Welcome to ammo country

Photo By Stephenie Wade | Staff Sgt. Joshua Snyder, 455th Expeditionary Munitions Flight munitions inspector, uses technical orders to complete a munitions inspection Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, June 13, 2013. Before use or assembly all ammo’s assets must undergo a trip through an inspection. Depending on their condition the assets are classified in different serviceability codes. Any malfunction, defect, or error in serviceability codes of these devices can prove deadly to both the ground crew and the pilot in the air. Snyder is deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Lance Caro)  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

06.13.2013

Courtesy Story

455th Air Expeditionary Wing   

This is part one in a series of three articles discussing the role of the 2W0 career field, ammo. This is an in-depth look of a munitions journey from its storage location to the processing line.

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - The sound of munitions rattling under an A-10 Thunderbolt II as it departs, breaks the stillness of a quite morning on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

While the story of sorties usually begins here, before these munitions aircraft carry can make it to their target, they must first make it out of ammo country. And while ammo isn't literally a country, its distant location away from the flight line and the dangers it poses make it a world of its own.

The 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron ammo flight is responsible for providing munitions and countermeasures, such as chaff and flare, to U.S. Air Force units as well as providing storage facilities for the other military branches here.

"We reach everyone on the base one way or another," said Senior Master Sgt. Jerry Lindsey, 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, munitions accountable systems officer and native of Richmond Hill, Ga.

"Everyone has a weapon that needs bullets, but we also supply munitions to all Air Force personnel, explosive ordnance disposal, security forces, cargo, rescue and fighter aircraft," said Lindsey. "Our job is important here because if there was no ammo, pilots wouldn't be able to bring the fight to the enemy and we wouldn't have the ability to defend ourselves."

Ammo has many subsections that work together to complete the mission, but the process begins with stockpile surveillance. The stockpile surveillance shop receives all inbound munitions and countermeasures.

"After we receive the assets we can either store them or send them to inspection, but my job is to ensure the munitions have a safe storage atmosphere," said Tech. Sgt. Daniel Nailie, assistant chief of stockpile surveillance.

The storage of these assets is important because many factors must be considered when munitions are not in use. Both munitions and countermeasures are stored in separate areas to prevent simultaneous detonation. Ammo troops are trained how to safely handle the munitions as a precaution. Finally munitions must be stored in a place inaccessible by non-essential personnel.

"We don't want our adversaries to know what we have here in our ammunition storage pad, because they would know our specific capabilities," said Nailie, native of Traveler's Rest, S.C.

To get the dangerous assets like the Mark-84 2,000-pound bomb or the 65 Maverick missiles, from the storage pad to the inspection area, Airmen must use large vehicles to deliver the munitions.

After the arrival assets to the inspection area, Staff Sgt. Joshua Snyder, 455th Expeditionary Munitions Flight munitions inspector, uses technical orders to complete his munitions inspection. Before use or assembly all ammo's assets must undergo a trip through an inspection table under the eyes of the well trained inspectors. There are many steps and diagrams that the inspectors follow in the technical order to ensure the asset is serviceable.

"I make sure that all munitions such as chaff, missiles and small arms are serviceable," said Snyder, a native of Howell, Mich.

Depending on their condition the assets are classified in different serviceability codes. Any malfunction, defect, or error in serviceability codes of these devices can prove deadly to both the ground crew and the pilot in the air.

"Inspectors have to use their 'attention to detail' skills when conducting an inspection to make sure we are not using defective items and that non-inspectors can find the condition of the items quickly. I think it's very important to make sure that the munitions stay in a serviceable condition because if they're not they're obviously of no use."

Inspection is also just as dangerous for the other work sections. Opening and physically handling munitions requires that members respect all the assets.

"The most dangerous part of my job is opening up a storage container and not knowing the specific condition of the munitions inside," Snyder said. "For example crystalized dynamite, it's very sensitive and could explode with any quick movement."

While the job is dangerous the airmen know the impact of their work.

Senior Airman Jeremy Jimenez, 455th Expeditionary Munitions Flight stockpile surveillance crew journeyman said, "When we hear the news that munitions have dropped, we know we had our hands on it; that makes me proud of the work we do."

• Date Taken: 06.13.2013
• Date Posted: 07.04.2013 05:44
• Story ID: 109762
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF
• Hometown: HOWELL, MI, US
• Hometown: RICHMOND HILL, GA, US
• Hometown: TRAVELERS REST, SC, US