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ACC, PACAF airmen team up, build bombs

PACAFNS

April 24, 2003

By Staff Sgt. Jess Harvey
7th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - The munitions storage area here has been busier than normal over the past 6 weeks to support the rise in operations tempo incurred with the arrival of bombers.

Airmen from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, and Barksdale Air Force Base, La., deployed here to help with the rise in workload and are working together with Team Andersen ammo troops and integrated with them, forming the 7th Expeditionary Munitions Squadron.

Chief Master Sgt. Mike McClary, 7th Air Expeditionary Wing ammo chief, said the transformation and beddown was smooth.

"We went into this endeavor with the 'one team, one fight' attitude," he said. "Since arriving, we built [hundreds of munitions,] and they are ready for any contingency,"

Becoming one team with one fight was fairly easy the chief said.

"The integration with deployed troops and Andersen's was seamless," said Chief McClary. "The 36th Maintenance Squadron here made sure we were well taken care of in true ammo fashion."

The deployed troops, which came from two different bases, had to learn to work together also.

"Dyess airmen build bombs unique to the B-1 and Barksdale airmen build bombs unique to the B-52," the chief said. "These [aircraft] require different configurations."

But they have worked together well, said Chief McClary. "They strive to teach each other daily."

He said the squadron got busy again after authorization was given to drop bombs at a range for pilot proficiency training.

"When it comes to putting bombs on target, [we have] to be ahead and stay ahead," said Chief McClary. "We have built enough bombs to keep the jets flying for a couple of days; we have to stay two days ahead of the flying schedule.

"No sorties will be lost due to munitions support; in ammo, 99% ain't good enough," the chief said. He added the chance to build munitions for actual use on the training ranges was a valuable experience.

"The live build was used as a chance to train these troops on bomber ops; that is building the bombs while they are loaded on 40-foot trailers," said Chief McClary. Not only have the deployed troops been building munitions, but they have also been helping Team Andersen personnel with normal, day-to-day things.

"We are working on clearing up all of Andersen's awaiting maintenance workorders," said the Chief. "A big one they are on now is inspecting [munitions] for serviceability."

"The extra 80 ammo troops beefed up the effort to make this munitions area ... the best in PACAF," said Chief McClary. He added that it's the quality of men and women in the squadron, both deployed and permanent party, who make getting the job done easier.

"These young men and women are fine American patriots who stand ready and willing to complete any tasking the 7th AEW might receive," said the Chief. Courtesy of Pacific Air Forces News Service.