Keepers of the heavy artillery

2nd Munitions Squadron cruise missile maintainers prepare a loader to receive conventional air-launched cruise missiles at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 29, 2015. Transferring the cruise missile onto the loader requires several maintainers working together in order to get the job done safely and smoothly. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Luke Hill)

Keepers of the heavy artillery

Airman 1st Class Aramis Quinones-Tirado, 2nd Munitions Squadron cruise missile maintenance technician, tightens a screw on a conventional air-launched cruise missile at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 29, 2015. Cruise missile maintainers must stay proficient at multiple tasks such as fueling, engine work and loading. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Luke Hill)

Keepers of the heavy artillery

Staff Sgt. Darian Porter-James, left, 2nd Munitions Squadron cruise missile team chief, and Senior Airman Yamirar Gonzalez, 2nd MUNS cruise missile maintenance technician, lower a conventional air-launched cruise missile engine at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 29, 2015. Each cruise missile costs around $1.2 million to produce and is a valuable asset that must be maintained and ready for use. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Luke Hill)

Keepers of the heavy artillery

Senior Airman Jeanne Rhoads, 2nd Munitions Squadron cruise missile team chief, detaches a cruise missile from a lift at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 29, 2015. The conventional air-launched cruise missile travels at 550 miles per hour and delivers a 3,000 pound fragmentation warhead. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Luke Hill)

Keepers of the heavy artillery

Senior Airman Nathaniel Williams, left, 2nd Munitions Squadron cruise missile team chief, and Senior Airman Scott Croft, 2nd MUNS cruise missile maintenance technician, work on a conventional air-launched cruise missile engine at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 29, 2015. Maintenance on cruise missiles is tedious work and maintainers have to follow specific instructions precisely to ensure the missile is safe and effective. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Luke Hill)

Keepers of the heavy artillery

Airmen from the 2nd Munitions Squadron cruise missile flight lower a conventional air-launched cruise missile onto a dolly so it can be loaded at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 29, 2015. The cruise missile contains a 3,000 pound warhead and must be handled with utmost caution. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Luke Hill)

Keepers of heavy artillery

Published Sept. 11, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Luke Hill
2 Bomb Wing Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Maintainers from the 2nd Munitions Squadron cruise missile flight work to keep the conventional air-launched cruise missiles safe and ready to provide incredible destruction when needed.

The cruise missile is one of the most devastating weapon systems in the United States Air Force arsenal and with its nuclear capabilities, assures our allies and deters our enemies.

"The main part of our job is deterrence," said Airman 1st Class Justin Sapp, 2nd MUNS cruise missile maintainer. "Whether nuclear or conventional, the cruise missile is a deadly weapon system and it's one of the reasons why people fear us. With this missile, we can put a 3,000 pound warhead through a window and onto a guy's lap from 600 miles away."

Cruise missiles are some of the most complex and expensive weapon systems in the entire Air Force and keeping up with the knowledge needed to repair each part of the system can be daunting.

"It's a very precise job," said Sapp. "Details no one would notice, we have to correct and make sure are perfect. Everything from swapping out components, fueling and defueling, we have to make sure everything is ready for the mission."

"This job is very knowledge-based," said Senior Airman Devon Redding, 2nd MUNS cruise missile maintainer. "The cruise missile has several complex parts to include the engine, brain, fuel tank, electrical wiring and casing; we have to know how to work on all of it. Troubleshooting problems can sometimes be a real challenge because we have to know how to solve the problem no matter what part of the missile it occurs in."

Cruise missiles are some of the most deadly tools in the Air Force's arsenal, and the 2nd MUNS is responsible for making sure these powerful weapons stay mission ready when called upon.