Cruise Missile Flight ensures safety, reliability of munitions

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The 2nd Munitions Squadron personnel impact the entire Air Force through the assistance they provided to Department of Defense contractors and Special Project Offices during deployment and modification of several weapons systems.

The mission of the 2 MUNS cruise missile flight is to provide safe and reliable munitions and support to their customers anytime, anywhere.

There are approximately 100 Airmen who make up the 2 MUNS cruise missile flight here at Barksdale, home of Air Force Global Strike Command, all are qualified on the electronic components of the Air Launched Cruise Missile. They know what their functions are and are capable of loading, testing and transporting single missiles, fully loaded pylons and launchers.

"On a daily basis, I work with my team to maintain and test our weapon system to ensure its reliability," said Senior Airman Jorge Hernandez, 2 MUNS missile maintenance technician. "We transport missiles, replace components and run full weapon system tests. I wanted to be a part of this flight to be able to work on one of the Air Force's most advanced weapon systems."

When Airmen from the 2 MUNS deploy they provide required weapons and personnel when directed by headquarters.

"We bring a stand-off weapon capability to the fight," said Senior Master Sgt. Sean Wheat, 2 MUNS cruise missile flight chief. "Weapons from this flight have been used in conflicts on several occasions and could be again. It is our responsibility to ensure these assets our ready to go at a moments notice to support the needs of the combatant commands."

Airmen from this career field can apply their skills to the civilian world after their military careers end.

"The skills we apply to our jobs can be useful in any number of contract companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Martin Marietta," Airman Hernandez said. "The most important part of Cruise Missile Flight are the men and women who ensure the precision and reliability of all weapons assigned."

Missile cruise Airmen, receive training at the Missile Maintenance Apprentice Technical School at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. They receive four months of training for the basic cruise missile course and another two-month course that only some Airmen attend which covers the test equipment they maintain.

"We transport packages to and from our building load them into checkout frames, download and upload missiles, build, break down and install ejector racks on missiles, install and test ejector rack electro explosive devices, upload and download warheads from missiles and transport packages to and from the flightline on a daily basis," said Staff Sgt. Andrew Boone, 2 MUNS launcher maintenance team chief. "Without us the Air Force wouldn't have a long range, first strike capable conventional munitions."