Charleston maintenance groups earn Daedalian trophy

  • Published
  • By Michael Dukes
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. (AFNS) --  The C-17 Globemaster III maintainers from the 437th and 315th Maintenance Groups at Joint Base, Charleston, have once again demonstrated that they are the cream of the crop, earning the 2014 Clements McMullen Memorial Daedalian Weapon System Maintenance Trophy.

"This award is a direct result of the outstanding men and women we have working on our aircraft here in the 315th MXG," said Col. Richard Gay, the 315th MXG commander. “The partnership we have with the 437th MXG is unparalleled anywhere else in the Air Force and I am very proud of each and every member of this group.

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.

The 437th and 315th MXGs led Air Mobility Command's call for humanitarian and contingency operational missions, ultimately logging 48,000 flying hours spanning 14,100 missions, carrying 83,000 personnel and 267,000 tons of cargo, according to the award citation.

Charleston's quality assurance inspectors topped 4,100 evaluations and inspections and maintenance instructors taught more than 365 courses, amassing 20,000 instructional hours. Charleston championed 16 process improvement events which saved more than $143,000. Charleston was also the most utilized C-17 unit in AMC and was noted for their role in supporting former South African president Nelson Mandela’s funeral. During 20 support missions, they maintained a 100 percent logistics departure reliability rate.

"Congratulations to the men and women of the 315th and 437th MXGs for their 2014 Daedalian Weapon System Maintenance Trophy win," said Col. Jamie Fontanella, the 315th Airlift Wing commander. "This accomplishment represents hard work, dedication and exemplary total force integration. I'm proud that the best and most integrated maintenance groups in the Air Force have been recognized."