AMMO ( U . S . Air Force ) The Munitions Systems Specialist career field ( AFSC 2W0X1 , previously 461X0 ) , commonly referred to as AMMO , is the munitions branch of the U . S . Air Force . Career Field Description . AMMO is responsible for maintaining the US Air Force ' s entire munitions stockpile . Various duties include shipping and receiving , building , testing , operating , protecting , inspecting , storing and performing maintenance on all types of conventional munition systems . AMMO personnel also operate and maintain a wide variety of equipment and electronic gear , from pallet jacks to tractor - trailer combination vehicles , all - terrain 10 , 000 pound forklifts , all the way up to 50 , 000 pound forklifts , and from small arms ammunition for rifles and pistols to large - scale guided bombs , to include AGM - 65 guidance testing units and computer databases . Upon graduation from Air Force Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base , San Antonio , Texas , Airmen assigned to the field attend an 8 - week tech school at Sheppard Air Force Base , Texas . Upon graduation from tech school , the new AMMO apprentice is sent to their assigned duty station . Ammo Isolation and Culture . Due to safety concerns with the possibility of explosives accidentally cooking off and damaging a large portion of a base , the Munitions Storage Area ( or " Bomb Dump " as it is commonly called ) is usually isolated or barricaded from the rest of base . At some bases , such as RAF Welford in United Kingdom , the ride to work can take as long as fifty minutes . Isolation from the main base breeds a culture within the Munitions section where the troops go out of their way to take care of their own . The official motto of the Ammo career field as learned by Ammo troops on the first day of technical training is " If you ain ' t Ammo , you ain ' t shit " . Often seen abbreviated as I . Y . A . A . Y . A . S . Weapons troop added a corollary to this motto : " if you are Ammo , you are shit " . In recent months , however , directives to Ammo Chiefs from Air Force leadership have instructed that " AMMO Calls " will no longer be tolerated at official functions ( ALS / NCOA graduations , Awards Banquets , etc . ) , determining that to allow such rowdiness to occur in public will offend the delicate sensibilities of the remainder of the base populace . Most AMMO chiefs appear to disagree with this directive , but follow it begrudgingly because it is a directive from the powers that be . The Ammo career field has a very close family mentality . Ammo troops are expected to treat each other as brothers and sisters . They are expected to take care of each other and each other ' s families in times of need , especially true of the families of troops who are deployed . This also applies to former Ammo troops . Ammo troops are often known to be a rowdy but good - natured crowd with a reputation for drinking . As part of the family mentality and the reputation for drinking , Ammo troops are always expected to make sure other troops make it home safely no matter what hour the call should come , whether they personally provide a ride or arrange for a ride , all Ammo troops are generally held responsible for each other in this matter . Ammo Challenge coins . Ammo challenge coins come in many shapes and sizes . Normally they are a large metal coin with Ammo related graphics and phrases either printed or stamped on both sides Once a person becomes an AMMO troop they are considered an AMMO troop for life . It is expected of them to carry an Ammo coin ( Also referred to as an " Ammo challenge coin " ) on their person at all times , on duty and off duty , for the rest of their life . Should any Ammo troop be asked to present their Ammo coin ( Known as getting coin checked ) at any time by another Ammo troop and they fail to present it , it is expected that the Ammo troop who does not present their coin buys a beverage of choice ( normally beer ) for the Ammo troop ( s ) who coin checked them . However if the Ammo troop ( s ) being coin checked has their coin , the troop ( s ) who initiated the coin check is expected to buy the Ammo troop ( s ) that were checked a beverage of choice . In order to coin check an Ammo troop , the person who initiates the coin check must have an Ammo coin and strike it on an object , normally a table or a bar or even purposely throw it on the ground to initiate the coin check . However if a person inadvertently drops their Ammo coin and fails to catch it before it strikes a surface , they will be considered to be initiating a coin check , and any Ammo troop present will be expected to produce their Ammo coin to Challenge the inadvertent coin check , in which case the troop dropping their coin and any troop not able to present their coin , will be expected to buy the troops who successfully present their coin a beverage of choice . Coin checks can not be performed during duty time . Specific Jobs . Currently AMMO has at least nine distinct working areas within the AFSC . While under the current Air Force force structure Munitions personnel only are considered AMMO , the concept of AMMO was much more inclusive throughout the Viet Nam War era including all former 46XX0 career fields , normally under the Munitions Maintenance Squadron ( MMS ) heading . 