FEBRUARY 20, 2019 – If it involves a “boom” it’s almost guaranteed that the 39th Maintenance Squadron Munitions Flight, also known as Ammo, was involved.
The munitions flight’s main responsibility includes handling, storing and transporting munitions; they not only stores munitions assigned to Incirlik, but also the munitions from aircraft that have layovers and require safe storage.
That doesn’t mean Ammo is a one trick pony though.
“It’s a little bit of everything,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Christopher Standard, 39th MXS NCO in charge of munitions support equipment maintenance. “It’s not one specific job every day. We store and maintain munitions for 18 custody accounts, including security forces, explosive ordnance disposal, combat arms training and maintenance and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.”
The material stored for security forces and EOD allows them to stay up-to-date on necessary training and ensures the material stays in proper condition and is carefully handled.
“We have a courteous storage agreement with Ammo that stores our explosive training aids,” said Staff. Sgt. Jonathan Forgham, 39th Security Force Squadron military working dog trainer. “The training aids validate and certify the MWDs.”
Without proper facilities to store this material, the dogs would not be able to train using explosive scents, losing their accuracy for detecting explosives.
Munitions not only helps ensure readiness for other units, but also for themselves by updating several of their own facilities.
“Right now we have 10 facility upgrade projects going on,” said Master Sgt. Anthony Faircloth, 39th MXS materiel and systems section chief. “Some of our upgrades are reengineering all of our igloos (munition storage units) to make sure that they have weather proofing and continue to keep up with 21st century standards.”
Ammo continues to restore readiness to ensure at a moment’s notice they can handle, store, transport and arm weapon systems.
“Keeping our facilities updated is important to help us maintain the mission,” said Faircloth. “Especially if we are ever tasked with accepting follow-on forces to bring the fight to any organization that wants to do us harm.”
Story by Senior Airman Kirby Turbak
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs