On target: Ammo Airmen do bang up job

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tim Beckham
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  Tucked away behind tall bunkers and old engine parts lays a unique greenhouse with a special crop.

Inside a crop of bullets, bombs and explosives receive care and attention fro a group of unique Airmen.

From inspections and maintenance to overall accountability, the Airmen of the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron’s munitions flight here put their mark on every piece of steel that comes through their door.

“We track over 1,000 line items,” said Senior Master Sgt. Patrick Bowen, munitions flight chief. “We have a significant stockpile of ammo to manage.”

The munitions Airmen arm all assigned aircraft as well as ground troops and even geographically separated units.

“We support the (MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles), combat search and rescue and even units in Baghdad,” Sergeant Bowen said.

“From bullets and grenades to flares and missiles, if it goes boom we handle it,” said Senior Master Sgt. Charles Elmore, munitions production supervisor.

The munitions flight is broken down into different shops -- munitions control, accountability, inspection, maintenance, line delivery and trailer maintenance. Active-duty Airmen from Aviano, and guardsmen from Arkansas, Minnesota, Montana, Texas and Indiana currently make up the flight.

“We have totally integrated teams here,” Sergeant Bowen said. “We try our best to make each shop 50-50 with Guard and active-duty (Airmen).”

Not only are the ammo Airmen doing their day-to-day operations, but they are also doing a little extra to make things better for the next group of Airmen who will deploy here.

“We recently identified a defect on a certain type of missile,” said Sergeant Bowen, who is deployed from Aviano Air Base, Italy. “We sent them to another base in the (U.S. Central Command area of responsibility) to be fixed, and they should be back soon.”

In addition, the flight is working to increase storage space.

“We are building what we refer to as the great wall of Balad,” Sergeant Bowen said. “When complete, it will nearly double our available ammunition storage space and provide (U.S. Central Command Air Forces) greater flexibility in positioning combat assets.”