SAN DIEGO – Assault Craft Unit Five (ACU 5), Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton was named as one of the two recipients for the 2021 Secretary of Defense Field-Level Maintenance Award, Oct. 6.
ACU 5 is an operational amphibious unit assigned to Commander, Naval Beach Group ONE that operates and maintains the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC). Professionals from Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC) manage depot-level industrial availabilities at ACU 5 along with the command’s Production Team as one of four SWRMC satellite locations throughout San Diego, California. The SWRMC team works closely with ACU 5 to support the repair and modernization efforts of the LCAC class of vehicles – work that contributed to the selection for the Defense Field-Level Maintenance award.
“We are exceptionally proud of the hard work and dedication from the SWRMC crew of ACU 5,” said SWRMC Commanding Officer Capt. John Bauer. “This is a well-deserved recognition and a testament to their dedication to excellence as they continue to support the Navy’s mission priorities of providing superior support to the fleet.”
Each year, the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards Program recognizes the Department of Defense’s most outstanding military maintenance units in four categories: Field-Level Awards; Robert T. Mason Award for Depot Maintenance Excellence; Admiral Grace M. Hopper Award for Software Maintenance Excellence; and the Sustainment Training, Advice and Assistance of Foreign Military Forces Award.
“The Swift Intruders of ACU 5 met an unprecedented demand signal from operational forces in the Pacific Fleet with record-high numbers of reliable and well-maintained Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC),” the citation said. “With meticulous planning, ACU 5 met all operational commitments and cost avoidance initiatives through superb management of personnel, materials, and innovative maintenance procedures.”
ACU 5 was one of two recipients for this award in the medium category along with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Foster, located in Okinawa, Japan.
“The command’s achievements in maintenance during this period include enhancements in LCAC refurbishment programs, corrosion control inspections to 100 percent within periodicity, improved repair processes with more efficient scheduling and planning of work projects, and frugal stewardship of supply parts and other resources,” the citation concluded. “The exceptional performance, initiative and devotion to duty of the officers and crew of ACU 5 reflected great credit on themselves, the United States Navy, and the Department of Defense!”
SWRMC is meeting its mission to provide superior ship maintenance, modernization, technical support, and training for the Pacific Fleet.
For more information on SWRMC, please visit https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/RMC/SWRMC.