ANAD receives Army Superior Unit Award

By U.S. ArmyMay 30, 2008

The Secretary of the Army has approved the Army Superior Unit Award for all personnel at Anniston Army Depot, the depot commander announced this week.

"I am exceptionally pleased that ANAD earned this prestigious acknowledgement from the Department of the Army. It denotes the excellence in the mission support that ANAD provides for our Armed Forces and Allies. It speaks volumes of the teaming that enables our mission success," said Depot Commander Col. S.B. Keller.

The award is for meritorious performance of a difficult and challenging mission during the Global War on Terror from Sept. 11, 2001 through Sept. 30, 2006.

"Anniston's workforce provided timely and unconditional support to America's military forces, both at home and in Southwest Asia," according to the award announcement.

The depot is the designated Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for tracked and wheeled combat vehicles, self-propelled and towed artillery, bridging systems and small caliber weapons.

ANAD performs depot level maintenance on vehicles ranging in size from the Stryker to the 70-ton M1 Abrams tank and a variety of other types in between, such as the M113 Family of Vehicles, the M88 Recovery Vehicle, and the M9 Armored Combat Engineering vehicle.

Combat and battle damage repairs are currently being accomplished by depot personnel both at home and abroad.

The award certificate notes that ANAD's volunteers were in Kuwait and Iraq "even before the onset of hostilities, working side-by-side with the Soldiers."

Soldiers assigned to the depot during the cited period may wear the award ribbon permanently. Department of Defense civilians assigned to the installation during that same time are authorized to wear an award lapel pin.

Soldiers and civilians assigned to the depot after the cited period may wear the respective ribbon or pin temporarily for as long as they remain with the depot.

A unit certificate, citation and streamer will be issued to depot headquarters. The depot is scheduled to host a streamer ceremony and post the ASUA streamer on the depot flag later this year.