DAEGU GARRISON, Republic of Korea - The hard work of Soldiers, Civilians and family members at Daegu Garrison has been recognized with the award for Army Communities of Excellence. The ACOE winner awards were presented to Daegu Garrison and eight other active-duty installations May 5, in a ceremony at the Pentagon.

At the ceremony in the Pentagon, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli and Installation Management Command Commander, Lt. Gen. Robert Wilson presented the Army Communities of Excellence Bronze award to Daegu Garrison Commander Col. Michael P. Saulnier.

The ACOE award honors the top Army, National Guard, and Reserve installations that have achieved levels of excellence in building a high quality environment, outstanding facilities and superior services based on standards set annually by the National Malcolm Baldridge Quality Program Criteria for Performance Excellence, published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Following the ACOE team's weeklong site visit to Camps Henry, Walker, George and Carroll last October and November, Daegu Garrison earned the Bronze recognition.

Daegu Garrison maintains the vision to "Be the Community of Choice" wholeheartedly. With a workforce of approximately 1,500 personnel, Daegu Garrison supports a population of 10,815 U.S. Military, Army Civilian employees, contractors, Korean national employees, KATUSA and family members.

"Our focus and drive to align with the principles of Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence has refined and solidified our effective processes," said Daegu Garrison Plans, Analysis and Integration Office Lead Management and program analyst, Ken Edland.

"Our previous Organizational Self Assessment results revealed significant improvements in all categories. Although our accomplishments are extensive, we drive to build processes that do more than produce one-time results. With the Baldrige criteria for performance excellence as our framework, we celebrate the predictability of recurring success based on established processes." Edland added.

ACOE's Bronze award includes a cash award of $250,000, a trophy and a flag and every ACOE winner is required to use the award money on specific types of projects. Daegu Garrison is putting together ideas on how to use the award money that benefits Daegu community as a whole.

Currently, Daegu Garrison is preparing for ACOE 2009 competition and looks forward to becoming an even better Army community.

"Daegu Garrison just began its new cycle to become a better community with the Organizational Self Assessment, asking Garrison members to participate in the survey," said Daegu Garrison PAIO Director, Timothy Maroney. "Throughout the process of ACOE competition, we refine our goals, objectives and action plans and eventually it allows the Garrison to succeed and perform the standards that are expected from community and Installation Management Command." Maroney added.