6981st CSG to represent NETCOM for Army Award for Maintenance Excellence

Photo By William King | Juergen Schmitt, 6981st Civilian Support Group motor pool chief, looks through his maintenance records in his office Dec. 11, 2015 at the 6981st CSG's headquarters at Germersheim Army Depot, Germany.  

WIESBADEN, RP, GERMANY

12.11.2015

Story by William King 

2d Theater Signal Brigade

WIESBADEN, Germany - The 6981st Civilian Support Group, 2nd Signal Brigade, was recently selected as the U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command's "All Others" category winner for the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence (AAME) for fiscal year 2015.

Eight NETCOM units submitted nomination packets in three different competition categories. The multiphase competition consisted of a review board and on-site evaluation.

Gerd Drechsler, commander of the 6981st CSG, said the award showed the unit's commitment to maintenance improvement and innovation.

"It's proof that we do things right and that we are heading in the right direction, and also shows the commitment of our unit members to improve ourselves and to be willing to learn new things day by day," Drechsler said.

The 6981st CSG has a tradition of maintenance excellence having previously won 11 times at the NETCOM level and three times at the Department of the Army level since 2003.

"My S4 team is dedicated to keep our unit in the band of excellence -- their professionalism is right to the point," Drechsler said.

Juergen Schmitt, 6981st CSG motor pool chief, manages more than 50 vehicles and pieces of equipment spread throughout Germany, including excavators, generators, lift trucks, forklifts and a fleet of service vans. He said the inspection for the award covers hundreds of items related to vehicle and equipment maintenance, including record keeping, inventory control, training, safety and environmental compliance.

"You must do your best every day and have a system that includes [standard operating procedures], service and inspection sheets," Schmitt said.

The 6981st CSG will represent NETCOM in the "All Others" category at the Department of the Army level for the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence at the Chief of Staff of the Army's Combined Logistics Excellence Awards early next year.

The 6981st CSG is a U.S. Army unit under 2nd Signal Brigade consisting exclusively of German civilians. The unit provides cost-efficient and high-quality installation work and solutions for passive inside and outside network upgrades, new installations or cable repair, whether it is copper or fiber optics.
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5th Signal Command's mission is to build, operate and defend network capabilities to enable mission command and create tactical, operational, and strategic flexibility for Army, Joint and Multinational forces in the EUCOM and AFRICOM areas of responsibility.

• Date Taken: 12.11.2015
• Date Posted: 12.15.2015 03:30
• Story ID: 184542
• Location: WIESBADEN, RP, DE