Photo By Master Sgt. Demetrius Lester | Conventional munitions crew members of the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron...... read more read more
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By Air Force Capt. Toni Tones
455 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan – The 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron AMMO was recently called upon to perform a core task the unit rarely gets to do ... prepare non-lethal dispensers in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
According to Air Force Maj. Dave Reiss, Combined Air and Space Operations Center Joint Psychological Operations Task Force, the CAOC received word that Regional Command-South wanted to perform a leaflet drop. JPOTF, in coordination with CAOC Information Operations, provided the leaflets and transported them to Bagram for loading.
"Our mission is two-fold, to gain more support for the [government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan] while letting the people know the coalition is here to support and splinter the Taliban organization by encouraging disloyalty to the group," said Reiss. "It's like having an olive branch for friends in one hand and an iron hammer in the other for the enemy."
The four-person 455th EMXS AMMO team, led by Tech Sgt. Erick Chrostowski, was notified by the CAOC that its expertise was needed in preparing six dispensers to drop 185,000 leaflets in southern Afghanistan.
"This is only the second time I've worked with leaflets," said Chrostowski, a 15-year AMMO veteran and crew chief. "They are a rare breed, but serve a good purpose."
"Anything that explodes or is expended must come through us," said Air Force Capt. Jean-Jacques Futey, 455th EMXS operations officer. "These guys are the experts for all Air Force ammunition assets in the [area of responsibility]."
The dynamics of the battlefield soon dictated a shift in the mission parameters; a short-notice twist required immediate action and lateral production support from the Psychological Operations Task Force - Army Detachment. The unit pushed its capabilities and rapidly produced 40,000 leaflets to load the two additional dispensers tasked by the CAOC.
Once all the leaflet bombs were assembled, they were transferred to maintainers of the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron for loading onto F-15Es for delivery.
Afghan and coalition forces are providing a protective umbrella in the air and on the ground ensuring the safety and security of innocent Afghan people.
| Date Taken: | 02.26.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 02.26.2008 08:14 |
| Story ID: | 16713 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 327 |
| Downloads: | 280 |
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