KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Precision and accountability are the hallmarks of the munitions career field, but for the Airmen of the 377th Maintenance Squadron (MXS), a new organic process is turning expended shell casings into a significant investment for the base’s future.
Tech. Sgt. Justin Moyle, the Munitions Materiel Section Chief for the 377th MXS, constructed and implemented this new base process, a move projected to generate approximately $60,000 in annual returns for the 377th Air Base Wing Qualified Recycling Program (QRP).
The process manages the lifecycle of approximately 6 million small arms rounds issued annually at Kirtland. Once these rounds are expended by security forces and various mission partners, the Expended Small Arm Cartridge Casings (ESACCs) are returned to the munitions flight for a rigorous multi-step verification.
"Our Munitions Inspectors must inspect every single round to ensure they are free of any explosive materiel," Moyle said. "Once verified, they are sealed in containers until we reach a 2,500-pound threshold for turn-in."
What sets this new process apart is the strict adherence to demilitarization and legal standards. As the Air Force is not authorized to turn in serviceable ESACCs, the 377th MXS worked closely with wing leadership, base contracting, and the legal office to establish a partnership with a local recycling center.
During the turn-in, MUNS Airmen personally witness the physical destruction of the brass, ensuring it is rendered non-serviceable before receiving a formal Certificate of Destruction. Only after this verified destruction does the recycling center provide payment based on the weight of the scrap.
"This was a new base process organically constructed by the 377th MXS/MXMW," Moyle noted. "We conducted numerous meetings across the Wing to ensure every dollar was authorized and distributed appropriately through the QRP." Moyle specifically credited the 377th Contracting Squadron and the 377th Comptroller Squadron as instrumental partners in finalizing the process.
The Munitions Materiel Section, which consists of 20 Airmen across Inspection, Operations, and Storage elements, is responsible for the accountability of the Wing’s $17 million arsenal. Their mission supports 34 separate accounts, five Mission Design Series, and four Formal Training Units.
By reclaiming the value of expended munitions, the Airmen of the 377th MXS are ensuring that the high-tempo training at Kirtland AFB pays dividends back to the installation. The funds generated will not only support morale and environmental programs through the QRP but will also cover the operational costs of the disposal effort, making the entire initiative a zero-cost activity for the squadron.