BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --
Since the Air Force’s
inception nearly 70 years ago, the image of aircraft overhead and the roar of
jet engines may have fostered feelings of patriotism and instilled an indelible
sense of security in many Americans.
Working behind the scenes
to ensure citizens have placed their faith in a steadfast force, Airmen
assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron here deliver the
firepower that commands the respect of nations across the globe.
“Our job is extremely important to the Air Force mission,” said
Airman 1st Class Vincent Martinez, 455 EMXS line delivery crew member. “Without
us, there are no bombs. Without us, there is no airpower.”
Hailing from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Martinez and his fellow
line delivery crewmates have conducted 741 real world munitions deliveries
valued at more than $75 million since their arrival in October.
“A lot of people are under the impression that bombs just
magically appear on an aircraft,” Martinez said. “They don’t realize there are
a lot of processes within the munitions career field, line delivery being the
final step, that have to take place before a bomb is loaded onto an aircraft.”
The men and women of line delivery adhere to strict Technical
Orders and regulations prior to, during, and following the transport of
munitions. When travelling with thousands of pounds of explosives, perfection
isn’t a goal, it’s an expectation.
“Expose the least amount of people to the least amount of
explosives for the least amount of time,” Martinez said. “This principle
governs everything we do. We can’t be sitting in the middle of a populous area
with trailers full of bombs. When we travel we use specific roads to get from
point A to point B; we call it the explosive route. If we get the job done as
quickly as possible and get the munitions to the safe zone, that’s the best we
can do for our fellow Airmen.”
At the moment a munitions delivery is ordered, a chain of events
is set in motion, events that must take place with the utmost precision and
finesse to ensure the safety and security of the thousands who live and work on
Bagram.
“When we get an order requiring a munitions delivery we have to
first locate those specific bombs in our munitions yard or at the Ammo Storage
Point,” Martinez said. “Once we’ve done this, we have to set up a crew book,
conduct a crew brief, and roll out to the site for pick up. We have to check
out the trailer in its entirety to make sure everything’s kosher, then we hook
up to it.”
“Once we’re ready to go, we call in on the radio to communicate
what we have and where we’re going with it,” Martinez continued. “Once we
receive the go-ahead, we start making our way to the flightline. After we
arrive, we contact the expediter who lets us know where we need to be and when
the load crew will arrive. The final step is accountability: We call in to let
everyone know where the munition is because we have to maintain positive
control at all times.”
Contrary to most stateside line delivery operations, there are no
dry runs or training scenarios. Mission success can be measured in the
continued suppression of terrorism, while mission failure can equate to
devastating loss. When dealing with the highest stakes, standards and the
caliber of personnel must be even higher.
“The intensity here is completely different than at Hill,”
Martinez said. “Back home, it’s more of a training environment. Here, if they
need a bomb, they absolutely need it as soon as possible. I derive my sense of
satisfaction from seeing the bombs go up onto the aircraft and watching it take
off at the end of the runway. When the planes come back empty it means we did
our job and I take a lot of pride in the role I play in ensuring our nation’s
security.”