidance on fixing things from all over the state.”
Scott said it was because of the Soldiers’ dedication to their job that the unit was so highly recognized. Each member strived to do what was right and exceed the standard, a quality that has been with the unit for years said Staff Sgt. Ashley Wolfe, Training NCO for the unit.
“It has been a pleasure to be a part of a such a unit for this long,” said Wolfe, a 12-year member of the unit. “We have excelled in our transformation from a maintenance company to a CRC over the last 12 years and the 307th has consistently met all the challenges placed before us. I’m sure our teamwork and dedication to duty will continue with every mission of this unit.”
According to the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps and School, the winner of the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence displays an expertise and professionalism in performing their tasks. Each unit is evaluated on their effectiveness in 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.
With past Army-wide awards, the winners would travel to Washington, D.C. to accept the trophy or plaque, but due to budget constraints, the award was to be mailed to the unit. At the time of publication, the award has yet to make it to the 307th. A fact Lee said does not disappoint the unit.
“Regardless of who gave it to us, or when we get it, it will hang on our wall, saying we are the best,” he said. “It will hang there as a constant reminder of the hard work and dedication of these Soldiers and their pride in doing a good job for the Kentucky National Guard.”
Story by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
1st Lt. Timothy Lee, commander of the 307th Component Repair Company accepts a unit photo from Maj. Michael Basart, executive officer of the National Maintenance Training Center at Camp Dodge, Iowa in 2012. (Photo courtesy of 307th CRC)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — In July of 2012, the Kentucky Army Guard’s 307th Component Repair Company conducted it’s annual training to transition from a component repair mission to a sustainment maintenance level mission. Even with the change in mission, the Soldiers of the unit continued their efforts to ensure the 307th met and exceed it’s task requirements, regardless of the type of work they received.
The Soldiers’ commitment paid off, and the Central City, Ky.-based unit raked in the awards. For fiscal year 2012, the 307th won four unit awards from the state to National level.
They first were recognized with the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence (AAME) for the medium Modified Table of Organization and Equipment (MTOE) category at the state level for 2012; next was the Region III winner for National Guard Bureau (NGB) for 2012. The 307th then hit the national stage as the NGB winner for 2012 for the medium category
The extraordinary run culminated with the Combined Logistics Excellence Award for the AAME for the 2012-2013 Department of the Army competition for the medium category.
Spc. Johnna Bratcher and members of the 307th Component Repair Company watch as Staff Sgt. Phil Stephens demonstrates soldering techniques. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Sgt. Dale Elliott)
“This competition was a true reflection of how great the 307th was during the 12 months period,” said Capt. Timothy Lee, who commanded the unit from 2011-2013.
“I am extraordinarily proud of my Soldier and their significant efforts, dedication, and sacrifices during this timeframe,” he added. “The Soldiers of the 307th went above and beyond all expectations every drill weekend and every training event. It was a unparalleled pleasure commanding this exceptional unit.”
The 307th is made up of roughly 140 Soldiers with a variety of military specialities that have taught them to repair anything from heating and air units to tracked vehicles. Many Soldiers work full-time in a military maintenance facility, a fact that Chief Warrant Officer Greg Scott said the unit uses to its advantage.
“We are a maintenance unit competing for a maintenance award, we played to our strengths,” said Scott who worked as an engineer maintenance warrant officer. “The 307th not only utilizes maintenance systems and programs, but they seek to understand and master them and become subject matter experts. By doing this, others often turn to us for guidance on fixing things from all over the state.”
Scott said it was because of the Soldiers’ dedication to their job that the unit was so highly recognized. Each member strived to do what was right and exceed the standard, a quality that has been with the unit for years said Staff Sgt. Ashley Wolfe, Training NCO for the unit.
“It has been a pleasure to be a part of a such a unit for this long,” said Wolfe, a 12-year member of the unit. “We have excelled in our transformation from a maintenance company to a CRC over the last 12 years and the 307th has consistently met all the challenges placed before us. I’m sure our teamwork and dedication to duty will continue with every mission of this unit.”
According to the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps and School, the winner of the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence displays an expertise and professionalism in performing their tasks. Each unit is evaluated on their effectiveness in 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.
With past Army-wide awards, the winners would travel to Washington, D.C. to accept the trophy or plaque, but due to budget constraints, the award was to be mailed to the unit. At the time of publication, the award has yet to make it to the 307th. A fact Lee said does not disappoint the unit.
“Regardless of who gave it to us, or when we get it, it will hang on our wall, saying we are the best,” he said. “It will hang there as a constant reminder of the hard work and dedication of these Soldiers and their pride in doing a good job for the Kentucky National Guard.”
Story by Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
Aerial view of the Kentucky Army National Guard’s Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site at Fort Knox, Ky. The facility received the 2012 Army Award for Maintenance Excellence for Region III, a competition with 13 other states. (Photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Greg Scott)
FORT KNOX, Ky. — On the edge of the Fort Knox garrison, military vehicles and equipment sit in clean, straight lines next to ordinary maintenance buildings that line the roads. A majority of those vehicles are ready for service, thanks to the extraordinary work of the Soldiers in those buildings who maintain them.
One such building is the Kentucky Army National Guard’s Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site (MATES), whose Soldiers were recently recognized for running one of the best maintenance facilities in the National Guard.
In competition with 13 other states, the Kentucky facility placed first to win the 2012 Army Award for Maintenance Excellence (AAME) for their region, in the TDA (Table of Distribution Allowances) Small category.
“This award is a true measurement of everything this facility has accomplished, from maintenance to safety to community involvement,” said 1st Lt. Timothy Lee, Assistant MATES Superintendent.
In August, the site submitted its packet for consideration at the National Guard level. Shops across the country were graded on mission readiness, training, hazardous material management, resource management and recycling, to name a few categories.
