KSC Company Honored with Third Army Award for Maintenance Excellence

By Ms. Kim, Un Chu, Korean Service Corps (KSC) BattalionMay 13, 2021

A member of the 7th KSC Company provides hand & arm signals to assist in loading a M2A2 Abrams Tank onto the Heavy Equipment Transportation (HET) Trailer.
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A member of the 7th KSC Company provides hand & arm signals to assist in loading a M2A2 Abrams Tank onto the Heavy Equipment Transportation (HET) Trailer. (Photo Credit: Mr. Choe, Yon Muk, Transportation Specialist, 7th KSC Company) VIEW ORIGINAL
The 7th KSC HET drivers stand in line with their trailers for DA-level Combat inspection.
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 7th KSC HET drivers stand in line with their trailers for DA-level Combat inspection. (Photo Credit: Mr. Choe, Yon Muk, Transportation Specialist, 7th KSC Company) VIEW ORIGINAL
A member of the 7th KSC Company performs regular repair and renewal work as part of a solid preventive maintenance program for HET tractors.
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A member of the 7th KSC Company performs regular repair and renewal work as part of a solid preventive maintenance program for HET tractors. (Photo Credit: Mr. Choe, Yon Muk, Transportation Specialist, 7th KSC Company) VIEW ORIGINAL
HET tractor and trailer movement with HET convoy operations during nighttime.
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – HET tractor and trailer movement with HET convoy operations during nighttime. (Photo Credit: Photo credits to Mr. Choe, Yon Muk, Transportation Specialist, 7th KSC Company) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea – The hard work and flexibility of the Korean Service Corps’ 7th Company, located at Camp Casey, paid off as they accepted their third Army Award for Maintenance Excellence, announced on 9 October 2020.

“The 7th KSC Company was able to achieve such an accomplishment not only because of all the collective work they have done as one solid team, but also through hard working individuals with high work ethics,” said Mr. Ko, Han Sik, the 7th KSC Company commander. “I am honored and I strongly believe my team will continue their hard work to keep up with maintenance standards and contribute to support U.S. and ROK readiness in Korea to ‘Fight Tonight.’ I am proud of my company!”

They have won the award in the “All Others” category in FY15, FY16, and now, FY19.

In FY19, the 7th KSC Company achieved average 96.8% Fully Mission Capable rate in ground maintenance; which is much higher than the average 85% FMC rate seen in other comparable Heavy Equipment Transportation units. The company was able to accomplish this higher rate through a thorough daily Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services by HET Operators and Mechanics.

The 7th KSC Company was first activated in 2005 to facilitate movement of military vehicles along the local roads and highways of South Korea, while mitigating different types of accidents and incidents on the congested roads. As the force multiplier of readiness of the U.S. and ROK Alliance, and the only HET available on the Korean Peninsula, the well-trained KSC drivers are more familiar with the roads, the laws, and the local regulation than their U.S counterparts. With proper protocols in place, the 7th KSC Company helps move tanks and armored vehicles with less damage to roads while also helping reducing the Army’s budget for petroleum and possible risk to the force.

First established in 1982, the AAME is an award presented by the Department of the Army to recognize the expertise and the professionalism of task performance within different Army commands. Each unit is evaluated on their effectiveness ensuring that Soldier competency is maintained. Assessments of each unit in the categories of attitude and effective leadership are rated with a benchmark based on those of past winners, and the tenets of exceptional maintenance processes that were exhibited are validated and ranked.

Friendly competitions foster improvement and sustainment of readiness, increase efficiency while reducing waste, and enhance maintenance skills and initiatives. Many units throughout the Army compete every year with hopes of winning the AAME.

Due to the oversized HET vehicles and in order to minimize any accidents, their operations require movement during the reduced traffic hours of between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Therefore, despite the unit’s demanding schedule that begins at nighttime every day of the week, the 7th KSC Company has achieved more than one million miles in operation, since its establishment in 2015, and yet has managed to win another award.

To learn more about the KSC and the 7th KSC Company, please visit their website at: ksc.korea.army.mil