TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Air Force’s newest Logistics Readiness Squadron is now known as “the best of the best” in the Air Force.
The 325th Logistics Readiness Squadron, also known as the “Phoenix Nation,” has won the Air Force’s coveted 2015 Major General Warren R. Carter Daedalian Logistics Effectiveness Award less than two years after its official activation.
“The Daedalian award is a logistics effectiveness award,” said Lt. Col. Anthony J. Mullinax, 325th LRS commander. “Since the 325th LRS encompasses everything logistics, it is the one award that recognizes everything we do. It highlights the squadron in all of its functional abilities as the overall best of the best at what they do.”
Activated in June, 2014, the 325th LRS is the first squadron in history to win the award during their first year of eligibility. They have come a long way to claim this victory over their already well established peers.
“Our Airmen are the heroes,” said Chief Master Sgt. Frank Graziano, 325th LRS deployment and distribution superintendent. Graziano gives full credit to the men and women of the LRS for the award.
“The men and women of the 325th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Phoenix Nation, worked hard to achieve this accolade,” Graziano said. “We took the Air Force by storm, exceeding all expectations ever levied upon us and continued to thrive through all challenges. The ‘Mighty Phoenix Nation’ has now left our mark across all of the Air Force as the premier LRS.”
The squadron began with 120 Airmen and has grown to more than 275 personnel. And that was the key to winning this award: the Airmen.
“It all comes down to having the right Airmen,” said Mullinax. “They are the foundation of this squadron and every bullet that went into that award is a function of what they did. They truly show up to the job every day wanting to make it better and just trying to be the best at what they do.”
The 325th LRS is an extremely diverse squadron and supports everything from deployment and distribution to vehicle management. It takes an enormous amount of teamwork, leadership and followership to win such a prestigious award, Graziano added.
“We work as a team, leading and following through every program, process and practice our organization is called upon to take on,” said Graziano. “I never had a doubt we would win this coveted award. If you watch our Phoenix Nation in action, you would understand why. They bring a smile to my face every day. I am very proud of their accomplishment and they earned this honor. They really are ‘The Best LRS Airmen in the Air Force!’”