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NAWMU-1 Ensures Ordnance Safety for Forces Abroad

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080913-08
Release Date: 9/13/2008 7:37:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Joshua J. Wahl, Fleet Public Affairs Center Detachment Sasebo, Japan

SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- Naval Airborne Weapons Maintenance Unit 1 (NAWMU-1) Sailors are receiving airborne combat service support and maintenance the entire month of September at Navy Munitions Command (NMC) East Asia Detachment, Sasebo.

NMC Sasebo's mission is to improve effectiveness and efficiency of fleet ordnance support worldwide, functioning as the brainchild behind ordnance management, preservation and storage location.

NAWMU-1, based in Hagatña, Guam, deployed a team of specially trained Sailors to Sasebo's NMC detachment, providing technologically superior systems maintenance for the U.S. Navy airborne weapons systems.

Throughout the assist, a key focus is operational safety, according to NAWMU-1 Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Roy Harrison.

"We use operational risk management techniques to assess and control risk as we perform our missions," said Harrison. "Safety is paramount in everything we do."

NAWMU-1 Detachment Leading Petty Officer, Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class (AW) Kevin Becca, believes his team's ability to deploy to different locations like Sasebo helps the Navy provide a better method of global security, stability and prosperity.

"We are the only command in the Navy like us that does our job," said Becca. "By being here and testing the weapons, we save the Navy time and money they would normally have to spend transferring the missiles to an inspection site."

The Guam-based detachment looks to be ahead of schedule for their Sasebo deployment thanks to the hard work of Sasebo's team of NMC and Japanese contractors who work side-by-side to ensure quality assurance.

"Working with the NMC command and Japanese contractors is proving to be 100 percent supportive of our mission and putting us far ahead of schedule," Becca said. "By far this has been the best and most helpful command we have worked with all over the world."

Field Operations Leading Petty Officer, Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class (AW) Michael Green noted that when the support and maintenance period wraps up, NMC and Sasebo ships will be well equipped to handle mission tasking.

"As technology advances we really need these upgrades to keep our deployable forces stocked with the most advanced weapons systems," said Green. "We expect nothing but the best here. Maintaining up-to-date supplies and our professionalism for our customers is shown time and time again with our commitment to excellence."

For more news from Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo visit www.navy.mil/local/cfas/