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455 EMXS AMMO prepares leaflets

  • Published
  • By Capt Toni Tones
  • 455 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan --  The 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron AMMO were recently called upon to perform a core task the unit rarely gets to do...prepare non-lethal dispensers in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. 

According to Maj. Dave Reiss, Combined Air and Space Operations Center Joint Psychological Operations Task Force, the CAOC received word that Regional Command South wanted to perform a leaflet drop. JPOTF, in coordination with CAOC Information Operations, provided the leaflets and transported them to Bagram for loading. 

"Our mission is two-fold-to gain more support for the Afghan National Government while letting the people know the coalition is here to support, and to rid out the Taliban by encouraging disloyalization to the group," said Major Reiss. "It's like having an olive leaf for friends in one hand, and an iron hammer in the other for the enemy." 

The four-person 455 EMXS AMMO team, led by Tech Sgt. Erick Chrostowski, was notified by the CAOC that their expertise was needed in preparing six dispensers to drop 185,000 leaflets in southern Afghanistan. 

"This is only the second time I've worked with leaflets," said Sergeant Chrostowski,
a 15-year AMMO veteran and crew chief. "They are a rare breed, but serve a good purpose." 

"Anything that explodes or is expended must come through us," said Capt. Jean-Jacques Futey, 455 EMXS operations officer. "These guys are the experts for all Air Force ammunition assets in the AOR." 

The dynamics of the battlefield soon dictated a shift in the mission parameters; a short-notice twist required immediate action and lateral production support from the Psychological Operations Task Force - Army Detachment. The unit pushed their capabilities and rapidly produced 40,000 leaflets to load the two additional dispensers tasked by the CAOC. 

Once all the leaflet bombs were assembled, they were transferred to maintainers of the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron for loading onto F-15Es for delivery. 

Afghan and Coalition forces are providing a protective umbrella in the air and on the ground ensuring the safety and security of innocent Afghan people.