Base Weapons Safety Program supports mishap-free combat capability

  • Published
  • By Bryan Ripple
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – On military installations like Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, explosives such as small arms ammunition, aircraft ordnance, flares and other such materials are a common part of the combat and force protection capability provided to commanders.

 

With that capability comes safety hazards that those handling such materials must be aware of in order to prevent damage to property, injury, or even death. William Curtis, Weapons Safety Manager at Wright-Patterson, works to keep these types of safety hazards to a minimum.

 

According to the program’s safety inspection record over the last eight years since he began duties as the base weapons safety program manager, he and his fellow weapons safety representatives from across the base have done just that. In fact, during this period there have been no mishaps or safety write-ups within the base weapons safety program.

 

As the weapons safety program manager, Curtis ensures all personnel and equipment on and off the installation are located at safe distances in the event of a potential explosion.

 

"There are things that a lot of people don't realize about explosives," Curtis said. "First, there's a blast overpressure that can cause damage to equipment or injury or death to personnel. Then, there are fragments.”

 

"If a blast should take place, debris and shrapnel would be flying around, so my job is to make sure people are safe from the blast pressure as well as the fragments because fragments can cause just as much damage as the actual blast," he said. "So, my ultimate responsibility is to expose the minimum amount of people to the minimum amount of explosives for a minimum amount of time."

 

During his military career, Curtis served as a munitions specialist, loading bombs on aircraft at Moody AFB, Georgia, and Shaw AFB South Carolina. His military service provided him an understanding of the operational side of the weapons safety program. During his time in uniform he worked in every facet of weapons safety, making it easier for him to convey what needs to be done because he has served in all different capacities, he said.

 

When visiting organizations that deal with explosive materials, he ensures the materials are stored in accordance with license requirements. If a unit needs to store more explosives than what are allowed on their license, the mission-related requirement must be justified by the organization and verified by Curtis as the program manager.

 

Although he’s only required to conduct 10 spot inspections per month, Curtis has already completed 425 this year.

 

While conducting spot-inspections, he also checks for proper explosive material housekeeping procedures such as how ammunition is stored, including the physical condition of storage facilities. In addition, he ensures proper safety briefings are conducted by personnel involved in any operation involving explosives, as well as ensures all notification procedures are followed when organizations must transport explosives.

 

Curtis is also an independent safety reviewer for all explosive testing done on the base. An example is the KC-46 testing of armor plating panels for the aircraft’s cockpit, conducted by the 96th Test Group in Area B. Different types of explosives were used in this testing to see what affects they would have on different types of armor.

 

“Weapons Safety people at some bases are thought of as quality assurance, or ‘black hats’,” said Curtis. “I don’t come off like that because we won’t get anything accomplished with that type of mentality. We get more accomplished working with our people to help them think the way we [Weapons Safety personnel] do.”

 

According to regulation, people that deal with explosives must receive recurring explosives safety training every 15 months. Curtis reviews all related lesson plans for organizations, and conducts explosives safety training and additional duty weapons safety manager training.

 

“The Weapons Safety Program isn’t about me,” said Curtis. “It’s definitely a team effort among all our organizations on base that maintain and work with explosives. If it wasn’t for the great work our people do out there, we would not be mishap free.”

 

For more information about the Wright-Patterson AFB Weapons Safety Program, contact Curtis at 937-904-3189.