I Sustain This: April 2022 Nominees

PS Magazine’s I Sustain This campaign is designed to recognize civilian sustainers who exemplify the highest standards while maintaining equipment to meet combat readiness requirements and stay in the fight, even under the most arduous of circumstances.
 
This month, we had one civilian sustainer nominated for this program. That individual was Thomas M. Whiteman, a small-arms repairer at Pueblo Chemical Depot, Pueblo, CO.
     
Why does this person deserve recognition? I have been working with Mr. Whiteman for over four years now and he is an outstanding, hard-working individual. Throughout his career at the Pueblo Chemical Depot as the Small Arms Repairer (Armorer), Mr. Whiteman has performed field/sustainment-level maintenance and repair of small arms as well as made diagnosis to locate mechanical deficiencies and malfunctions in automatic pistols, shotguns, machine guns, grenade launcher, sniper rifles, and other small arms and accessories.

He has great knowledge and expertise while disassembling weapons, and a keen ability to examine for defects, mechanical misalignment and malfunctions. He's then able to modify small weapons by replacing obsolete parts and/or assemblies. Mr. Whiteman is very precise while using hand and machine tools, precision gauges, test instruments and alignment devices while making repairs, modifications, and adjustments, along with applying acids and/or other "bluing" or finishing agents.

Mr. Whiteman test fires and/or makes operational checks of repaired weapons to assure safety, accuracy and ease of operation. He observes all safety rules, regulations and procedures. Further, Mr. Whiteman assists range officers during weapons training and qualification of new personnel (i.e. security guards/police officers) and has been a key asset to keeping  six different weapon systems operational at all times here at the Pueblo Chemical Depot.