[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 137 (Friday, October 27, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1962]]
        TRIBUTE TO 16TH LOGISTICS GROUP, HURLBURT FIELD, FLORIDA

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                          HON. JOE SCARBOROUGH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 26, 2000

  Mr. SCARBOROUGH. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to recognize the 
United States Air Force's 16th Logistics Group for receiving the Year 
2000 Department of Defense Maintenance Award.
  Each year, the Secretary of Defense recognizes outstanding 
achievements in military equipment and weapon system maintenance by 
intermediate and organizational level maintenance organizations of the 
Military Services.
  The purpose of this awards program is to improve material readiness, 
improve efficiency and reduce waste by encouraging innovative 
management and use of resources, provide recognition of below depot-
level maintenance programs, aid development of competitive programs, 
and enhance maintenance awareness throughout the Department of Defense.
  In recognition of the contribution maintenance makes to keeping our 
forces ready and to sustaining them in conflict, the Secretary of 
Defense has chosen to honor the 16th Logistics Group for their 
exceptional unit maintenance accomplishment.
  The 16th Logistics Group is the Air Force's largest logistics group 
and performs maintenance on several different airframes. The group's 
men and women outperformed their competition by achieving an impressive 
80 percent mission-capable rate, among other accomplishments. The 16th 
generated the two most important combat missions of the Balkan conflict 
and continued to focus on reducing total ownership costs through 
innovative and practical programs. Mobilizing over 120 times in 12 
months for an unprecedented 75 contingencies and exercises worldwide, 
the group led first-in, last-out operations in the Balkans, capping 
more than 6 years of continuous presence in that theater.
  This award recognizes the professionalism and commitment to service 
by the men and women of the 16th Logistics Group. My congratulations go 
to the Air Force's 16th Logistics Group for these significant 
contributions.

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