AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar --
The 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron armory at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar is the largest Air Force armory in U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility.
The facility maintains more than $5 Million in weapons and equipment including pistols, rifles, machine guns and approximately 100,000 rounds of ammunition.
Hundreds of these weapons are issued to security forces airmen every day.
“We provide the equipment needed to protect the base and accomplish its mission,” said Shannon Petersen, 379th ESFS Armory manager from Fridley, Minnesota. “I personally help each defender from arrival until the day they leave.”
Upon arrival, every 379th ESFS airman must zero fire his or her M-4 rifle. Petersen oversees that process and ensures each airman is fully qualified before assigning any airman a weapon. She’s also responsible for managing her armory team and inspecting every weapon assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing.
Every day, Petersen’s team conducts an inventory of all weapons, radios and associated equipment in the armory prior to issuing any weapons or equipment. Security forces armorers are also responsible to ensure they verify each airman’s qualification status before issuing any weapons.
“We inventory all equipment, clean weapons, set up the arming windows for weapons issue and we inspect the weapons airmen clean,” said Senior Airman Rebecca McCarthy, 379th ESFS armorer from Burleson, Texas.
“The weapons and equipment are all accountable items,” Petersen said. “If we are missing any equipment that would break down the trust we have. If the wrong personnel get a hold of any of our equipment; it could be detrimental.”
The security 379th ESFS defenders provide has enabled thousands of missions to be completed in the past year including nearly 19,000 sorties, the delivery of almost 8,000 tons of cargo to locations across U.S. Central Command and the off-loading of more than 650 million pounds of fuel.
Defenders at AUAB man entry control points, conduct vehicle searches, patrol restricted areas and respond to emergencies. All this security begins at the armory where defenders obtain their firepower.
McCarthy said she enjoys working in the armory because she has such a large impact on base operations.
“I’m proud knowing I’m supporting Operation Inherent Resolve and the local military community,” McCarthy said. “What our patrols do makes a difference.”