Story by Lance Cpl. Heather Johnson 11.17.2011
III Marine Expeditionary Force / Marine Corps Installation Pacific
CAMP FOSTER, Japan - Every Marine is a rifleman. This is a fact all Marines know and live by while in combat, but where would they be if the weapons meant to protect them did not operate correctly?
Armorers with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, work hard to ensure every weapon is accounted for and working properly before they are put into Marines’ hands.
Photo by Lance Cpl. Heather Johnson
Cpl. Tony Lee, an armorer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, conducts a limited technical inspection on a .50-caliber Browning machine gun to ensure all parts of the weapon are accounted for. The squadron is a part of Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Since the armory on Camp Foster is consolidated, the Marines who work there ensure accountability of thousands of weapons. These weapons are used for training by Combat Logistics Battalion 3 and 4, with Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III MEF, Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1, 1st MAW, Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st MAW, MWSS-172, and base units on Camp Foster.
“A normal day for an armorer begins at two in the morning,” said Lance Cpl. Michael D. Brown, a small-arms repair technician with MWSS-172. “We come in and get accountability of every piece of gear that we are responsible for.”
Aside from accounting for all the gear, armorers have to inspect each weapon as well.
“During a deployment, Marines rely on their weapons to keep them safe from the enemy,” said Brown. “If they pull the trigger and no round [is fired], not only is their life in danger but so is the life of the Marine to their left and right.”
The armory plays a vital role in the Marine Corps and all of the operations conducted, according to Sgt. Todd Kovach, the armory non-commissioned officer-in-charge with MWSS-172.
“This job is one of the most important in the Marine Corps,” said Kovach. “We are the keepers of the sword. Without us, the Marines can’t fight in the battles that are going on today.”
Armorers benefit the Marine Corps by maintaining weapons and keeping them in peak condition, according to Lance Cpl. Robert Allen, an armorer with CLR-3.
Limited technical inspections conducted by armorers ensure weapons operate properly before they are issued to Marines for ranges or deployments.
“Without a fully functioning weapon, the range is pointless,” said Brown. “We also keep accountability for who has what weapons where and for how long. Sometimes we will support different machine gun shoots by providing expert advice in the disassembly, assembly and proper usage of the weapons.”
Brown and Kovach said they enjoy working at the armory and have a personal interest in weapons.
“I enjoy my job a lot,” said Kovach. “I am an amateur gun collector, and I do my own gunsmith work. I enjoy the feeling knowing that I am providing quality weapons to Marines.”
Brown feels his job is important and necessary for unit readiness.
“It keeps me motivated to do the best I can,” he added.