By AT1(AW) C.F. Oatley

OAK HARBOR, Wash. - Fleet Readiness Center Northwest, along with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 40 in Cherry Point, captured the medium size organization category this year at the annual Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards Program event.

The Program recognizes the Department of Defense’s (DoD) most outstanding field-level military maintenance units. With three categories, Small, Medium and Large, this award recognizes FRCNW as one of six outstanding maintenance facilities in the DoD.

This award puts FRCNW in the running for the Phoenix award, the highest award for field-level maintenance. The recipient of the Phoenix Award is the recognized “best of the best” DoD maintenance unit.

The winner of the Phoenix award will be announced at the Secretary of Defense maintenance Awards Ceremony and Banquet on November 17th at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa Florida as part of the 2010 DoD Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition.

The winners of these awards have been judged on factors including mission accomplishment, effective use of maintenance resources and innovative management. Replicas of the Secretary of Defense Phoenix Trophy are presented to the winning units each year. These replica trophies may be kept by the winning units for approximately one year.

“Whether we win the Phoenix award or not, this is a great achievement and everyone in FRC should be proud,” said FRCNW Commander Kimberly Schulz.

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