Airmen with the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron cut a ribbon to officially open Camp Cunningham’s new armory facility at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 20, 2012. The new facility provides a more comfortable and secure armory for Bagram Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Raymond Geoffroy)
Members of 455th Air Expeditionary Wing's Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, and Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, work together to install the wing's new weapons armory August 8, 2012 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Knicknamed the "ARMAG," the new facility combined weapons from three temporary storage facilities into a more secure and climate-controlled building. (U.S. Air Force photo/TSgt Shawn McCowan)
Members of 455th Air Expeditionary Wing's Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, and Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, work together to install the wing's new weapons armory August 8, 2012 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Knicknamed the "ARMAG," the new facility combined weapons from three temporary storage facilities into a more secure and climate-controlled building. (U.S. Air Force photo/TSgt Shawn McCowan)
Airmen assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing form a line to pass weapons from temporary storage to a new armory in Camp Cunningham at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 19, 2012. About 50 Airmen volunteered to move as many as a 1, 000 M-9s and M-16s from an older armory to a new, better equipped and more secure armory which is climate-controlled. Weapons will be stored in the new hardened facility permanently. (U.S. Air Force photo/SSgt Jeff Nevison)
Airmen assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing form a line to pass weapons from temporary storage to a new armory in Camp Cunningham at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 19, 2012. About 50 Airmen volunteered to move as many as a 1, 000 M-9s and M-16s from an older armory to a new, better equipped and more secure armory which is climate-controlled. Weapons will be stored in the new hardened facility permanently. (U.S. Air Force photo/SSgt Jeff Nevison)
(Left to right) SSgt Kayla Williams, SrA Jonathan McGee and TSgt Matthew Kostos, armory technicians with the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, stand next to lockers loaded with M-16 assault rifles and M-9 pistols at Camp Cunningham’s new armory facility at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 20, 2012. The armory provides a one-stop centralized and secure location for weapons distribution to all 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Raymond Geoffroy)
Several M-16 assault rifles and M-9 pistols sit in a locker at Camp Cunningham’s new armory facility at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 20, 2012. The weapons were relocated from three different armories across Bagram to be consolidated in one centralized and secure storage facility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Raymond Geoffroy)
by TSgt Shawn McCowan
455th Air Expeditionary Wing
8/20/2012 - BAGRAM AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN -- Several units with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing have worked for more than a year toward having a bigger, better, and safer armory. Their efforts finally paid off with the opening of the new facility, knick-named "ARMEG."
The current members of the wing recently took the final step in the program's teamwork, when about 50 wing members lined up to pass every of the nearly 1,000 weapons from the three older and smaller armories into the brand new building.
Major Spencer Van Meter, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, was happy to see this year-long plan come to fruition for his team for several reasons.
"All U.S. Air Force arms will now be kept in one hardened and secure facility, and near the fligh line, which makes sense. The poor armory folks have been working out of three small "Conex" boxes in 105 degree heat without air conditioning. Now they can work in a secure, comfortable, state-of-the-art facility," said Van Meter.
Planning, execution, and movement of the weapons was a team effort shared by the wing's Expeditionary Mission Support Group, and Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, Expeditionary Civil Engineers, Expeditionary Security Forces and Communications. Once planning and equipment were accomplished, ECES poured the concrete pad and moved the armory into place.
TSgt Matthew Kostos, ELRS Armory NCOIC, said he was happy to see the move finally underway, for several reasons.
"We needed a place to consolidate weapons, and keep accountability for the weapons. This facility is very solid. Today's a great example of the work behind the scenes and seeing how we care," said Kostos.
Of course, it doesn't hurt to have air conditioning, said Kostos.
Kostos said this better facility provided a Better place for he and his staff to serve the warriors of BAF.
The day after the weapons were delivered into the new facility, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held.
