'Blackhawk' Squadron awarded for excellence

By CourtesyApril 10, 2014

'Blackhawk' Squadron awarded for excellence
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Scott Mellick (left), a native from St. Louis, Mo., and 1st Lt. Thomas Malazarte, a native of Bowling Green, Ky., pose for a picture with the units Army Award of Maintenance Excellent (AAME), 2nd Runner-up, Active MTOE, Large category,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Blackhawk' Squadron awarded for excellence
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The Soldiers of D Troop, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, stand tall just before the unit was to receive an Army Award of Maintenance Excellent (AAME) for fiscal year 2012, on March 24 at For... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Blackhawk' Squadron awarded for excellence
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Peter Jones, the Deputy Commanding General - Support (DCG-S), for 3rd Infantry Division, addresses the Soldiers of 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, Monday March 24, at Fort Benning, Ga. Jones presented t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Blackhawk' Squadron awarded for excellence
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Andrew Hilmes, a native of Sarasota, Fla., address the Soldiers of 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, on Kelley Hill at Fort Benning, Ga., March 24. Hilmes was the unit's squadron comm... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Blackhawk' Squadron awarded for excellence
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Paul Gunnison (left), a native of Phoenix, Ariz., and the current Squadron Commander for 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, speaks to his Soldiers March 24, during the award presentati... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

By 2nd Lt. Brian Baier, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment unit public affairs representative

FORT BENNING, Ga. - On March 24, 2014, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, received the second runner-up Award for Maintenance Excellence, MTOE, Large Category for fiscal year 2012.

The Army Award for Maintenance Excellence (AAME) is an award well-known within maintenance sections throughout the Army.

The AAME is awarded to those who display an expertise and professionalism in performing assigned tasks. It was established by the Department of the Army in 1982 to recognize exceptional accomplishment in maintenance and provide an added incentive to the competitive programs of major Army command.

The AAME is categorized by the number of personnel a unit is assigned (small, medium, or large) and also by component, including active duty, Army National Guard and the Army Reserve.

Brig. Gen. Peter Jones, deputy commanding general - support (DCG-S) for 3rd ID, stood before the Soldiers of the mighty Blackhawk Squadron to congratulate them on a job well-done. He told them to be proud of what they have accomplished and encouraged them to continue the actions that earned them recognition for their excellence.

A large amount of credit for the award went to Sgt. 1st Class Scott Mellick, the squadron's maintenance sergeant and native of St. Louis, and 1st Lt. Thomas Malazarte, the squadron's maintenance officer from Bowling Green, Ky.

Although there were only two Soldiers recognized in front of the squadron during the award presentation, it was a team effort to get everything accomplished that needed to be accomplished to earn this award, said Lt. Col. Paul Gunnison, the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment commander.

Lt. Col. Andrew Hilmes, the former squadron commander, was also in attendance and congratulated the squadron on being recognized for all of the hard work they had put in.

"I want to thank Maj. Sawyer for [the] help, support and guidance he gave to me in order for us to just be able to submit our application." said Malazarte.

Maj. Timothy Sawyer was the squadron's executive officer at the time of the award process.