While pilots gear up for their sorties, Airmen working in a fenced community prepare various munitions needed to complete the mission.
Airmen assigned to the 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron conventional maintenance flight are tasked with preparing and loading 20mm rounds, guided bomb units, flares and other aircraft support equipment to Shaw’s equipment.
By training on these numerous munitions day in and day out, Airmen are able to maintain the skills needed to properly load and unload munitions, stateside and while deployed in a wartime environment.
“The big emphasis here at conventional maintenance is to keep equipment maintained and within regulations so we can make sure the mission is completed to the best of our abilities,” said Staff Sgt. Jerome Watson, 20th EMS conventional maintenance support technician.
With the continued support of conventional maintenance, the flight can continue to mass produce and send various munitions to the flightline. Working together the flight ensures pilots are able to accomplish the suppression of enemy air defenses mission.
“Day to day, our pilots are flying sorties to get the job done,” said Airman Latrevious Mann, 20th EMS munitions technician. “We provide the ammo they need to destroy or disable their target.”
Working behind the scenes, these ammo troops are providing the firepower to accomplish the mission and create a more lethal, ready force.