Senior Airman Kyle Shutt inspects an AIM-9X missile March 2, 2011, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Members of the 31st Maintenance Group generated 8,295 sorties in fiscal 2010. Airman Shutt is a 31st Maintenance Operations Squadron lead crew member. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Katherine Windish) Staff Sgt. Kristina Brandon and Staff Sgt. Ashley Padilla validate munitions allocations at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The 31st Maintenance Group has received the Secretary of Defense Field-level Maintenance Award for 2011 in the Large Unit category, Brandon is a munitions accountability technician, and Padilla is a document control technician. Both are with the 31st Munitions Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Julius Delos Reyes) Airman 1st Class Christopher Burkhart, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon crew chief, releases air from the F-16 pressure system Feb. 28. The 31st MXS is part of the 31st Maintenance Group which comprises four squadrons and more than 1,300 Airmen and civilians. During fiscal 2010 the group generated 8,295 sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Julius Delos Reyes) Aviano maintenance group earns top DOD award by 2nd Lt. Joseph Alonso 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs 8/11/2011 - AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (AFNS) -- The 31st Maintenance Group here was announced as a Secretary of Defense Field-level Maintenance Award recipient Aug. 9. The award is one of six presented annually to recognize outstanding achievements in weapon system and military equipment maintenance. The 31st MXG competed against 'large' category units across the Department of Defense based on its accomplishments in effective use of maintenance resources, innovative management, members' quality of life and mission accomplishments. "This award recognizes the tremendous amount of time and effort our maintenance professionals have dedicated to this wing," said Brig. Gen. Scott Zobrist, 31st Fighter Wing commander. "They were faced with seven large deployments and eight major inspections during this timeframe and they never faltered from their commitment to this organization and to their willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure the success of this group and the wing." Each deployments the 31st MXG was tasked with consisted of about 16 aircraft and an average of 215 maintenance Airmen. In fiscal year 2010, the 31st MXG Airmen generated 8,295 sorties and 18,674.2 total hours from Aviano Air Base and deployed locations around the world. "The professional leadership and dedication to the mission by our Airmen is evident with the accomplishments the group has made over the past year," said Col. Fredrick Plaumann, 31st MXG commander, "and I am very proud of their service." Back on the home front, a surge operation made Aviano Air Base history with a record-breaking 398 sorties in four days. During the operation, the group performed 8,000 maintenance actions, serviced 272 aircraft with 218,000 gallons of fuel and ensured safety and reliability measures -- earning the unit a 93.8 percent quality assurance pass rate. The awards will be presented at the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards banquet on Nov. 16, 2011, during the 2011 DOD Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Additional information about the award can be found at http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14721. Additional information regarding the 2011 DoD Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition can be found at http://www.sae.org/dod.