JB Charleston maintainers earn 3rd consecutive Daedalian Tophy

  • Published
  • By Michael Dukes
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
C-17 Globemaster III maintainers of the 437th and 315th Maintenance Groups at Joint Base Charleston have once again demonstrated that they are the cream of the crop after earning the 2016 Clements McMullen Daedalian Trophy for the third consecutive year.

"Our total force Airmen are without a doubt the best in the Air Force. This cohesive team is simply amazing,” said Col. Sharon Johnson, the 315th MXG commander. “They care about our mission to fly and fix aircraft and train the next generation of maintainers. They are professional Airmen.”

The award citation stated Charleston maintainers accomplished superior aircraft maintenance during the period Oct. 1, 2015 through Sept. 30, 2016. As the 18th Air Force Commander’s Airlift Wing of Choice in Air Mobility Command, JB Charleston generated airlift support for contingency and humanitarian operations worldwide utilizing 48 assigned C-17s valued at $10.2 billion, logged 38,000 flying hours, carried 2,200 passengers and 15,019 tons of cargo, and took on 34 percent of AMC’s workload.

They also supported the 173rd Airborne Brigade, 18th Airborne Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division and the 75th Ranger Regiment by successfully airdropping 120,000 personnel and 675,000 pounds of equipment and certifying each unit as 100 percent combat ready.

“As Tanker Airlift Control Center’s most highly utilized C-17 unit, Team Charleston responded impeccably when directed to provide aid to the Nepal earthquake relief efforts, generating 16 missions and 59 Urban Response teams in less than 72 hours, airlifting aid for more than 1.4 million victims,” the citation noted.

JB Charleston also successfully executed two historic mission in support of the U.S. president, safeguarding his first ever visit to Hiroshima and the first visit to Cuba in over 88 years.

“This honor also shows why the 437th (Airlift Wing)/315th AW partnership continues to be model for total force integration relationships -- not only in the command but across our Air Force,” said Col. Jimmy Canlas, the 437th AW commander. “The teamwork, cooperation, and professionalism displayed daily between our teams is an enduring testament why we continued to be recognized as the best.”

The Clements McMullen Memorial Daedalian Weapon System Maintenance Trophy, first awarded in 1960, is presented annually to an Air Force unit determined by Headquarters Air Force to have the best weapon system maintenance record for the preceding calendar year.