Building bombs to stay ready

  • Published
  • By Stephanie Bemrose
  • The Bombardier
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Airmen in the 2d Munitions Squadron production flight built inert GBU-31s, inert MK82 bombs and live M117 750-pound bombs earlier this week to measure their capabilities.

The exercise gave squadron members the opportunity to produce a larger quantity and variety of munitions than they are normally tasked to build in support of day-to-day aircrew training, according to Chief Master Sgt. Donald Moreland, 2d MUNS munitions superintendent.

"This training is important primarily because it allows us the opportunity to validate our training in munitions breakout, buildup, handling, command and control and accountability," the chief explained. "Addition-ally, it provides us the ability to review and validate our plans and processes for providing safe and efficient munitions support to the wing.

This generation allowed Airmen to learn how fast they could react if they were to receive a call for an immediate strike similar to what happened after Sept. 11, said Tech. Sgt. James Wohlscheid, 2d MUNS conventional maintenance crew chief.

"This is very important for everyone in the production flight of the squadron to have hands-on experience to hone their skills building particular munitions. It helps new members in the squadron understand their mission," Sergeant Wohlscheid added.

The last such exercise was in February, although the builds are usually simulated and not actually conducted during wing exercises and quarterly exercises.

"Like most maintenance and production functions, we rely on multiple sections to do different processes simultaneously," the chief explained. "These processes have to be coordinated, communicated and sequenced in such a manner as to enhance the efficiency of our efforts. Small exercises like this one provide us an opportunity to implement and critique our plans."

Another new aspect of this exercise is an aluminum rail trailer that holds many more munitions than other trailers, said Master Sgt. Patrick Collins, material flight superintendent.

"Everything seemed to go smoothly," Sergeant Wohlscheid added. "We learned everything we needed to learn and we were able to show our ability to build munitions as fast as we could. Members of the 2d MUNS take great pride in their work, the chief explained.

"Most importantly, most of us really enjoy this part of our jobs," he said.