Master Sgt. Aaron Young, a Surface Maintenance Mechanic Inspector with HHB 623rd Field Artillery, troubleshoots an electrical fault in a M1078 vehicle at the Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site at Fort Knox, Ky. The facility employs 51 Kentucky Guardsmen full-time supporting Kentucky units and neighboring states.(Photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Greg Scott)
Lee said changes put into effect over the past year have really made an impact in the overall operation.“We have redefined our workflow process,” he said. “Redefined everyone’s jobs and job duties and implemented an inspection section for all aspects of work.”
Improvements in cost savings and site management have produced numbers worthy of national attention. The last eight months of the fiscal year saw a 300 percent increase in productivity per person over the previous year. All while 15 Soldiers of the 51-man workforce were deployed overseas.
Lee said they are working toward cost savings by changing the way they order parts. Instead of ordering whole repair kits for vehicles, individual parts were ordered. In complying with the Army Oil Analysis Program, which addresses the usage of vehicle and equipment fluids, Lee estimates that Kentucky saved $51,000 in man-power in just one year, while saving around $105,000 in products.
The site also has decreased its electrical needs thanks to installed solar panels that help provide power to the building. The panels contributed to a decrease of 31.5 percent in electric energy usage. Their inventory has nearly 400 less products on hand than last year.
“We have truly been able to do more with less in this fiscally constrained environment,” said Lee.
A number Lee said the whole MATES is proud of is its 96.6 percent organizational readiness rate from last year. This means that only 3.4 percent of the entire fleet was down for maintenance for more than one month consistently. This covers vehicles and equipment used in support of drill weekends, annual training periods or pre-mobilization training during the year for Kentucky units as well as National Guard units from Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Indiana and North Carolina.
“Our participation in the AAME competition has had great command emphasis and has been a critical ingredient to establishing an organizational culture that highlights the necessity of a rock-solid maintenance program,” said Lt. Col. Timothy Pickerrell, MATES Superintendent. “I am honored to lead this facility and to be a part of this hardworking group of technicians.”
1st Sgt. Douglas Hall is also proud of his Soldiers at the MATES, and gives a lot of credit to the leadership for “keeping everyone on track”. He said his command’s collective effort to improve the operation and boost morale is well received in the building and increases the motivation of the Soldiers to do a better job.
“Because of the way everything is organized and flows so well, we have maintained productivity,” said Hall. “Each shop is seeking even more work.”
Hall isn’t shy about acknowledging the accolades, knowing he’s part of a special operation that represents the Kentucky National Guard on a national level.
“If you want to see what a successful maintenance operation looks like, look at us.”
In addition to the MATES facility, the Central City-based 307th Component Repair Company also won first place in their regional unit category and will participate nationally later this year in an Army-wide competition.
Story and photos by Sgt. Dale Elliott, Unit Public Affairs Historian Representative
NOTE: Each week kentuckyguard.com publishes stories by or about Kentucky National Guard unit public affairs historian representatives, also known as UPAHRs. This is an additional duty taken on by a Soldier or Airmen with the intent of telling their unit’s story. This is one such story ….
Spc. Johnna Bratcher and members of the 307th Component Repair Company watch as Spc. James Cabell demonstrates soldering techniques during their annual training at the National Maintenance Training Center (NMTC) in Camp Dodge, Iowa, May 2012. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Sgt. Dale Elliott)
CAMP DODGE, Iowa — Sacrificing being with their families on Mother’s Day, the 307th Component Repair Company held high standards at this years annual training. For five years now the Central City, Ky., based unit has attended the National Maintenance Training Center (NMTC) in Camp Dodge, Iowa. The 307th’s trip west was quite different from years past as the unit is transitioning from a component repair mission to a sustainment maintenance level mission.
A sustainment mission is less technical and the 307th has already been performing the vast majority of this new work, according to unit commander 1st. Lt. Timothy Lee.
“The transition will be an easy switch for the 307th,” said Lee. “The unit is ready to hit the ground running on its new mission. I feel that we will make a complete and smooth transition and be fully ready to exercise our competence and skills at a deployable level.”
This year the 307th validated on food service operations, maintenance control operations, automotive on system component maintenance, ground support equipment maintenance, allied trades fabrication operations, water purification maintenance, supply supporting activity, shop supply operations, and tool room operations. Other training that was accomplished and validated while at Camp Dodge included the following: VSAT training (Tactical Satellite), refrigeration certification by the EPA, engine dynometer training, and SAMS-1E training. This year’s training was a truly collective unit level exercise.
While at the exercise the ground support equipment platoon brought a 60KW generator into full operation, a job that should have taken 40hrs took only 12hrs. Three other rotations had failed to repair this particular job. Cadre of the National Maintenance Training commented that the 307th always performs above all expectations.
Col. John Edwards Jr is given a briefing about soldering copper by Sgt. Steven Stephens and Spc. James Cabell, both of the 307th Component Repair Company, during the unit’s annual training in Camp Dodge, Iowa, May, 2012. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Sgt. Dale Elliott)
The 307th also performed many unit level classes that will increase the level of professionalism and knowledge both on and off duty. Unit level classes included the following: financial management, leadership and management interactive training, leadership and mentoring, training management (Whole concept – mission essential task list to individual Soldier concept), awards writing, supply CSDP, and safety composite risk management. The training the 307th received from both unit level training and the NMTC staff was beyond state of the art.
“I do not think we could receive better training anywhere else in the Army System for this units mission,” said Lee. “Camp Dodge has provided the 307th with an excellent bridge to the future.”
The 307th also welcomed Spc. David Collins’ son, Clay Love, as the newest member of the 307th family. Collins was sent home on May 12, to witness the birth of his son.
