MALS-16 Recognized For Keeping Helos Flying
Aero-News learned recently Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron
16, or MALS-16 -- based at California's Marine Corps Air Station
Miramar -- recently received the 2006 Secretary of Defense
Field-Level Maintenance Award.
"The unit's success during the awarding period enabled
supporting units to fly more than 6,500 peacetime-flight hours as
well as 63,900 combat-flight hours," said Major General Samuel T.
Helland, the former 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general, in
his nomination letter for the MALS-16 which falls under Marine
Aircraft Group 16, 3rd MAW.
The Department of Defense-wide award recognizes outstanding
achievements and encourages excellence among units performing
maintenance on military aviation assets and related equipment and
weapons systems.
In fiscal year 2006, the squadron provided logistical support to
21 squadrons from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps while sustaining
an 80.3 percent mission-capable rate.
Those 21 squadrons included four Navy Carrier Air Wing
Detachments and two Marine Expeditionary Units.
According to Lt. Col. Robert M. Ehnow, the squadron's commanding
officer, MALS-16 conducted a historical merger with sister
squadron, MALS-11, while simultaneously deploying more than 1,500
Marines and sailors, during the award period.
While forward, the squadron integrated personnel from eight
different MALS into one cohesive force with the motto, "one team,
one fight."
Other achievements of the squadron, both aboard the air station
and in Iraq, include providing support to 11 variant aircraft types
and models as well as the 247 aircraft attached to MAG-16.
The squadron added the CH-53D Sea Stallion and UH-60 Blackhawk
rotary-wing aircraft to its maintenance repertoire in 2006 and
achieved mission-capability ratings above 90 percent with these
aircraft.
According to the nomination package, the quality assurance
division earned a 92 percent "on track" grade from the commander of
Naval Air Forces Aviation Maintenance Inspection.
The inspection team noted MALS-16's maintenance department as
the most involved and efficient quality assurance department they
had ever seen.
"We're ecstatic to win the award," said Major Craig Raleigh, the
squadron's operations officer.
"The Marines here take so much pride in everything they do, and
you can tell by walking around the squadron. Even after two
year-long deployments and a high operational tempo, you can tell
how excited the Marines are to be a part of MALS-16 and win the
award," said Raleigh.
The logistics squadron previously won the award in 1988 and
1991.
(Aero-News salutes Lance Cpl. Jessica N. Aranda, MCAS
Miramar)