A little bit of elbow grease

Airmen perform maintenance in the armament shop on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., April 19, 2012. The shop of 53 Airmen is responsible for 4,400 pieces of equipment valued at over $500 million. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Nieves Camacho/Released)

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A little bit of elbow grease

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Joshua Walk (left) and Staff Sgt. Jeremy Coppock disassemble a M61-A1 20mm gatling gun during an inspection on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., April 19, 2012. During inspection, the weapon is checked for wear and tear, corrosion, and specific rounds fired. Walk, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft armament systems journeyman, hails from State College, Pa. Coppock, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft armament systems craftsman, is from Tuscon, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Nieves Camacho/Released)

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A little bit of elbow grease

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman William Tylor removes a swedge from a bomb release unit 47 bomb rack at the armament shop on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., April 19, 2012. The BRU-47 holds and dispenses bombs with a total ejection force of 22,000 pounds. Tylor, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft armament systems journeyman, is from Owings, Md. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Nieves Camacho/Released)

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A little bit of elbow grease

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jordan Paul hammers a punch to remove a pin on an AFT-dampener assembly at the armament shop on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., April 19, 2012. The AFT-dampener ensures that missiles will remain latched onto the launcher adapter unit 128. Paul, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft armament systems apprentice, is from Kelly, La. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Nieves Camacho/Released)

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A little bit of elbow grease

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Charlene Hogans connects a power cable from a tester into a launcher adapter unit 128 at the armament shop on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., April 19, 2012. The tester acts as a power source for the LAU-128 to ensure proper function. Hogans, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft armament systems apprentice, hails from Chicago. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Nieves Camacho/Released)

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A little bit of elbow grease

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman William Tylor unscrews a breech contact on a bomb release unit 47 at the armament shop on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., April 19, 2012. The breech contact provides electrical power to set off the impulse cart when deploying bombs. Tylor, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft armament systems journeyman, is from Owings, Md. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Nieves Camacho/Released)

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A little bit of elbow grease

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Katrina Bonenfant removes a shoulder screw on a launcher adapter unit 128 at the armament shop on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., April 19, 2012. The LAU-128 missile launcher attaches to the F-15E Strike Eagle and is capable of firing advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles 120 and 9. Bonenfant, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft armament systems journeyman, is a native of Orange, Mass. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Nieves Camacho/Released)

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A little bit of elbow grease

Published April 20, 2012
By Airman 1st Class John Nieves Camacho
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Airmen from the 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron armament flight are responsible for the maintenance and repair of all weapon systems on the F-15E Strike Eagles here on a daily basis.

The 53 Airmen assigned to the shop are responsible for 4,400 pieces of equipment, valued at more than $500 million. Items range from bombs to missiles, such as launcher adapter units 128, 106, and bomb release units 46 and 47.

These Airmen contributed to the Turkey Shoot's success by making sure the weapon systems were up to par enabling the 4th Fighter Wing's F-15E Strike Eagles to take out more than 1,000 targets.