Holloman squadron takes home AF's top logistics award

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An F-22 Raptor is refueled by petroleum, oil and lubricants technicians during a hot pit operation at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., recently. These technicians, with the 49th Logistics Readiness Squadron, are responsible for all fuel on the installation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Michael Shoemaker)
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Holloman squadron takes home AF's top logistics award

Posted 5/22/2012

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by Airman 1st Class Siuta B. Ika
49th Wing Public Affairs

5/22/2012 - HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) -- The Airmen of the 49th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., recently earned the Maj. Gen. Warren R. Carter Logistics Effectiveness Award, naming them the best Air Force logistics readiness squadron.

First introduced in 1962 by the Order of the Daedalians, the award is presented annually to an Air Force unit, selected by the chief of staff of the Air Force, who has achieved the best supply effectiveness record in the Air Force in support of mission aircraft or weapons.

This marks the first time the 49th LRS has won the award under its current squadron designation, said Lt. Col. Frank Marconi, the 49th LRS commander.

"Here at Holloman, our supply squadron won the award in 1996, but we've never won the award as LRS," he said. "There are a lot of good squadrons out there, and it's a tough award to win. I'm humbled, proud and so honored to be the commander of this great squadron, but the award is something that we didn't set out to win. Our mission was to provide world-class customer support."

The support the squadron provided affected not only units on the base, but also in the local community and in the Department of Defense's areas of responsibility.

"We won the best large squadron in a wing, which is something we've never done before," Marconi said. "We received 'excellent' ratings in both the (Operational Readiness Exercise and the Logistics Compliance Assessment Program), and our fuels flight were bronze winners of the American Petroleum Institute Award, which means they were the third best fuels flight in the entire Air Force."

Because the squadron shined in the three areas judged by Air Force officials -- direct mission support, innovative management and quality of life programs -- Marconi said he believes his squadron truly deserved the award.

"It all ties back to my intention to provide world class support, so the award really validates our successes, and that's what makes me so proud," Marconi said. "It took all 400-plus members of the squadron to win this award. When I look across the squadron I see great people doing great things every day in every area. We didn't win this award because of a few words on a package; I believe that this truly is the best LRS in the Air Force, from our Airmen all the way up to the flight commanders."

Because of the magnitude of the award, every member of the squadron knows their work directly contributed to earning the award, said Airman 1st Class Corey Carver, a 49th LRS traffic management specialist.

"It's very reassuring, because I feel like when Airmen are part of such a big squadron, especially while occupying a lower rank, that sometimes it's easy for them to believe that their contributions often go unnoticed," Carver said. "We have sacrificed time away from our families to ensure that the mission was accomplished. Long working hours takes its toll on the quality of family life and all the Airmen of the 49th LRS received well-deserved recognition for their efforts."

For one senior NCO of the squadron, earning the award brings back old memories.

"Holloman was my first base from 1994 to 2000, so it's kind of a rewind from last time," said Senior Master Sgt. Jon Voigt, the 49th LRS fuels management flight chief. "We won the (American Petroleum Institute Award) in '95 and the squadron won the Daedalian in '96, so we obviously contributed to that, but LRS is such a huge entity that it took a joint effort of all the flights in the squadron to be the best in the Air Force. It's an amazing feeling to have all the mentoring that we do, the professional development, the guidance we give; this is definitely an unprecedented feat."

Some of the squadron's other accomplishments in 2011 included bolstering battlefield support by deploying 137 Airmen for a combined total of 16,000 days in the AOR; saving the wing $5 million through re-utilizing 1,400 pieces of equipment through the Defense Logistics Agency; raising the entire squadron's production 34 percent through the wing's Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century office; and devoting 969 hours to giving back to the local community through the Big Give Program.

Even with everything the squadron accomplished in 2011, Carver said he doesn't expect any Airmen to rest on their laurels.

"Fortunately, the Airmen of the 49th LRS share the same work ethic, so if anything, I believe that this award will motivate us to improve our performance for next year," he said. "Good workers don't just do what they're told. They plan ahead, they stay after closing and they openly demonstrate obvious commitment. We all demonstrated this commitment and it paid off."

For Marconi, who is scheduled to make a permanent change of station move soon, the award validates his squadron's work. He said he expects the same from the squadron after his departure.

"They're the ones on the front line accomplishing the mission every day, so I want them to continue to get better every day, and there's no doubt in my mind that they will do that," Marconi said. "I have never been a part of a squadron that has earned as many accolades as we have here, so to be this squadron's commander is incredibly humbling. When the next commander comes here I'll be able to look him in the eyes and be 100 percent true and confident when I tell him how great all of the Airmen are here."