461x0 Munitions Maintenance ( commonly called BB Stackers ) , 462x0 Weapons Maintenance ( commonly called Loaders or Load Toads ) , 463x0 Nuclear Weapons Specialist ( commonly called Nuke Pukes ) and 464x0 Explosive Ordnance Disposal all shared a common heritage and were consolidated under one organization . They worked together , lived in common dormitories , fought together and partied together until the 1980s when the divisive CMU concept was implemented and MMS personnel were farmed out to EMS ( Equipment Maintenance Squadron ) , AGS ( Aircraft Generation Squadron ) and even Supply Squadron . Now Munitions personnel were ignobly assigned with such diverse and unrelated occupations as Wheel & Tire Maintenance , Aerospace Ground Equipment , Corrosion Control , and Phase Docks often losing the commonality of experience and pride previously achieved under the MMS concept . Equipment Maintenance . ' TM ' or ' Maintenance ' ( previously called Trailer Maintenance ) , is the hub of all maintenance for the job - specific trailer equipment that is unique to AMMO . Maintenance and Inspections are performed on Munitions Material Handling Equipment ( MMHE ) such as the MHU - 141 , MHU - 110 , LALS , UALS , and the newer MHU - 226 trailers . This shop is also known as the Punishment shop . It is usually where all the " dirtbags " are sent after getting DUIs . Precision Guided Munitions . ' Missile Shop ' or ' PGM ' ( Precision Guided Munitions ) is responsible for the testing and maintenance of all conventional air - to - air and air - to - ground munitions used on aircraft . In some cases PGM will take responsibility for guided air - to - ground bombs as well . Line Delivery . ' Line - D ' drivers are dispatched by Munitions Control and are responsible for the safe and expedient handling and delivery of munitions from the bomb dump , or other storage locations , to aircraft . Drivers are held responsible for the accounting of their equipment and munitions movements via daily reconciliation , or " recon " , which is an accounting of all these movements that is verified three ways between the flightline , Munitions Control , the Line - D driver , with a zero percent discrepancy tolerance . Conventional Maintenance . ' Conventional ' is responsible for the construction , maintenance , and testing of all conventional air - to - ground munitions used on aircraft , ranging from chaff and flares to cannon ammunition and guided and unguided bombs . There is a joke among AMMO troops regarding guided vs . unguided bombs . " The Air Force is an equal opportunity employer . Being that we employ smart bombs , dumb bombs as well as retarded bombs . " Munitions Control . ' Control ' can be thought of as the nerve center of the bomb dump . Control tracks work crews , coordinates requirements , acts as a liaison for outside agencies , develops war plans , provides oversight for safety and security , and ensures the daily reconciliation of all munitions and related equipment against established inventories . A good control will always know where any assets are . Storage and Handling . ' Storage ' is responsible for storing and breaking out munitions required by Conventional Maintenance and Munitions Inspection , and is also responsible for the maintenance of the munitions storage facilities , usually called " igloos " , " magazines " , or revetments ( " revvies " ) . Storage is also used to transport munitions over public right - of - ways to transfer munitions between different storage or shipping and receiving locations . Storage troops operate the majority of the heavier equipment found in the bomb dump , including " 18 wheelers " , heavy - rated forklifts , and cranes . Munitions Inspection . All munitions items at various times need to be inspected for safety and compliance with technical instructions . Specially trained NCOs and Airmen known as Munitions Inspectors accomplish this sometimes tedious task . Inspectors attend Inspector School , which lasts approximately 3 weeks and is usually conducted at the AMMO Schoolhouse located at Sheppard AFB , Texas . However , due to cost restraints , the two major commands of PACAF and USAFE have developed their own schools , allowing the school house the ability to come to the students . Inspectors are required to be appointed in writing by the Munitions Flight Chief after an interview process and a few months of tedious on - the - job training . Munitions Accountability . ' AFK ' is responsible for the