7MUNS' goal: set standard for bomber units

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Carolyn Viss
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Just as the morning sun began to climb toward noon, six munitions specialists rolled through the gates of the "bomb dump" Oct. 4, their trucks loaded down with CBUs, GBUs, and MK-84s. 

They were ready to arm Dyess B-1s for simulated combat sorties for the Operational Readiness Inspection. 

"We're graded on our ability to deliver munitions to aircraft for regeneration," said Chief Master Sgt. Jesus Siordia, 7th Munitions Squadron superintendent. "Armament and munitions Airmen were breaking out, building up and delivering all the munitions required to simulate combat employment." 

With the ORI in full swing, over the weekend MUNS was doing everything to ensure the wing goals were met, and they showed Air Combat Command inspectors what "combat readiness" looked like. 

"We demonstrated our ability to mobilize forces in support of aviation unity type codes for six B-1s in an intense simulated combat scenario," Chief Siordia said. 

With the expectation set to do the job right, the first time, Capt. Shawn O'Kane, 7th MUNS maintenance operations officer, said the squadron was "en route to deliver the bang to the Bone." 

"Our flexible logistics capability is integral to the generation and regeneration of aircraft," he said. "Without the tremendous effort of the 7th MUNS Airmen, the wing simply couldn't demonstrate the B-1's lethal combat capability." 

Getting all the bombs intricately orchestrated between the storage buildup and delivery crews and the command and control function requires "extreme coordination," the chief said. His 21 years of pipeline ammo experience have given him the right perspective to motivate the team to do their absolute best. 

"You have to care about what you do if you're going to serve in the world's greatest Air Force," he said. "It took eight months of dedicated preparation, through all sorts of weather and weekend shifts, to get ready for the ORI." 

Their attitude and fortitude have kept them going through the exercises, and that same strength kept them going through the ORI, the captain said. "In the end, it's all about racks and bombs."