Article Display

Shaw instructs on booming creation: Ammo gives Airmen chance to build bombs

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ashley L. Gardner
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Airmen of the 20th Fighter Wing staff don't normally touch bombs or missiles, but recently approximately 10 had the chance to do so; the 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron ammo team, instructed these Airmen on bomb building May 3 here.

During the demonstration, Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth Childre, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron ammo flight chief, talked to some of the wing staff agencies Airmen during their visit to take a look at what goes on in ammunitions or "ammo," as it is known.

The process included the construction of the Guided Bomb Unit-31, Version 3 and also the dummy version of the Air Intercept Missile, AIM-9M.

"The purpose for bringing Airmen from outside the career field to check out our job was to give them an insight on what we do when it comes to what we do to make the mission happen," said Childre. "We also want to get across to those on base that when it comes to building bombs and missiles, it takes more effort than just making the call from the flight line."

After working with ammo for most of the day, doing everything from building bombs to driving a forklift while loading a pallet of bombs on and off the trucks, it was even possible to see what the storage section does on a day-to-day basis. The Airmen of the wing staff agencies received a hands on experience of the job and a deeper understanding of what it intels.

"I had a really fun experience out with ammo," said Airman 1st Class Josh Wagner, 20th Comptroller Squadron financial manager. "I learned so much about their job."

The ammo team welcomes all Airmen and Soldiers who want to check out what they do.

For more information, call Childre at 803-895-0254.