Military

457th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs 

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (USAFENS) - They say those who can't, teach. But don't say that around the advisors from 'Ammo U,' who just arrived at this forward-operating location to give, and get, an education.

Due to the current deployment situation, Air Force Combat Ammunition Center, has temporarily shut down. There were not enough Ammo troops left at home stations to attend classes.

Advisors and munitions flight repack troops from the Air Force Combat Ammunition Center, have closed the school and moved the classroom closer to the fight.

Here they get to practice what they teach and take their wartime experience back to those who need it most - the students.

The 40 or so deployed airmen of the 9th Munitions Squadron at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. have been working in every aspect of the munitions flight, tracking and building munitions in every phase of their life.

"There are a lot of Ammo troops deployed all over the world right now," said Senior Master Sgt. Mike Potratz, day-shift supervisor here. "Those that are home are doing double duty for those who are deployed. No students. No school."

Potratz, school superintendent, said he and the staff jumped at the chance to deploy.

"Normally we stay home and don't get to go anywhere," he said. "This is our opportunity to get out of the classroom and munitions flight and into the fight." This is and Ammo first, Potratz added.

Tech. Sgt. James Sutton said, "One benefit of not being at school was the chance to be on the build pad again.
"The camaraderie, the feeling of being part of a team - you just can't get that in the classroom," he said. "With each new class you start over and by the time everyone starts to click, the class is over.

"Here we're as close to the mission as you can get," he added.
Back at Beale, these airmen teach a combat-ammunition planning and production course. It consists of two weeks of academic instruction followed by a week-long practical exercise. During the academic portion of the course, students write their own munitions employment plan, which they use during the "practical" phase.

"AFCOMAC is a learning environment for second-term airmen and junior NCOs and a refresher for mid-level NCOs and senior NCOs," Potratz explained. "We get everyone from the three-stripers all the way up to chiefs." The class also has four company-grade officers aswell, with a total of 70 students each class and nine classes per year.

The school also has a two-day course for officers. It trains squadron, group and wing commanders, as well as headquarters-level staff officers the ways of the Ammo world. The officers have the opportunity to see and experience the daily life of an Ammo troop during a typical contingency-type environment.

At the school, each class culminates with a mass munitions buildup operation called "Iron Flag." After class is over, the bombs must be disassembled and put back into storage for the next class.

This is what Airman 1st Class Jake Sutton does for every class. His first assignment was AFCOMAC, so being deployed here is the opportunity to see how things work in the "real world."

"I'm really excited to be here," said Sutton. "At Beale we tear down after the AFCOMAC class builds up. Here we build and they don't come back."

Since building bombs is the center point of any Ammo troop's life, wartime is a chance for them to shine.

"During peacetime we don't get very much attention," Potratz said. "But during wartime everyone quickly realizes the importance of what we do, day in and day out. That's what keeps us going."

After their deployment is over, the airmen will return to Beale AFB, and carry with them the lessons learned and pass that on to their future students. They'll be able to give the Ammo perspective from experienced eyes.

For these Ammo troops - not only do they teach, they can do.