Ramstein receives largest munitions shipment in over 20 years

  • Published
  • By U.S. Staff Sgt. Devin Nothstine
  • 86th MUNS
Ramstein receives largest munitions shipment in over 20 years
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Staff Sgt. Devin Nothstine

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – The 86th Munitions Squadron received the largest shipment of intermodal or more commonly known as ISO containers Feb. 6-12.

Airmen downloaded and stored more than 200 containers in the 86th MUNS area to further strengthen and generate rapid outflow of munitions to support three combatant commands.

The 86th MUNS Airmen are charged with packaging these components which enable the ability to generate and quickly ship packages throughout Europe and Africa.

“We will ship the components out and [Airmen in the] area of responsibility will build them up,” said U.S Air Force Master Sgt. Dustin Fish, 86th MUNS systems flight chief.

Once a munitions request comes to Ramstein, we will ensure the MUNS Airmen on the receiving end gets all the tail kits and components necessary to fulfill their unit task codes, Fish added.

With such a large shipment of munitions, the Airmen worked around-the-clock to verify, download and store dozens of containers over the course a week. The unit divided into crews and worked multiple shifts in order to keep up with the increased pace of inbound components being delivered.

“One crew received the delivery while another crew downloaded the ISOs,” Fish said. “The third crew unloaded the ISOs and placed the components in the storage buildings and the last crew picked up the empty containers and stacked them.”

The scheduled shipments of munitions increased support for Ramstein’s posture to respond to any emerging theater operations resulting from an increased presence of Department of Defense’s European Deterrence Initiative.

The munitions crews accounted for all components serial numbers, and placed them within their respective containers in a specified storage building. Each building is built to safely store munitions components and bombs on each installation based on the Air Force Weapons Safety Division at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.

Research and planning is critical when receiving shipments. MUNS Airmen have to figure out the munition component compatibility, type of munition, and where it can be safely stored.

“Precise planning allows MUNS to streamline munitions movements in support of the 86th Airlift Wing’s primary mission of generating air mobility and air power projection,” Fish said.