21st TSC honors Soldiers and units during Army Award for Maintenance Excellence ceremony

Official Statements

• 21st Theater Sustainment Command, November 9:

  21st TSC recognizes units for maintenance excellence

  “By Sgt. Griffin Payne, 21st TSC Public Affairs GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - The 23rd Modular Ammunition Ordnance Company earned first place in the 21st Theater Sustainment Command's Army Award for Maintenance Excellence (AAME) competition, while the 221st Quartermaster Company secured runner-up honors during an awards ceremony at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Nov. 6, 2026. The ceremony, held at the 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion motor pool, recognized both companies for their maintenance programs and their efforts to keep equipment operational in support of Army missions across Europe. Established in 1982, the AAME program recognizes Army units that demonstrate excellence in maintenance operations. The competition evaluates maintenance management, equipment readiness, Soldier proficiency and leadership involvement. It also encourages units to improve maintenance practices, reduce waste and identify areas that need attention. Units submit nomination packets through their chain of command as part of the annual program. At the Department of the Army level, evaluators review submissions and conduct on-site assessments of selected semifinalists before determining the winners. The Nov. 6 ceremony recognized the companies' accomplishments at the 21st TSC level. Maj. Gen. Michael B. Lalor, commanding general of the 21st TSC, presented the awards to representatives from both companies. Capt. Shawn Freeman and Staff Sgt. Jared Stewart represented the 23rd Modular Ammunition Ordnance Company, while Capt. Faith White and 1st Sgt. Andrew Belmont represented the 221st Quartermaster Company. For the 23rd Modular Ammunition Ordnance Company, maintaining operational equipment plays an important role in supporting ammunition operations and meeting mission requirements. The company's first-place finish recognized its maintenance program and the Soldiers responsible for keeping that equipment ready. The 221st Quartermaster Company, which supports Army field feeding operations, also depends on properly maintained equipment to accomplish its mission. Its runner-up finish highlighted the importance of maintenance across different sustainment specialties and the efforts Soldiers put into supporting their units. “Our Soldiers put a lot of work into this, so it's good to see it pay off,” White said. Beyond recognizing the two companies, Lalor presented commander's coins to six Soldiers for their individual contributions. Spc. Shane Sailer, Spc. Andrew Gonzaga, Sgt. Dalton Reische, Spc. David Finley, Sgt. Stuart Niedmeyer and Sgt. Ja'Darrius King received coins during the ceremony. The individual recognition brought attention to Soldiers whose daily responsibilities help sustain operations. From conducting equipment inspections to tracking maintenance requirements and completing repairs, maintenance personnel work to identify issues before they affect their units' ability to accomplish the mission. “It's pretty cool to get recognized. We all work hard, so it means a lot,” Sailer said. Across Europe, the 21st TSC relies on maintenance programs to support transportation, ammunition operations, field feeding and other sustainment missions. Equipment readiness allows units to respond to operational requirements while reducing delays caused by equipment failures. The competition provides an opportunity for units to assess their maintenance programs, recognize their Soldiers and identify practices that can improve readiness throughout their formations. For both companies, the awards highlighted the work required to maintain equipment long before a mission begins. Their accomplishments reinforced the role maintenance Soldiers play in keeping the 21st TSC prepared to sustain Army operations across Europe.”