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712th MUNS Airmen save time, money

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Colleen Wieman
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Aviano Air Base, Italy --  Airmen in the 712th Munitions Squadron, located at Camp Darby, are saving the Air Force time and money through several Air Force Smart Operations 21 initiatives.

The Airmen have come up with three innovative ideas that greatly lessen wear and tear on their unit's earth-covered buildings, speed up shipment processing, and eliminate excess waste while improving Italian-American relations in the area.

"We are completing renovations on our 40 earth-covered magazines," said Lt. Col. Carnell Cunningham, 712th MUNS commander. "These ECMs must have at least 24 inches of earth covering them or we lose 90 percent of the explosive storage capability for that ECM."

Colonel Cunningham explained that ECMs are buildings that are partially underground and covered with earth, resembling a hill. They are also called igloos or bunkers.

"To verify the depth [of the earth], the old method was to drive a piece of re-bar into the ground until you hit concrete or 24 inches, whichever came first," he said. "This practice would puncture the water membrane that helps keep the ECMs from leaking and reduce their life expectancy. We wanted to develop a non-destructive test to verify the depth."

The Airmen came up with a level marker plate to be installed on the top of the ECM and discussed their idea with U.S. Air Forces in Europe, which tested the idea at Camp Darby in October 2005.

"Part of the reason we were selected for the test was because we have wild boars routinely damaging our facilities," Colonel Cunningham said. "We are located inside of the San Rossore Natural Park and our ammunition storage area is home to approximately 700 wild boars that look for food in the ECM earth coverings."

Colonel Cunningham said the test was a success and the new procedures were published throughout USAFE.

Another successful AFSO 21 initiative that the munitions squadron implemented was the way it processes munitions shipments.

"Whenever we [prepare for a shipment], we have to plan for the number of containers that may be required," Colonel Cunningham said. "Some of our air-to-ground missiles can come in four different types of containers. The problem was the container type was never tracked, and we would always have to do a physical inspection of the munitions selected for shipment to make sure they would fit [when packed,]" he said.

"Our idea was to start tracking the container type in one of our automated systems. The idea was briefed at the USAFE munitions managers' conference and USAFE took the idea to the Air Force level. The idea has now been implemented Air Force-wide."

When munitions are shipped, they are packed with lumber for stability. Colonel Cunningham said the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office would not accept lumber used for blocking and bracing as recyclable material so, to get rid of the lumber, the squadron had to pay to dispose the lumber in local landfills. Realizing this was costly, Colonel Cunningham said the unit decided to donate the lumber to the Italian airborne unit stationed in Livorno.

"Our squadron has always had a close relationship with the Folgore Brigade," Colonel Cunningham said. "The brigade used the lumber to build simulated towns and villages on their training range at no cost. They also built a 'claustrophobia maze' in their compound. Under the floor of a building built with our wood, is a stone-walled maze the soldiers have to negotiate in pitch darkness."

Colonel Cunningham said that the 712th MUNS is continuing to come up with more money and time-saving techniques.

"We need to find better ways to do business and to protect our limited resources," he said. "We are saving manpower and valuable dollars and are continuing to build on an excellent relationship between the Folgore Brigade and the 712th MUNS."