Photo By Master Sgt. Benjamin Mota | Master Sgt. Chet Nance, 434th Security Forces Squadron combat arms noncommissioned...... read more read more
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. - From the moment a hammer falls, slamming a firing pin into a primer, the destiny of a projectile has already been propelled toward its final target, but that destination would not be as accurate without Grissom’s combat arms personnel.
Through inspections, maintenance and in house repairs, 434th Security Forces Squadron combat arms personnel work around the clock to ensure Grissom’s weapons are service-ready to support its mission, at all times.
“Grissom has nine separate weapon systems with over 1,600 weapons in our inventory,” said Master Sgt. Chet Nance, 434th SFS combat arms noncommissioned officer in charge. “Each of those weapons requires scheduled maintenance and inspections to ensure they meet Air Force standards and will function properly when needed.”
Grissom has two full-time combat arms instructors and six reservists, and each is hand selected to ensure the job gets done.
“These technicians are hand-picked from within security forces due to their professionalism and commitment to excellence,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Witter 434th SFS commander. “They have been called upon numerous times by Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command to conduct staff assistance visits and have deployed to support weapons systems in the area of responsibility.
“Our combat arms staff are among the best in the Air Force,” added Witter.
Combat arms personnel and Grissom’s weapon systems play a critical role in its mission both at home and abroad.
“These weapon systems provide a safeguard for Air Force and joint forces conducting global operations and ensure our brothers and sisters in arms are safe to carry the fight to our enemies,” explained Witter.
Grissom’s firearms begin their inspection and maintenance process moments after arrival, said Nance.
“Each weapon comes with an Air Force Form 105, also referred to as a weapons ‘birth certificate,’” he added. “Before a firearm can be put into in-use status, a mandatory inspection must be completed and documented.”
Several factors determine the type of inspection process completed on each weapon.
“Our weapons are categorized as base defense, deployable or training,” Nance explained. “Each of those has different purpose and inspection intervals based on their technical orders and the category they are placed in.
“A prime example of this would be the M4 used by security forces here,” he continued. “It’s inspected semiannually as required by the technical order when in ‘active-in-use’ status.”
That inspection process digs deeper than inspections outlined in the Airmen’s Manual.
“Each inspection is unique; however, most include visual inspections, tightening screws and using gauges to ensure each weapon component falls within the correct measurement specified by the manufacturer,” explained Nance. “After the weapons are inspected they are cleaned, reassembled and a function-check is done.”
Throughout phases of inspections any discrepancies are annotated and repaired.
“During the inspections we annotate any type of discrepancies, and then fix them here if possible, because sending a weapon for repairs can be up to a 90-day process or longer,” he said. “Having the capability of fixing our own weapons saves the Air Force time and money and makes them available for our mission.”
“Of the 1,600 weapons we have, none of the weapons are ever waiting for maintenance that we can repair here in-house,” concluded Witter. “Our staff is able to complete approximately 95 percent of the repairs needed as long as we have the parts in stock.”
Grissom is home to the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, as well as three Army Reserve units. Airmen, Soldiers and Marines routinely deploy from Grissom around the world in support of the Department of Defense mission and U.S. strategic objectives.
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| Date Taken: | 02.09.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.09.2015 15:06 |
| Story ID: | 154034 |
| Location: | GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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