Photo By Sgt. Raquel Barraza | An aviation ordnance system technician with Headquarters and Headquarters squadron...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – Marines train continuously to be combat ready for any mission. Aviation ordnance system technicians with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., make sure Marines have the equipment to do just that.
Station Ordnance Marines handle the job of issuing off all of the ordnance used throughout the air station.
“Station ordnance is important here because we supply all the ammunition for the adjacent units being Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 11 and 16,” said Staff Sgt. James Love, ammunition stock recording section staff noncommissioned officer in charge with H&HS station ordnance.
The logistic squadrons then supply the squadrons throughout the air station with the ammunition needed to conduct their training missions, added Love.
Not only do they provide every missile for the various aircraft, but all ammunition used by Marines on Miramar.
“We also supply ammunition to the rifle range, [the Provost Marshal’s Office], and [Explosive Ordnance Disposal],” said Love.
They also handle the storage of ordnance before it is issued to any squadron. These Marines help unload and sort ordnance that is delivered to MCAS Miramar.
“No man can go out there and unload ordnance by themselves,” said Love.
During unloading, Marines work in teams of four or more and always have a Marine who is a quality assurance safety officer or QASO.
“They supervise and make sure everything is being done safely,” said Cpl. Erik Schilling, a QASO with H&HS station ordnance. “I make sure everyone gets to go home at night.”
Another responsibility of storing the ordnance is making sure to keep an accurate inventory.
“Proper documentation takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work,” said Love. “A guided missile on an [F/A-18 Hornet] has to be tracked from the time it is stored here, to issue, to the time it is expended or shot off.”
These Marines constantly keep track of all bombs, missiles and rounds that are stored.
“We always use two-man integrity,” said Lance Cpl. Dustin Newell, aviation ordnance system technician with H&HS station ordnance. “If someone counts a hundred rounds there is always a second person who counts and makes sure that number is right.”
Although it may seem like a tedious job, some ordnance Marines say differently.
“I love my job because I get to deal with a lot of things that most people don’t know about or see on a daily basis or even if they did, wouldn’t know what they were,” said Schilling. “I love every bit of ordnance.”
| Date Taken: | 01.26.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.26.2015 16:11 |
| Story ID: | 152755 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | CHECOTAH, OKLAHOMA, US |
| Hometown: | SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 125 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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