KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Sgt. Jeff Elinburg, D Company, Task Force Shadow maintenance supervisor, was selected to receive the Cargo Helicopters Users' Super Soldier award at their annual conference in Huntsville, Ala. in October 2010.

This award was founded to honor the Soldiers who care enough to do the best job in all endeavors; dare to find better ways of maintaining the CH-47 Chinook helicopter; and share their knowledge with peers, subordinates and superiors.

"To actually get recognized for caring about what you do is pretty awesome," said Elinburg. "But I wouldn't be getting it without my team."

Elinburg humbly gives a majority of the credit to his Soldiers for winning the Super Soldier award.

"One man can't change a transmission by himself," he said. "I'm lucky to have a team that actually cares about what they are doing."

Elinburg focuses on the outcome of his mission as a Chinook maintainer.

"I always think about those Soldiers who will be getting on this aircraft to go on a mission or go home on R&R," said Elinburg. "It makes me feel good to know that a Soldier can go home and hold their son because of us."

With this in mind, Elinburg and his team strive for safety.

"We've seen what happens when something goes wrong, and do everything within our power to prevent that from happening," said Elinburg. "We keep the aircraft flying in a safe manner."

He does superior work not for the recognition, but understand his essential mission.

"He embodies the team concept and demands the same from his Soldiers," said Capt. Erin Foley, D Co., TF Shadow maintenance platoon leader. "He understands that in order for the unit to succeed, his Soldiers must trust each other and work together towards a unified goal."

To win the Super Soldier award, one must be creative and dedicated to the welfare of the Chinook's crew members.

"When he or his Soldiers run into a problem not covered in a maintenance manual, he encourages them to discuss the problem among themselves and other CH-47 personnel in order to create an innovate solution to the problem," said Foley.