LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
The munitions flight provides the things that go boom.
The flight can support any aircraft with missiles, bombs, small arms ammunition, and counter measures, including aircraft supporting Operation Noble Eagle.
"Our primary job is to give the ammo to the airplanes," said Chief Master Sgt. Edward Weisheit, munitions flight chief.
They support 37 base organizations, from the 1st Security Forces Squadron with small arms ammunitions, to Explosive Ordinance Disposal with explosives needed in emergencies to blow things up.
They also provide ammunition for deployments and temporary duty assignments.
"We play a very important part in getting the mission done," said Chief Weisheit. "If their (aircraft) do not carry ammo they're the most inefficient airliner in the world because they only carry one person."
What sets ammo apart from other career fields, is the camaraderie.
"Because of the items we work with and the hazards involved with them, you never see us over on the main side of base. We are stuck on the far side of base hidden from everyone else," said Chief Weisheit. "As you spend your career in a career field like that you truly build up camaraderie, because you're not part of the other side of the base."
Ammo is proud of what they do and they have that mentality at every base, according to Chief Weisheit.
"We take care of our own because we are out here," said Master Sgt. Jay Cooper Jr., non-commissioned officer in charge of precision guided munitions maintenance. "Everyone seems to pull together tighter and are willing to help each other out, especially when someone is in need."
To allow the minimal amount of explosive exposure, Langley recently built an administrative facility located outside of the munitions complex.
"Our cardinal rule in munitions is exposing the minimal amount of people, to the minimal amount of explosives, for the minimal amount of time," said Chief Weisheit.
Last quarter the munitions flight won the 1st Fighter Wing Team Excellence Award, for the part they played in the ORI. They have six gradable areas and received one outstanding and five excellent ratings.
They also won the 1st Fighter Wing Safety Award for 2007.
"We don't let accidents happen because we know the results of them," said Chief Weisheit.