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MUNS assists with RIMPAC

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
The 36th Munitions Squadron's Conventional Maintenance Flight recently assisted in the world's largest international maritime exercise, July 8.

The 36th MUNS Conventional Maintenance Flight built four GBU-10 bombs to support a change in the flying schedule of the U.S. Navy administered, multi-nation and multi-service exercise in Hawaii call the Rim of the Pacific Exercise.

The 2,000-pound laser guided bomb build also provided the opportunity for training ammunitions personnel from Minot AFB, ND, and Langley AFB, Va.

"We always meet the deadline," said Tech. Sgt. Daniel Cain, 36th MUNS conventional maintenance. "The dedication and teamwork that happens out here is unmatched. This is the best team I've seen in a while. Andersen, Minot and Langley are truly integrated here at Conventional Maintenance."

The bomb build consists of a crew of people working together to put together all the components that make up a bomb. The process begins with ensure all components and tools necessary to complete the build are accounted for. Then they decide on what platform is best suited to build the bomb on, whether it is on the ground, a trailer or a munitions assembly conveyor. Once that is decided, they then open their technical orders for in-depth guidance on how to put the components together.

"Depending on the type of bomb and how many we are building, our processes will differ," said Staff Sgt. Richard Capuano, 36th MUNS conventional maintenance crew chief. "Sometimes we will build on dunnage, on the ground, other times we'll use a MAC, which is more of an assembly line type build."

The 36th MUNS stores, inspects, maintains and accounts for the largest munitions stockpile in the Pacific Air Forces ($1.2 billion) and assembles and delivers these munitions to deployed combat aircraft during wartime or contingency operations. They also maintain the largest conventional air-launched cruise missile stockpile in the Air Force as well as provide weapons release system support.

"Specifically our shop, conventional maintenance, provides assembly and delivery capability of all munitions types employed from Anderson," said Sergeant Richard Capuano, Conventional Maintenance crew chief. "We maintain assembly proficiency for more than 30 types of bombs, missiles and countermeasures. We also maintain munitions handling trailers and associated handling equipment."

Conventional maintenance personnel must complete the mission while keeping in mind the hazards of working with bombs presents.

"We have both explosive hazards and industrial hazards," said Sergeant Capuano. "While I personally have not seen an explosive mishap that resulted in injury to personnel, it can happen. However, I have seen plenty of industrial hazards. I've witnessed to people get their feet ran over by a forklift while spotting the movement of bombs."

Though the dangers are real, there are preventative measures in place to avoid such mishaps.

"There are countless regulations and Air Force Office of Safety and Health standards that outline safety for our job," said Sergeant Capuano. "Things like using a wrist strap, which will ground you, while using electric initiated devices."

"The most important safety measure we have is ourselves. Just using common sense and watching one another's back," he continued.