Luke reinforces TFI with DoD level maintenance award

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Louis Vega Jr.
  • 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Total Force Integration across the U.S. Air Force continues to prove its effectiveness as active-duty and Reserve Citizen Airmen successfully demonstrate its potential.

The 56th and 944th Fighter Wings’ maintenance groups, referred to as the 1K Maintenance Group at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, will be recipients of the 2020 Secretary of Defense Field-level Maintenance Award in the large category. The information was officially confirmed in a Department of Defense news release posted on Nov. 19.

“This is the best TFI organization I have ever had the privilege to be a part of,” said Brig. Gen. Gregory Kreuder, 56th FW commander, during a conference call with the Honorable Barbara M. Barrett, Secretary of the Air Force, as she congratulated the team. “I would offer up the 944th and 56th as a template for others that want to know what ‘right’ looks like. I couldn’t be more proud of the 1K maintenance team and it’s a real honor for them to get the recognition at this level.

Barrett is serving as the 25th Secretary of the Air Force and is an instrument-rated pilot trained and certified for space flight. She earned degrees at Arizona State University and is honorary commander alumni at Luke.

“I guess that when you add it up, you’re ‘batting a thousand,’” said Barrett referring to the 1K MXG title. “I am proud of my past association and I am thrilled to know the recognition is coming your way from the full department. To be the recipient of this award is really a great statement of the constant excellence, the constant vigilance, and the constant performance that your two teams combine to do.”

In the collective efforts to write the maintenance award package for consideration, Senior Master Sgt. Anthony Abney, 944th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Tactical Aircraft Maintenance section chief, and a small team of Reserve and active-duty TFI partners worked together to prepare the package.

“The 56th could have sent in a package by themselves,” said Abney. “We chose to do it as a TFI. So winning is even bigger because it shows how much of a force we are.”

Maintenance teams throughout the world, in all services, competed and a total of six field-level Secretary of Defense Maintenance award recipients were selected in three categories - large, medium, and small. The best of the best will be selected from the six field-level award winners and presented the Phoenix Trophy. All awards will be presented on January 13, 2021 at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.

“This is a rare and commendable accomplishment,” said Col. Jim Greenwald, 944th FW commander. My hat’s off to the entire 1K maintenance team. For our team to rise to the level that they beat out the other services – the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps – that is an incredible accomplishment. To have the Secretary of the Air Force call us to say congratulations is something I have never experienced. This is a testament to the strengths of TFI.

Total Force Integration, which was launched in the late 1990s, refers to a blending of active, Guard, and Reserve personnel and equipment to gain efficiency and effectiveness in support of the overall Air Force mission.