2003 Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards Program

1. IN RESPONSE TO REFS A AND B, 19 AWARD
NOMINATIONS (16 AVIATION AND 3 GROUND) WERE RECEIVED AT HEADQUARTERS
MARINE CORPS DC I&L (LPC-2) TO COMPETE IN THE MARINE CORPS 2003 DOD
MAINTENANCE AWARDS SELECTION BOARD. THE PANEL OF OFFICERS WERE 
CHAIRED BY DC I&L AND REPRESENTED DC AVIATION, DC M&RA, AND DC PP&O.
THE BOARD DETERMINED THAT SIX ORGANIZATIONS STOOD OUT ABOVE THE REST
FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS IN OPERATIONAL MAINTENANCE, 
EFFECTIVE USE OF MAINTENANCE RESOURCES, INNOVATION IN MAINTENANCE 
ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND PERSONNEL READINESS AND QUALITY OF LIFE. THE 
BELOW SIX MARINE CORPS FINALISTS WILL COMPETE FOR THE 2003 INTER-
SERVICE COMPETITION
 AT THE DOD LEVEL.
2. THE USMC FY03 FINALISTS ARE AS FOLLOWS (SEQUENCE OF ORGANIZA-
TIONS IS NOT AN INDICATION OF RANKING):
 A. SMALL CATEGORY (25-300 AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL)
 (1) VMAQ-4, 2D MAW
 (2) HMH-363, 1ST MAW
 B. MEDIUM CATEGORY (301-999 AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL)
 (1) 9TH ESB, 3RD FSSG
 (2) MALS-12, 1ST MAW
 C. LARGE CATEGORY (1000 OR MORE AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL)
 (1) 3RD MRB, 3RD FSSG
 (2) MALS-14, 2D MAW
3. ALL UNITS THAT SUBMITTED PACKAGES ARE TO BE COMMENDED ON THE
EXCEPTIONAL EFFORTS AND QUALITY MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS THAT WERE
OUTLINED IN THEIR AWARD SUBMISSIONS. YOUR INNOVATIVE ACTIONS AND
ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAVE ENHANCED MAINTENANCE AWARENESS AND SERVED TO
IMPROVE THE OVERALL COMBAT READINESS OF THE MARINE CORPS.
4. A SPECIAL BRAVO ZULU GOES TO THE SIX FINALISTS. BY YOUR
DILIGENCE, ATTENTION TO DETAIL, AND SPIRIT OF INNOVATION, YOU HAVE
SHOWN WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY UNITS DEDICATED TO CONDUCTING
THEIR MAINTENANCE IN AN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE MANNER. KEEP
UP THE GREAT WORK.
5. UNITS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY SEPARATE CORRESPONDENCE SHOULD THEY BE
SELECTED AS A DOD AWARD WINNER. DOD LEVEL AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED
BY THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE IN A CEREMONY AT THE DOD MAINTENANCE
SYMPOSIUM IN KING OF PRUSSIA, PA FROM 27-30 OCT 03. ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE WINNERS AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.