14 | Traveller | October 3, 2013 | www.fortleetraveller.com
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‘Ghost’ job least-known, critical responsibility
T. Anthony Bell Senior Writer/Special Projects
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Photos by T. Anthony Bell
(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP, LEFT) Pfc. Austin Bouchard peers through the sight of an M-16 during routine maintenance. • Assigned to the 54th Quartermaster Company, he adjusts his glasses while cleaning weapon parts. • Bouchard examines a bolt carrier. • Taking inventory, Bouchard shows his replacement, Pfc. Tabitha Hall, the procedures.
n argument can be made that the job of the company armorer goes unnoticed until the unit has a scheduled firing range event or a weapon comes up missing. Pfc. Austin Bouchard has his own take on that idea. “The general perception is that we are ghosts,” said the 54th Quartermaster Company Soldier. “Nobody really knows us until they actually come back here and realize ‘Yeah, there’s an arms room in the building.’” Whether they are noticed or not, armorers shoulder a lot of responsibility. “My job is to maintain and clean weapons to ensure they are ready for the ranges,” he said. “I also have a monthly inventory with the commander and first sergeant for each item that I have in the arms rooms.” Additionally, Bouchard said he conducts a daily inventory upon opening and closing the facility, maintains weapons accessories and stores personal weapons according to Army regulations. In totality, he is a principal figure in the prevention of a lost weapon, which is an incident serious enough to shut down an installation. Bouchard explained SEE ARMORER PAGE 18