Combat arms keeps weapons ready to load

Tech. Sgt. Majid Gayles reassembles an M240 machine gun June 17, 2011, at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan. Sergeant Gayles has just done an initial inspection on the weapon ensuring that it is mission ready. Sergeant Gayles is the NCO in charge of combat arms, training and maintenance and is assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Willard E. Grande II)

Combat arms keeps weapons ready to load

Published June 18, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Emily F. Alley
451st AEW Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- In a small office with a table and walls of gray padlocked cabinets, Tech. Sgt. Majid Gayles works to keep the weapons assigned to the Airmen of Kandahar Airfield functioning.

As the combat arms noncommissioned officer in charge at the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing he inspects and repairs about ten different types of weapons ranging from huge 50 caliber machine guns to M9 pistols.

On June 17, Sergeant Gayles conducted a pre-issue inspection on 2 M240 Bravo machine guns. Since the weapons were new, it had to receive this inspection before it could be put in operational use. The inspection included a check of the weapons serviceability, safety, conditions that could cause failures. A complete disassembly checked for gauging, cleanliness, lubrication, proper assembly, authorized parts and accessories, and a complete function check of the weapon.

"This is a vital inspection, as this machine gun would likely be taken on a mission," he said.

Gayles pulled off the black metal pieces, some shiny with oil, and laid them neatly on the table.

He felt the rivets to ensure none of them were loose.

"If someone brings it in because it's broken, I don't just assess what's wrong. I'll inspect the whole thing," said Gayles.

He stopped to glance at his technical orders, the directions that detail every step of the inspections.

Each of the weapons he repairs have different specifications. Even though he's familiar with all of them, he keeps the TO ready to refer back to as he conducts the inspection.

He loaded weights on a hook for a trigger test.

As a safety feature, each weapon is designed to tolerate a certain amount of weight applied to the trigger before firing. After the M240 Bravo passed the trigger test, he squeezed the trigger to allow the bolt to go forward.

"It's ready for some action!" he announced after the bolt slammed forward.

While combat arms is responsible for supplying thousands of Airmen at KAF with ammunition, they also understand the importance of inspecting and maintaining the weapons that break for the groups specifically tasked to go into especially dangerous areas of Afghanistan.

"The role of combat arms, we're essential for performing outside-the-wire operations," said Gayles.

He recently repaired a. 50-caliber machine gun from one of the wing's armored trucks.

"It directly supports the troops, it goes outside the wire every day," Gayles said."Within a half an hour I had it back in operation."

Many of the problems he encounters, such as the broken 50 caliber, are simply due to the natural wear of a functioning weapon.

"It's a machine," said Gayles. "Through use it becomes worn, and broken. By the very nature of it, it needs to be adjusted and periodically repaired."

In most combat arms shops in the United States, a team would be working to manage the weapons and, classes, but at KAF only two noncommissioned officers work the program for the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing.

Master Sgt. Michael Kaiser manages the logistics of the shop, but will step in when Gayles is unavailable. They worked together to inspect about 150 weapons in the 451st AEW armory recently.

"If he's not here, I'll step in, turn screws," said Kaiser, who is trained to repair the same weapons as Gayles.

The two work together to make sure that the Airmen of Kandahar Airfield are safely armed.