accountability and logistics for the entire munitions stockpile . They are the core of Ammo . Those who worked in this area used to be classified under the 645X0A Supply career field , In 1986 the career field changed to a maintenance career field 465X0 rather than the 461X0 Maintenance career field the rest of AMMO was under . Personnel attended technical school at Lowry AFB , Colorado and arrived at their first base to find themselves standing part - way between the Base Supply world and the world of AMMO . In the early days before automation all Air Force logistics accounts were designated by a three position prefix i . e . AFB ( Supplies ) , AFE ( Equipment ) , AFK ( Munitions ) . Thus this office became known as ' AFK ' . With the introduction of automation the ' A ' was dropped and the munitions account was identified as ' FK ' as used in the automated Standard Base Supply System ( SBSS ) but the old name ' AFK ' still remained . When 645X0A left the Supply career field and became its own career field 465X0 , the accountability for munitions needed to be separated from SBSS . The account code was changed to " FV " to reflect accountability under a new , AMMO - specific system : the Combat Ammunition System , or " CAS . " This new acronym never really caught on as a nickname the way AFK did and as the new 2W0X1 career field became homogenized , the shop became officially known as either " Accountability " or " Munitions Ops " , though it is still referred to as " AFK " by most Ammo troops . Other specialized shops . Some shops only exist at one base , or a limited number of bases , and other shops are often combined , depending on the mission of the given base . Examples of such shops are as follows : TARRP - " Tactical Airmunition Rapid Response Package . " 18 MUNS , Kadena AB , Japan , implements TARRP . This shop is responsible for keeping bombs and missiles loaded on aircraft pallets ready to be deployed at a moment ' s notice . The TARRP arsenal consists of munitions including , but not limited to , MK82s , MK84s , BLU109s , AGM - 65s , AIM - 9s , and AIM - 120s . STAMP - " Standard Air Munitions Package . " 649 MUNS , Hill AFB , Utah implements STAMP . Similar to TARRP with the exception that the bombs and missiles are not already loaded onto aircraft pallets . ISO Maintenance / Fabrication - 18 MUNS , Kadena AB , Japan , repairs ISOs and maintains PACAF ' s largest AMMO blocking and bracing lumber stockpile . Fabrication personnel , along with their Okinawan counterparts , repair ISOs and construct blocking and bracing for various ISO outloads . They also build wooden furniture for the " bomb - dump " and maintain 18 MUNS haunted house , known as " the haunted castle " . At other bases , Line - D and TM , Conventional and PGM , and even Control and AFK are combined into one shop , and other munitions organizations include nuclear weapons handling and storage . Shakey the Pig . Shakey the Pig is the mascot of the 36th Air Base Wing ' s Munitions Squadron . Just within the gate of the bomb dump of Andersen AFB , a pig poke contains a living , wild pig that has become the bomb dump ' s " official " pet . Shakey has a " pig house " in the shape of a munitions igloo , a small pond , and a porcine play pen . Shakey has gone through numerous " upgrades " - as one pig dies , another wild piglet is caught in the wilds of the bomb dump ' s jungle and adopted as the next " Shakey " . As late as December , 1994 , the 36th MUNS was on version " Shakey the 5th " , in November , 2006 , the bomb dump at Andersen AFB was on version " Shakey the 8th " , and as of November , 2009 , the 36th MUNS was on " Shakey the 12th " . Shakey was also known for his spuratic erections where he would display sounds of urgency when around female ammo troops . Shakey is considered a dear pet by the AMMO troops of the 36th MUNS , and visitors always stand in invitation to visit and feed him , despite the fact that Shakey is penned within a " Controlled Area " . Shakey is well cared for by his fellow AMMO troops , and given medical and dental care by the base vet as needed . His diet is now closely regulated and he is taken care of by AMMO troops . He also has a Papaya tree growing in his pen . Shakey appears to be the only living , sanctioned ( unit funds pay for food and health care ) mascot of any current unit in the U . S . Air Force . An article on Shakey in Airman Magazine , an official publication of the U . S . Air Force , can be read here : Duty Stations . Active Duty , Reserve , and Air National Guard AMMO personnel can be assigned any of a large number of military bases . Air Force bases that host non - combat aircraft or no aircraft such as Randolph AFB , TX and Vance AFB , OK have their Ammo mission accomplished by Air Force civil service personnel who are primarily made up of retired or prior service AMMO troops . Some past and present AMMO bases include :