“Incomes the CNO Aviation Security Award is a testomony to the strong security tradition at FRC East, and an illustration of the security ideas and practices which are second nature all through the command,” stated FRCE Commanding Officer Capt. James M. Belmont. “Our focus stays on the Marines and Sailors supported by each plane we contact. The FRC East workforce understands the dangers our service members take when performing their duties, and we take very significantly our accountability to make sure we don’t switch any danger from the depot to our nation’s warfighters.
“Whereas we don’t have our personal plane on which we are able to proudly show the Security S, our Fleet clients have come to know that the FRC East identify is synonymous with security and high quality,” Belmont continued. “Incomes the CNO Aviation Security Award simply reinforces that repute.”
This marks the seventh time FRCE has obtained the award, with earlier wins in 1984, 1991, 1996, 2004, 2010 and 2013.
Marine Capt. Andrew Neuman, the H-53E Navy Department Head at FRCE who serves because the command’s aviation security officer, stated he feels the command’s strong security administration system weighed closely within the Naval Security Command’s resolution to award the distinction to the depot.
“I’d say the insurance policies and procedures we’ve got in place right here undoubtedly make a distinction,” Neuman stated. “Individuals listed below are already doing issues the appropriate approach the, and the general security tradition of the command permeates the whole lot we do. The Navy inform us the way to be secure, or the way to report mishaps, or be proactive in stopping mishaps – it’s all in writing already. However except you select to truly learn, comprehend and implement what the Navy is saying, it’s not going to assist. I believe the comprehension and implementation are one thing we do significantly nicely right here, and the security tradition may be very alive and robust on account of that.”
In fiscal yr 2023, FRCE logged 230 mishap-free flight hours in 5 kinds of plane for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Air Drive: the F-35B Lightning II, MV-22B Osprey, MH-53E Sea Stallion and CH-53E Tremendous Stallion, and UH-1N Huey. The workforce of 5 navy pilots, one civilian pilot and three enlisted navy aircrew completed this feat over 192 flights, together with purposeful verify flights that take a look at plane programs and efficiency, and ferry deliveries of plane as they return to their house squadrons.
Neuman stated the variety of hours flown at FRCE could appear minuscule compared to operational squadrons, however the depot has posted 26 years of flight with no Class A mishap, and 45 years of operation for the reason that final Class B or C mishap. He attributes this success to the care and a focus of the depot’s workforce.
“Protected flight operations are preceded by correct upkeep being carried out. We could solely have a complete of 9 pilots and aircrew at FRC East, however actually, there are greater than 4,200 individuals contributing to this course of,” Neuman defined. “It comes again to the truth that we actually care if there’s an issue that’s recognized, and we do the whole lot we are able to to mitigate any points. It takes a proactive strategy to security to attempt to cease issues earlier than they happen.”
FRCE devoted nearly 670,000 labor hours to plane upkeep in fiscal yr 2023, returning to the Fleet 62 plane, 67 engines and 11,435 elements. Neuman stated the workforce’s consideration to element and adherence to security and high quality directions allow this stage of secure, profitable efficiency.
“There’s inherent danger to aviation security, however being very methodical, following the checklists and doing the whole lot step-by-step and so as permits us to finish upkeep evolutions within the most secure method doable,” he added. “We actually are delivering a implausible product again to the Fleet.”
Outcomes like these stem from proactive management, schooling, and dedication to incremental enhancements in each space and stage of the command, stated Compliance and High quality Division Head Amy Morgan, who gives oversight to the workforce staffing the depot’s Security and Occupational Well being Division.
“Instilling a way of possession by way of schooling is a important contribution to FRC East’s proactive security marketing campaign,” she stated. “Persistent management follow-up after aviation security stand downs ensures that the command’s civilian workforce and Marines stay dedicated to the security posture, danger administration and crew useful resource administration practices, and present developments in security. These classes are built-in into day by day routines.”
When safety-related greatest practices turn into second nature for everybody throughout the command, it could solely enhance outcomes for each FRCE and the nation’s warfighters, Morgan defined.
“By actively looking for to enhance our security tradition and increase our excessive requirements of high quality, FRC East will proceed to guide the Commander, Fleet Readiness Facilities enterprise in security achievements,” she added.
FRC East has a historical past of selling security as a key tenet of the command’s values, which is now yielding spectacular outcomes. Just lately, FRCE was chosen because the winner of the Chief of Naval Operations Shore Security Award within the Massive Industrial class for fiscal yr 2023. FRCE’s exemplary security file has additionally been acknowledged by the North Carolina Division of Labor Security Awards Program, which lately awarded the depot its seventh consecutive Gold Award and 4 Million Hour security awards. The Million Hour security awards are given to employers every time they accumulate 1 million worker hours with no accidents or sicknesses involving days away from work. To satisfy the Gold Award normal, a company should meet the standards for a security award and obtain a DART charge at the very least 50 % under the business common.
Moreover, FRCE lately earned recertification as a Star Web site within the Occupational Security and Well being Administration’s (OSHA) Voluntary Safety Program (VPP) for 2 of the depot’s 9 utility areas in early 2023. Star Web site standing is the very best stage of recognition within the VPP program and is awarded solely to employers who show exemplary achievement within the prevention and management of occupational security and well being hazards. FRCE first achieved OSHA VPP Star Web site standing in 2019 in two of the depot’s utility areas, turning into the primary naval aviation command to succeed in that stage. With that accomplishment, FRCE is the one NAVAIR command to realize Star Web site certification, and one among simply 20 Navy websites and 62 Division of Protection services worldwide to earn the popularity.
