‘Ammo’ Flight ensures combat readiness

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dillian Bamman
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  From the rounds in a Beretta M-9 handgun held by base defenders to an HH-60G Pave Hawk's .50-caliber machine gun bullets, one flight holds the authority for storing Moody's powerful arsenal of ammunition.

The 23d Equipment Maintenance Squadron munitions (Ammo) Flight supports Moody's combat readiness by providing the storage, maintenance and accountability for all of its ammunition.

"Primarily when you think of Ammo, you think of the bomb builders," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brian Brannon, 23d EMS custody accounts supervisor. "That's a major part of our career field, but we take care of so much more. All the missiles, bullets, grenades, and even the [A-10C Thunderbolt II's] ejection seats have explosive components that need to be screened through us to ensure the safety of [Moody Airmen]."

Security forces members, combat arms training and maintenance instructors, explosive ordnance disposal battlefield Airmen, and HH-60 pilots are few of many Moody personnel that rely on Ammo Flight's munitions for training.

"The Ammo Flight provides munitions support to the 23d Wing, 93d Air Ground Operations Wing and 81st Fighter Squadron, so they can provide pilots and [Moody personnel] essential training," said Master Sgt. Daniel Cain, 23d EMS munitions accountable systems officer.

In order to deliver the munitions, Ammo Airmen perform a bomb build to inspect, assemble and pack the ordnance for use, which requires training to perform.
"We train within our sections to make sure we're equipping [Airmen] with the tools to safely do the mission," said Brannon. "Our training plan ensures everyone is qualified on their tasks, and we do munitions crew briefs for anyone around the munitions."

The danger that comes with handling explosives is always a concern for Ammo personnel, Brannon says, but safety precautions and training are implemented often to prevent harm.

"There's always an inherent danger being around explosive items, so we're very safety conscious," said Brannon. "We go by the cardinal principle, which is minimum exposure of our Airmen to the explosives. Even when we go out to accomplish a munitions operation, we're not taking an excess amount of people because an accident can be very serious. This is why our safety training is so critical."

Safety is key for Ammo's eight sections before interaction with explosives, and each require different cautionary procedures.

"Each section has their own [safety requirements] which molds Ammo together," said Cain. "Control, conventional maintenance, storage, inspection, accountability, it doesn't matter where you are [in Ammo], every Airman matters to the safety of one another."

For safety concerns, Moody's munitions storage area, called Ammo Country, rests outside of the main base's populace.

The seclusion of Ammo Country could cause Airmen to feel detached, but according to Brannon, this is strength for their flight's community.

"By being so far from [the rest of] the base, we became a close-knit community," said Brannon. "The fact that we are providing such a crucial part to the Air Force [together] gives us a sense of comradery down at Ammo Country."

Without munitions support, Moody's ability to provide warfighter capabilities and security to its community would be affected, which is what the Ammo Flight and its dedicated personnel provide.