Load crews battle for top honors

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class C.J. Hatch
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz - --  The Airmen stand ready with the required gear and tools, waiting with anticipation for the signal to begin. 

Weapons load crews from the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit and the 308th AMU came head-to-head during one of the quarterly load crew competitions, held Jan. 10 in the 62nd AMU hanger. 

"Every quarter the leadership from the 62nd AMU weapons shop evaluates all 12 of their three-person weapons load crews," said Capt. Jamie Rempel, 62nd AMU officer in charge. "They consider each crew's performance in weapon's load training. They also consider a crew's attitude and enthusiasm; then one crew is selected who will best represent the excellence of the men and women of the 62nd AMU in the quarterly load crew competition. " 

Each load crew starts with 1,000 points at the beginning of the competition and gains or loses points according to performance. The first points are assessed during a test, before the competition. Each team member takes the 25-question test which is worth 150 points if all three team members receive 100 percent. The teams are then graded on their composite tool kit inspection; each discrepancy is a 25 point penalty. 

During loading, teams are graded in a strict manner; safety or reliability violations during the load, or going over the time standard, results in a loss of 125 points each. Additionally, 25 points are lost for technical order or checklist errors noted. 

Both teams started out strong moving with quick and fluid movements. They began to inspect their F-16s to prepare them to receive weapons. The 62nd team shouted to each other in what sounded like a code. The team worked around each other in a hurried pace to complete tasks. 

The moment the F-16 had been inspected and was ready the 62nd team, seeming to read each other's thoughts, moved to their AIM-9 missile. After a few short commands, the team had the 190 pound missile in arms. With a quick move to the F-16 and a swift lift, the 62nd team mounted the missile on the wing. 

After the missile was secured, the 62nd moved on to loading a Mk-82 500-pound bomb; the team had two to load. While one team member inspected the bombs for safety, another started the jammer, a special cart made to transport the bombs to the F-16. The jammer rolled up and the team chief, with hands that have done this many times, attached the bomb to the front end of the jammer. With hand signals, the two backed the jammer up and with extreme precision they got the MK-82 in the correct location. The jammer lifted the bomb into position as the others guided the bomb into its final resting place. When it was in the exact spot the bomb was secured. 

By this time the 308th crew, who started out keeping pace, had slowed and were still loading their AIM-9 missile to the wing. 

The 62nd team began the dance to load their last bomb onto the F-16. With the same procedure as before they inspected, lifted, positioned and secured the second bomb. As soon as the second was secure they parked the jammer and did a finale inspection of the F-16. 

"I think our team did well," said Staff Sgt. William Massey, 62nd AMU weapons load crew chief. "We have a young crew; we have an airman first class in his first competition, and he did well and stood up to the pressure." 

The room exploded into applause as the 62nd team finished their load and waited while the other team did their final inspection. 

"It was a good competition. I was nervous at first but after it started it wasn't too bad," said Airman 1st Class Marcus Irizarry, 62nd AMU load crew member. "My crew chief and the senior airman on my crew are both leaving so I wanted to do well in this competition for them." 

The load crew competition is held quarterly and the crews, like professional athletes, battle to earn the top honor of load crew of the year.