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Show MUNITIONS B Continued from Pogt 1 i player with the munitions moving through the base is the munitions support unit, a part of the 2721st Munitions Maintenance and Test Squadron. "Our tasked objective," according to Maj. Kenneth P. Knapp, chief of the unit and commander of the 2721st MMTS, "is to receive munitions here end prepare them for airlift." Both the munitions support unit and the affreight terminal receive and palletize the bombs and components and prepare them for shipment by Starlifter and C-cargo aircraft such as the Galaxy. The two organizations are currently mainwork schedule for Desert Storm. taining a Shipments are sent to various bases involved in the operation. C-1- 41 s ( Feb. 22, 1991 7 Hilltop Tunes ) . 5 24-ho- " Specialists arrive In support of this effort, the Military Airlift Command sent in a highly skilled team of airlift operations specialists, freight specialists, to augment the work force. Air Force Reservists have also been brought in to assist the regular contingent military and civilian personnel. Numerous other Hill organizations played key roles to accomplish the initial effort, which involved more than 200 people. The pace of the remainder of the operation is contingent upon available aircraft for movement, base officials said. With more than 88 vehicles involved in the initial project, Transportation Division provided extra vehicles and rapid maintenance. Of that total, 33 vehicles were loaned by various base units. These vehicles included buses, forklif ts, snow plows, trucks and trailers. Maintenance technicians were challenged to repair several vehicles on short notice to maintain the steady flow in the operation. Snow and cold Civil engineers removed snow from specific roads and work areas. When temperatures dipped to minus 30 degrees with wind chill on Jan. 21, the Base Emergency Engineering Force quickly erected three sites which tents at the build-uwere used by the crews as warm break areas. The equipment issue unit in the Technology and Industrial Support Directorate filled an emergency requisition for cold weather clothing for the workers. This equipment included ski masks, gloves, parkas 20-ma- n p and boots. The base Safety Office maintained personnel to ensure compliance with safety procedures and explosive storage limits. on-sit- e c U j An K" i r PhoU Munitions to go Members of an aerial port squadron at Hill AFB load a for the Middle East and Operation Desert Storm. Community support has come in many forms, including coffee, sandwiches and baked goods provided by spouses, neighbors and church groups. It is typical of the outpouring of assistance to everyone associated with Desert Storm, according to base officials. C-14- 1 Starlifter with pallets of bombs headed present for their brief ceremony before returning to work. "This tremendous munitions surge effort is but another example of the important role Hill AFB is playing in Operation Desert Storm," said Maj. Gen. Dale W. Thompson Jr., Ogden ALC commander. "It demonstrates outstanding teamwork and total dedibells Wedding cation of many people to ensuring we meet the needs in the of our troops. From the men and women directing The scheduled wedding of two airmen 2721st MMTS was moved up a day and from the and handling the various munitions to the support base chapel to the munitions storage area. The air- from many base organizations and the community, I am very proud of everyone's contributions and men, who were on duty throughout the operation, were scheduled to be married Jan. 19, but changed commitment to bringing the conflict to an early and could be successful conclusion." their plans so that friends and rs Headed for battle A C-- 5 Galaxy takes off from Hill AFB loaded with munitions for use in Operation Desert Storm. .'SM'WWiira' M U.S. Air Force Photo |