An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Echo MAF wins best of AFSPC

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Thomas Dow
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Minot's 740th Missile Squadron's Missile Alert Facility Echo-01 was recently named best Missile Alert Facility in Air Force Space Command for 2009.

The Maj. Gen. M. C. "Tim" Padden Award was awarded to the men and women of the 740th in recognition of their outstanding inspection evaluation, conducted every other year to measure MAF operations, including: the MAF's physical infrastructure, landscaping and interior design, and also vital MAF programs like antiterrorism, sustainability, energy and environment, and health, safety and welfare.

"The winning of the Maj. Gen. M. C. "Tim" Padden Award - Missile Alert Facilities is recognition of the excellence that exists across both wings at Minot AFB," said Lt. Col. David Kelley, 740th MS commander. "We are extremely pleased the professionalism, hard work and attention to detail of our personnel resulted in this achievement."

Echo-01 was named the top MAF out of 45 in AFSPC, the command the 740th belonged to during the award period. The squadron was realigned under Air Force Global Strike Command December 1, 2009.

While the award singles out one particular MAF as the best in AFSPC, the winning team was quick to point out the tremendous amount of teamwork involved.

Master Sgt. Steven Mayne, 740th MS facility manager superintendent, called the win "a total team effort."

"We partnered with the 91st Missile Wing antiterrorism office and the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron to provide the right level of briefings to show our sustainability and force protection projections for the future," said Sergeant Mayne. "We further worked with the 741st MS, 742nd MS and 91st Operations Support Squadron to ensure we were all on the same page and focused towards one goal."

Sergeant Mayne said 91st MW security forces and maintenance personnel also played a key role in providing support.

"While the support of both wings is vital to daily operations in the missile field, winning such a prestigious award lies heavily on the shoulders of the squadron's Missile Combat Crews, Missile Alert Facility Managers and Chefs, as well as security forces personnel," said Sergeant Mayne. "These individuals played a vital role in providing a shining example to the inspectors of what perfection is all about."

"We prepared several months prior to the inspection," said Tech. Sgt. Guy Ulshafer, 740th MS Echo-01 facility manager site senior. "MAF upgrades and projects were coordinated for early completion. We completely redecorated the interior topside using a wilderness theme. Some of the furnishings and carpeting were also replaced. Of course, a lot of hard work and elbow grease was involved. Fellow facility managers and chefs worked together to prepare the site with the help of security forces personnel."

The AFSPC inspectors inspected Echo-01 August 25-28, 2009. As the winner of the command-level award, the 740th MS was awarded $25,000 to use for quality of life upgrades for the Airmen who both work and live at the MAFs.

"We are going to use the winnings to invest in our best assets, the people, by improving the quality of life in our Missile Alert Facilities," said Sergeant Mayne.

Sergeant Ulshafer said since it was such a team effort, it is only right to spend the prize on the team members.

"A lot of teamwork went into preparing for this inspection. The money we receive will be used to continue improvements in our facilities," said Sergeant Ulshafer. "I'm just proud to know that everyone's efforts paid off, and that I had the opportunity to take part in the inspection."