KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea – The intensity of Korea’s natural environment can gravely affect equipment, with the changing seasons and salty air accelerating corrosion and substantially limiting their service life. Thankfully, units like the 8th Maintenance Squadron (MXS) munitions support equipment maintenance are here to offer support in maintaining the Wolf Pack’s munitions trailers.
Munitions trailers play a critical part in the 8 FW’s mission and infrastructure. They offer essential transportation systems for munitions and related equipment to and from the flight line, supporting training events and real-world activities.
“These trailers are specifically designed for the munitions that we tow,” said Airman Dylan James Everman, 8th MXS MSEM support technician. “We maintain several types of trailers here; some with nuclear load bearing capabilities and others that use attachments that make it so they can carry different types of bombs or even more missiles, so they're pretty unique.”
Every week, MXS Airmen execute major inspections on the trailers, directly affecting when and how munitions are loaded onto aircraft.
The trailers are monitored and serviced on a strict schedule every 90, 180, 365 and 720 days. Each inspection is more in-depth than the last until the final 720 day inspection where the trailer is taken apart for its most intense servicing.
“When you do a 720-day inspection, it's a culmination of the 365, 180 and 90 all in one go,” said Everman. “Generally, it depends on which one you're doing how deep in the trailer you get to go.”
With such an intense maintenance schedule for Kunsan’s munitions arsenal, ensuring that every trailer is in fighting shape can be daunting. According to Staff Sgt. Kimberlyn Plata, 8th MXS MSEM crew chief, the MSEM Airmen are more than up to the task.
“I feel confident working with the Airmen in my shop. When I first got here, they were the ones who helped me learn the job,” Plata said. “It makes me feel happy and proud to know that the shop will not crumble if I am not there.”
As the “Warfitters of the Pack”, these maintainers ensure that the 8 FW is locked and loaded, ready to take the fight north if called upon.