Shaw LRS wins Daedalian award

Published May 25, 2011
By Senior Airman Alexandria Mosness
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- "Shine in '09, for the win in '10," was the slogan for the 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron, two years ago, and it paid off as the 20th LRS was recently awarded the Air Force-level Daedalian Major General Warren R. Carter Logistics Effectiveness Award.

First introduced in 1962, the Daedalian award is presented annually to an Air Force unit, selected by the Chief of Staff, who has achieved the best supply effectiveness record in the Air Force in support of mission aircraft and or weapons.

The award is given to the best logistics readiness squadron in the Air Force for its impact on mission accomplishment and overall logistics distinction during 2010. The 20 LRS competed with approximately 90 others squadrons to win the award. The second place was awarded to the 509 LRS from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The third place went to 1 Special Operations LRS from Hurlburt Field, Fla.

The 20th LRS or otherwise known as "The Wolfpack" started preparing two years ago for the award.

"The leadership in the squadron decided two years ago that we would have a short-term and a long- term goal," said Maj. Anthony Mullinax 20th LRS commander. "We wanted to be the best in the Air Combat Command. We wanted to win the Daedalian award, so we shared that with the Airmen. One of our civilians came up with the slogan and it stuck."

Soon after the commander and the leadership told the Airmen, they started to believe in themselves.

"The Airmen started buying in," the major said. "They started realizing goals in their specific career field and realizing that it truly matters. Each piece affects X, Y and Z. Everything they do generates a sortie or a mission. They started taking personal pride. They bought into the fact that they are the best."

Even before the unit received notice that they had won the Air Force-level award, Mullinax was positive of the win.

"Before we got the AF-level award, I told them, 'You are what I've told you you are. We aren't going to finish in second place,'" Major Mullinax said.

It was this belief and attitude that has set apart the 20th LRS long before they were awarded this accomplishment. According to the unit's Airmen, the atmosphere and the way business is handled is something extraordinary.

"Coming from a very busy base, when I first got here, I didn't know what type of leadership I was going to get," said Staff Sgt. Woodrow Ruff, 20th LRS noncommissioned officer in charge of the aircraft parts store.

Sergeant Ruff stores and issues parts, spares and anything that supports the war fighter. In the parts store, he is responsible for items in the warehouse and classified property. The parts store is just one piece of the puzzle for the 20th LRS.

From the NCOs to the Airmen, they have always been there to help, Sergeant Ruff said. "There is leeway and direct support. It brings the bond together in a stressful environment. To put it simply, you see outside the normal in this squadron. This is the way to run things, especially the commander's calls," Sergeant Ruff said.

Sergeant Ruff was not the only Airman to acknowledge the commander's calls.

"There is spirit and life in the room during the commander's calls," said Airman 1st Class Daisean Patrick, traffic management office outbound freight. "Although I was only here for a week, I was welcomed to the squadron. It was something to experience."

Although the Wolfpack is tight lipped on what actually happens at the commander's call, Major Mullinax goes into a brief explanation.

There's music, lights and when they hear that wolf howl, our Airmen know the leadership is coming. We want our Airmen to be excited to be here. We have fun with it and it makes it so that everyone wants to be in the LRS, he said.

"The leadership makes it personal," Sergeant Ruff said. "It shows you can have fun, but still have a serious side."

The 20th LRS offers many programs besides the commander's call to bring the Airmen together.

"We have the Blue Star Airman program," said Airman Amanda Miolan, vehicle management analysis. "Anytime anyone needs something while their spouse is deployed we take care of them. Whether it is a babysitter or their grass mowed, we take care of it."

The spouse program is also an amazing program, according to Airman Miolan, whose husband is currently deployed. Although he is part of another squadron, the squadron has been great in support and understanding.

For Sergeant Ruff, the crosstalk program was one he highly anticipated when he arrived at the squadron.

"When I got here, all I heard about were the crosstalks," he said. "It is a time for the commander and the first shirt to see how everyone is once they get back from a deployment or temporary duty. They take an afternoon out of their schedule and have a barbeque for everyone. They listen to the thoughts and concerns that we have, and take it at their level and if needed can take it higher. That's what I remember."

One thing is certain about the LRS, it is not a selfish squadron, Sergeant Ruff said.

"I have worked at other bases and people were very caught up in themselves," he added. "Here, I have to tell my people not to come back to work. They work swing shift and then they will come back on another shift. Or, we will have to call them and they will already be there."

"It is just the spirit of the LRS," Sergeant Ruff said. "I get to see as an NCO how it looks. People come together when it matters the most."

While the Airmen talked about programs and the leadership, Major Mullinax said he was certain of why the squadron received the distinguished award.

"The mission would not start or finish without us," he said. "We are the backbone of the base. The magic of this award is the Airmen. Anyone can have programs. Everyone has a role to play. It is realizing there is something bigger. We have individually come together. We have nine different Air Force specialty codes in LRS, so it is challenging.