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Armory supports defenders

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. David Miller
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar --  Protecting the people, property and resources of the U.S. Air Force cannot be done by standing at an entry control point, providing roving patrols or posting on the flightline without properly functioning firearms and equipment which are maintained and issued out by the Airmen assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron armory.

The armorer's mission is to arm defenders and provide them with equipment needed to fulfill the mission of the 379th ESFS.

Staff Sgt. David Davis is the sole Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Airman assigned to AUAB who works as the Armory NCO in charge and performs weapon repairs for U.S. firearms.

"Not only does the armory account for and inspect 379th ESFS weapons but we also account for weapons assigned to other units here," said Davis who is deployed from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., and hails from Little Rock, Ark.

With weapons assigned to units at AUAB and units transitioning from other locations in the Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility bringing equipment and weapons here, the accountability is of great importance.

"We conduct our inventories to account for every item assigned to the armory twice a day, said Senior Airman Tim Bailey, 379th ESFS armorer, deployed from Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and a Rydal, Ga., native. "We have to take accountability of all the equipment in the armory, such as weapons, ammunition and night vision goggles."

"We spend about three hours a day conducting inventory and ensuring the paperwork is complete and accurate," said Davis.

The inventory and accountability is to ensure the right piece of equipment is available to the Airmen that provide security to the base and its assets 24/7/365.

This equipment is issued to each shift by the armorers who ensure quick and efficient issue of items so the new shift can get to their assigned posts and relieve the previous shift. After that shift is relieved the armorers prepare for weapons and equipment turn-in.

"The Airmen assigned to the armory are defenders who applied to work in the section and were selected above their peers to perform those duties while they are at Al Udeid," said Master Sgt. Kenneth Broughman, 379th ESFS S-4 superintendent assigned to AUAB on a one-year tour and a Fithian, Ill., native.

Whether issuing equipment, maintaining accountability of ammunition, or repairing and inspecting weapons, those assigned to the 379th ESFS armory are providing the tools the defenders need to fulfill their mission of protecting people, property and resources.