28th Munitions Squadron builds multi-capable Airmen with Pacific Air Forces’ partners

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Ericka A. Woolever
  • 28th Expeditionary Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ANDERSEN AIR BASE, Guam-- Eight U.S. Airmen from the 28th Munition Squadron assigned to Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, and two Airmen from Andersen Air Base’s 36th MUNS, recently participated in a bomb build during a Bomber Task Force deployment at Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 2. 

During the BTF deployment, Airmen demonstrated lethality and interoperability in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“Airmen from the 28th MUNS are getting real-world experience during this BTF deployment,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cody Williams, 28th MUNS production supervisor. “They are taking everything they learned at home station and putting it into play in a deployed environment.”

Six out of the ten Airmen from the 28th MUNS who participated in the bomb build do not normally build bombs. In fact, four of them are assigned armament back shop Airmen, an entirely different Air Force career field.

“Usually, the armament back shop troops maintain the weapon support equipment, but they recently participated in the first-ever Agile Combat Employment boot camp at Ellsworth,” said U.S. Air Force Major Robyn Szasz, 28th Maintenance Squadron director of operations. “These Airmen were taught how to build bombs, a skill completely outside their core Air Force specialty.”

The 28th MUNS also took the opportunity during the BTF deployment to also provide valuable training for the two Airmen assigned to the 36th MUNS.

The purpose of the bomb build was to develop multi-capable Airmen, so no matter where they are stationed or deployed, they are prepared for a world of increasing uncertainty, all while having the proper training to respond to any contingency.

“We are the clenched fist of the American people,” said Williams. “The most rewarding part of the job is to get our hands dirty and showcasing what we are capable of during the BTF deployment makes it worthwhile.”