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Bomb builders

By Airman 1st Clas Gino Reyes, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published March 26, 2010

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SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE -- The 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron conventional maintenance technicians provide a service that, if not done correctly, could end in an explosion - they build bombs.

These 4th EMS Airmen constantly hone their skills building training bombs to ensure when they must provide support in the area of responsibility they are fully prepared to deal with live ordnance. In the AOR, if they fail to complete their jobs correctly it hampers the abilities of pilots and weapons systems operators to provide close air support to those on the ground. At home station, they build and maintain guided munitions as well as provide training ordnance for F-15E Strike Eagle aircrews.

Before the Airmen can build a training munition, they must inspect and test each piece of equipment for serviceability. They then prepare and assemble the bomb unit and, once finished, it receives a final inspection to ensure proper assembly and is shipped t thoe unit for use.

Conventional maintenance technicians complete eight weeks of technical training and 15 months of on-the-job training to obtain their certification. During OJT they work in different positions ranging from munitions crew chiefs to stockpile managers where they deal with ordnance hands-on.
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