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Show TIMES 5 HILLTOP TIMES 649 MUNS ... combat sustainment with a BOOM Hilltop Aug. 29, 2013 (Left to right) Airmen 1st Class BY CHIEF MASTER SGT. GARY W. MARSH 649th MUNS Michael Binkley, Shawn Reynolds and Thomas Domerese secure AGM-158 Joint Air-toSurface Standoff Missiles to three aircraft pallets during a Standard Air Munitions Package (STAMP) and Standard Tank, Rank, Adaptor and Pylon Package (STRAPP) exercise recently at Hill Air Force Base. A irmen from the 649th Munitions Squadron practiced and were evaluated on their ability to rapidly deploy Standard Air Munitions Packages (STAMP) and Standard Tank, Rack, Adaptor, and Pylon Package (STRAPP) at Hill Air Force Base. In all, 78 Airmen from the 649th MUNS were able to show and hone their skills in the two day exercise. STAMP and STRAPP are designed to enable tactical air units to operate from locations where prepositioned resources are not available or when re-supply lines are not established. "With a significant number of new personnel assigned to the squadron, we knew we had to provide this training in order to remain proficient on our core mission ... cornbat sustainment," said Capt. Patrick Hefferly, 649th MUNS operations officer. Within the 649th MUNS, the STAMP Section is responsible for Airman 1st Class Shawn Reynolds looks over the inspecting task ahead as the Airmen assess steps necessary. and maintaining a diverse munitions stockpile us to mate three aircraft palthat ranges from precision lets to ship this particular guided bombs to ammunition weapon system." packages designed to supAs aircraft pallets of muport the Air Force's Combat nitions are built, they are Search and Rescue mission. processed as air cargo for In addition to the munitions departure on simulated Air Mobility Command aircraft. stockpile, the STAMP Section is also responsible for "Going through a STAMP maintaining over $3 million exercise was a completely new experience for me bein mobility hardware such as aircraft pallets, nets and cause before today, I had tie down straps necessary never built an aircraft palto quickly respond to any let," said Staff Sgt. JohnaSTAMP or STRAPP tasking. than Gaynor, a Munitions "The objective of this exInspector with the 649th ercise is to teach Airmen to MUNS. quickly and correctly palletExercises such as these ize munitions, which is esdevelop and maintain the skills needed by Airmen to sential to us meeting aircraft takeoff times," said STAMP rapidly deploy munitions in Section Instructor and Crew response to the kinetic needs Chief Staff Sgt. Daniel Ledof the Air Force's combat erich. units. The last large scale Each STAMP exercise deployment of STAMP assets starts with a simulated taskfrom the 649th MUNS suping from the Air Force's ported both U.S. Air Force Global Ammunition Control and NATO units conducting point to ship munitions to combat missions over Libya a location within a specific as part of Operations Odystimeframe. Once airlift sey Dawn and Unified Protimes are established, Airtector. "This being my very men from the 649th develop first STAMP exercise, I felt and execute plans to meet load times for simulated airlost," said Airman 1st Class lift missions. Shawn Reynolds, a Munitions Staff Sgt. Alex Fosnaugh, Storage Crew Chief from 649th MUNS Shipping and the 649th MUNS, "but, the Receiving Section said, "It STAMP instructors took us was really great that we got through the process step-byto train with the AGM-158 step. I feel much more conJoint Air-to-Surface Standoff fident now that I understand Missile because it requires how to build aircraft pallets COUNTS From page 1 missions and airpower capabilities. Today's innovative Airmen contribute to five core Air Force missions: air and space superiority; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); rapid global mobility; global strike; and command and control. These combined missions provide Global Vigilance, Global Reach, and Global Power for America. Air Force senior leaders want to know what inspires Airmen to serve, CHIEF MASTER SGT. GARY MARSH U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Shawn Reynolds inspects a chain set prior to palletizing AGM-158 Joint Air-to Surface Standoff Missiles during the exercise. Staff Sgt. Joshua Best (center) instructs Airman 1st Class Therrin McCaffery on aircraft pallet configurations as Airmen 1st Class Thomas Domerese (second from right) and Shawn Reynolds secure a load. and how they fit into Global Vigilance, Global Reach, Global Power for America. These stories will be used to further inspire Airmen and to inform airpower advocates on the vital contributions Airmen make to the world's most respected air force. "Make no mistake — whether you're a pilot, maintainer, special operator, medical specialist, instructor, knowledge operator, or any other job in the Air Force, you're an absolutely critical member of our team," according to the Global Vigilance, Global Reach, Global Power for America document. In a recent speech at an Air Force Association conference, Welsh introduced the audience to Airman 1st Class Davell James, and explained how James is vital to nuclear deterrence. "He's a chef at a missile alert facility at F.E. Warren, Wyoming," the general said. "He spends 16 days a month in the missile fields, four days at a time. He starts work at five in the morning. He leaves work about eight at night after finishing cleaning up the kitchen after dinner for the missile crews and the security guys (who) always want an after dinner snack. He's a pretty amazing guy. He knows he's responsible for morale." If you talk with James, the general said, "... you feel good about yourself. You feel good about life. You feel great about our Air Force. "If our missile alert crews, and the teams that support them, can't operate in the missile fields, we can't do nuclear deterrence," he said. "Without Davell (James), they can't. Without them, we don't have nuclear deterrence. Said another way, no Davell (James), no Global Power. Davell (James) needs to understand that. We need to understand that." To learn more about Global Vigilance, Global Reach, Global Power for America visit http://www.af.mil/Airpower4America. |