14th AMU weapons shop loads the bang

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt Phillip Butterfield
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Editors Note: Fourth in a series of six about the 14th Aircraft Maintenance Unit

The maintainers of the 14th Aircraft Maintenance Unit have demonstrated with a fully-mission-capable rate of 90.9 percent that they are able to recover, repair and launch F-16 Fighting Falcons consistently. But what makes this aircraft a fighter is not that it's well maintained, but the fact that the aircraft carry munitions. 

Aircraft armament system technicians, also known as weapons troops, are the only Airmen authorized on the flightline to load munitions on the F-16. 

14th AMU weapons Airmen load a variety of munitions to include: training and non-training, high-speed anti-radiation missiles, air intercept missiles 9 and 120, bombs, rounds for the 20mm gun, and chaff and flare countermeasures. 

These munitions are loaded by a three-man team that consists of a supervisor, tool movement coordinator and a bomb-lift truck driver. The bomb-lift truck is a vehicle used to lift heavy munitions on to the stations. Lighter weapons are loaded by hand. 

The flightline weapons team is made-up of a one-man, a two-man and a three-man, said Staff Sgt. Antonio Hamilton, 14th AMU aircraft armament systems journeyman. 

"The one-man who is the supervisor of the team follows the checklists and ensures the job is done right," said Sergeant Hamilton. "Then, you have the two-man. The tool guy is responsible for making sure we have all the tools to complete the job, and he moves the tools from spot to spot. Finally, you have the three-man who drives the bomb-lift truck. He also inspects the munitions before we load them." 

Between flights, weapons technicians inspect the weapon systems and replenish any munitions that have been used during the course of the mission, said Sergeant Hamilton. 

Weapons technicians working for the 14th AMU, hone their skills in preparation for exercises and war. 

"When it comes to generating aircraft for an exercise, or to go to war, we are the best," said Master Sgt. Phillip Beverly, 14th AMU weapons section chief. "I have been to Iraq twice with this unit and have seen the men and women of the 14th AMU Weapons Flight shine. Our air-to-air capabilities ensure that no other military force is allowed to control the skies. We are the tip of the spear."