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Logistics Officer Association bombards 18th MUNS

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Daryl Perales, 18th Munitions Squadron lead controller, briefs members from the Logistics Officer Association on 18th MUNS operating procedures on Kadena Air Base, Japan, July 9, 2013. Composed of over 21 different logistic career fields, the Logistics Officer Association toured 18th MUNS and participated in a hands-on bomb build in order to gain a better understanding of the squadron and its roles and responsibilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Amber E. N. Jacobs/Released)

Logistics Officer Association bombards 18th MUNS

U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Virginia Nord, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron aviation support officer in charge, tightens a cap on a GBU-32 munition on Kadena Air Base, Japan, July 9, 2013. Members from the Logistics Officer Association toured the 18th Munitions Squadron and had an opportunity to build guided bombs for F-22 Raptor aircraft in an effort to gain a better understanding of the role and responsibilities of the squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Amber E. N. Jacobs/Released)

Logistics Officer Association bombards 18th MUNS

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Steven Lane, 733rd Air Mobility Squadron passenger service officer in charge, tightens a cap on a GBU-32 munition during a bomb-building demonstration on Kadena Air Base, Japan, July 9, 2013. Lane was one of four members from the Logistics Officer Association who toured the 18th Munitions Squadron in an effort to gain a better understanding of the squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Amber E. N. Jacobs/Released)

Logistics Officer Association bombards 18th MUNS

U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Daniel Stone, 18th Munitions Squadron materiel flight commander, assists 2nd Lt. Virginia Nord, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron aviation support officer in charge, with a fuse for a GBU-32 munition during a bomb-building demonstration on Kadena Air Base, Japan, July 9, 2013. In an effort for young logistics leaders to gain a better understanding of the 18th MUNS, members from the Logistics Officer Association had the opportunity to tour the squadron and built guided bombs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Amber E. N. Jacobs/Released)

Logistics Officer Association bombards 18th MUNS

Published July 15, 2013
By Senior Airman Amber E. N. Jacobs
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, JAPAN -- Traveling on a tour bus through a dense exotic jungle filled with colorful flowers and rare wildlife on a tropical island may seem like an ideal vacation activity, until you pass a blue hazard sign with a gas mask.

This was the reality for a group of young logistics officers during a tour of the 18th Munitions Squadron here July 9.

The group of officers consisted of lieutenants from the Shogun chapter of the Logistics Officer Association, which is a professional group for military and civilian logistics officers geared at enhancing mentorship and crosstalk between the different career fields within logistics.

As part of an effort to bridge the gap between the different logistics career fields, members of the LOA had the opportunity to travel to different sites throughout the 6,000-acre 18th MUNS bomb dump to gain a better understanding of the squadron and the workflow process.

"The tour was pretty much just an overview of our area," said 2nd Lt. Daniel Stone, 18th MUNS material flight commander. "It helps expose the young officers to what we do and the challenges that we face every day to get the mission completed. Hopefully it helped give them a better understanding of the timelines and how the flow process works, from ordering the munitions and from when we break them out from storage to when they actually get to the planes."

In addition to the tour the officers had a rare opportunity to add tail kits to GBU-32 bombs, also known as Joint Direct Attack Munition MK 83, or JDAM for short.

"We don't normally build bombs because we are an F-15C base," Stone explained. "These are specifically for the F-22. They are the only aircraft that we would support with these and it's a pretty rare occasion since they are only dropping a few bombs. So we're glad to be able to get in on this action."

As the lieutenants went through the steps to add tail kits to the GBU-32, some of the officers gained a new perspective on what goes on behind the scenes before the bombs are placed on aircraft.

"It's definitely given me a lot more personal appreciation for the guys that come out here and build bombs and all of the safety hazards that they have to go through to do their job," said 2nd Lt. Virginia Nord, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron aviation support officer in charge. "I don't think you can really be a broad officer without experiencing what other people do. If you have that personal connection where you've been out there and built a bomb with them it's a lot easier to pick-up the phone and call them."