Instructors teach Liberty Warriors new procedures

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Michael Hess
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Instructors from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, taught a dozen Liberty Wing Airmen handling procedures on the first small diameter munition to enter the Air Force inventory June 26 through 30 at the conventional maintenance building. The instructors trained the 48th Munitions Squadron maintenance crew members to familiarize them with the new weapon they will handle in their upcoming deployment.

Liberty warriors huddled around the munition releasing unit were the first to handle the weapon in an operational environment.

"This is the first time an Air Force fighter has carried the small diameter munition, and it's an honor to be on the first team to take it downrange," said Master Sgt. Perron, 48th MUNS conventional maintenance supervisor.

The instructors taught two groups of Liberty Warriors, including instructors from the 372nd Training Squadron Det. 16, who will teach 48th MUNS Airmen as the munitions become common place in the RAF Lakenheath inventory.

"The instructors will teach the Airmen who deploy. I will teach the Airmen after they leave," said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Levitt, 372nd TRS Det. 16 instructor.

The instruction will become common place in the weapon familiarization training that 48th MUNS Airmen attend annually.

The introduction of a new weapon isn't a small feat according to Sergeant Perron.
"This is the first time I have been part of a weapon introduction, and I've been in for 25 years," said Sergeant Perron, who has deployed six times since Operation Desert Storm.

"We are going down in history right now. These new guys hardly even realize it. No one will care that we were the first crew, but we will know what we did when we see the footage on CNN," said Sergeant Perron.

The instructors are part of the initial validation- verification process, which ensures the plans on paper match properly with the materials and tools.

"I am here to ensure the unit gets the training, tools and equipment to deploy," said Senior Master Sgt. Brian Peters, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Headquarters superintendent of conventional munitions.

Based on their training, munitions Airmen said it seems to be better than the previous weapon systems.

"This is a great weapon for us on the ground. It's the ease of it. It requires less manpower. It requires less maintenance. When you are on the fighting front that's important. You don't have as many people as your home station," said Tech. Sgt. Corey Hammond, 48th MUNS production supervisor whose deployment in September is his fourth.

Though the weapon gets rave reviews from training Airmen, the deployment will be the true test for these Airmen and their new equipment.

"I am looking forward to taking this to the desert," said Airman 1st Class Richard Capuano, 48th MUNS conventional maintenance crew member. "I feel fortunate for this opportunity. I feel like a true pioneer," said Sergeant Hammond.