AMMO blows away competition for 2010 AF Maintenance Effectiveness Award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Maeson L. Elleman
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Kadena's 18th Munitions Squadron has taken the 2010 Air Force Maintenance Effectiveness Award.

With a storage area that makes up more than half of all of Kadena, it is the largest conventional munitions storage area in the United States Air Force. This is why the 18th MUNS is essential to providing forward-based ammunition support for all U.S. and Japanese Forces participating in Air and Space Expeditionary Force rotations.

"Kadena has a battle rhythm and integration with sister and foreign services unlike anywhere else in the Air Force," said Maj. David Miller, 18th MUNS commander. "The challenges of competing mission sets and resources have always been compounded in the munitions storage area because of our massive size and geography. Overcoming these ever-changing obstacles, the Airmen and local nationals of 18 MUNS excel at seeking out efficiencies in order to succeed and thrive in every facet of their work."

During 2010, the 18th MUNS supported Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, and other overseas contingency operations by deploying 48 personnel around the world. The squadron also processed 23 out-of-cycle requests supplying 60,000 line items in support of 13,000 sorties, all the while maintaining 100 percent accountability for more than 252,000 munitions expenditures.

"Every day I witness the greatness of 18 MUNS as Kadena's munitions maintainers consistently and successfully accomplish our mission," Major Miller said. "It is extremely gratifying to win an Air Force level award that shows our Airmen's capabilities, daily hard work and achievements are acknowledged across the Air Force. This certainly underlines that Kadena is comprised of expert warriors of the Ammo Community."