COURTESY OF MEDIA NEWSWIRE

SPRINGFIELD, IL (07/17/2014)(readMedia)– NORTH RIVERSIDE, Ill. – The 406th Signal Company inNorth Riverside, Illinois, received the Supply Excellence Award (SEA) for the second consecutive year, July 15. The unit will compete at regionals with hopes of advancing to the national competition later this year.

The SEA is awarded to companies in recognition of superiority at maintaining inventory, securing and controlling sensitive items, distribution and storage. The award supports group competition and increased public awareness of supply excellence.

“We are very excited and proud to receive this award. Everyone has the responsibility of property accountability and maintenance,” said Staff Sgt. Melissa Kraye of Chicago, 406th supply sergeant. “It is imperative in times of cost and budget cutting we maintain high standards of responsibility. The award reflects all Soldiers in the unit. They are maintaining high logistical standards set by the leadership.”

The program is used as a management tool for system standardization and to challenge Soldiers. It encourages group competition, increases public awareness of supply excellence and overall improvement of the supply system, said Kraye.

“We have been really focused on the program. Staff Sergeant Kraye goes above and beyond in the supply room,” said Capt. Jaime Galvin of Chesterfield, Missouri, commander, 406th Signal Company. “It takes work from everybody all year to make this happen. Being a company of 44 Soldiers, if a couple of them lose focus it really shows on the company as a whole.”

The significance of receiving the award is respect and recognition of the hard work and concentrated efforts, said Galvin.

“As the supply sergeant, it is my job to guide the commander in all logistics. Commanders must be actively involved by enforcing discipline and compliance to ensure a successful logistical posture in the unit,” said Kraye. “My commander is actively involved in our Command Supply Discipline Program. The program demands high standards and is a great check and balance to ensure the unit is receiving proper logistical support. We are a team!”