Gear up

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. - Senior Airman Antwun Cotton, 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron individual protective equipment technician, performs an inspection on an M-50 gas mask at the IPE shop here July 6, 2011. Gas mask serviceability must be checked prior to being issued to deploying Airmen. Cotton hails from Greenville. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Gino Reyes)(Released)

Gear up

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. - Senior Airman Antwun Cotton, 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron individual protective equipment technician, performs an inspection on an M-50 gas mask while Airman 1st Class Juan Esteban, 4th LRS IPE apprentice, observes here July 6, 2011. Cotton's duties are to maintain and store all items needed for deploying Airmen. Cotton hails from Greenville and Esteban hails from Durham. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Gino Reyes)(Released)

Gear up

Published July 6, 2011
By Senior Airman Gino Reyes
4th FIGHTER WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE, N.C. -- Airmen from the 4th Fighter Wing called up to deploy need serviceable individual protective equipment (IPE) issued to them fast and the 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron IPE flight here ensures just that.

"Issuing these Airmen serviceable IPE is extremely important," said Senior Airman Robert Sullivan, 4th LRS IPE technician. "The consequence of failure may result in serious injury or death to Airmen."

The 4th LRS IPE flight is responsible for issuing all Seymour Johnson Airmen IPE and other essential gear for deployment, to include members from the 916th Air Refueling Wing and the 567th Red Horse Squadron.

"We are a behind-the-scenes operation that not a lot of people know what goes on, but we deal with every single Airman on this installation," Sullivan said.

Along with issuing the equipment, the IPE Airmen also maintain it. Every piece of equipment has scheduled maintenance performed to ensure constant serviceability. When equipment is no longer serviceable, it is disposed of properly and new equipment is ordered. With every new piece of equipment, inspections must occur immediately before being stored.

"This is the last stop for Airmen receiving equipment before they head overseas," said Airman 1st Class Juan Esteban, 4th LRS IPE apprentice. "Ensuring proper equipment issue is my contribution to the safety of deploying Airmen."