Weapons load teams face off for top spot

by Andrea Jenkins
23d Wing Public Affairs

7/31/2014 - MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The 74th Aircraft Maintenance Unit rose to the occasion and buried their opponents during the 2nd quarter weapons load competition at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 25, 2014.

Two three-man weapons load crews from the 74th and 75th AMUs went head-to-head loading three different munitions onto two different A-10C Thunderbolt IIs.

"The quarterly competition is designed to increase morale, foster teamwork all while focusing on providing mission-ready aircraft in a safe and timely matter," said Chief Guillermo Castillo, 23d Wing weapons manager. "It's a way to get everyone out of their usual work environment, do something fun and give the proper recognition."

Each team had 45 minutes to load one 500-pound JDAM GBU-38, one AGM-65 maverick air-to-ground missile and one AIM-9 sidewinder air-to-air missile.

Munitions were pre-selected by members of the weapons standardization. Each crew was timed and evaluated by members of weapons standardization on their safety, reliability, time of load, and proficiency throughout the load.

"It's all about rhythm," said Airman 1st Class Billy Harvey, 74th AMU armament systems apprentice and member of the winning team. "(It's about) just remembering each step, keeping a good speed and not rushing because you might miss something."

In addition to the timed loading of the aircraft, crews took a 25-question job-knowledge test, were evaluated on their dress and appearance, and had their tool boxes inspected.

"The rules basically aren't any different than a normal monthly load evaluation," said Master Sgt. Adam Wright, 23d Maintenance Group load standardization crew chief and competition evaluator. "During the competition, the evaluators ensure each team is following procedures, checklists and technical orders."

During the competition, each crew began with 1500 points and lost points for infractions, determining the overall score.

"This maintenance tradition feeds the competitive nature within all of us, increases morale and esprit-de-corps within the weapons community," said Wright, competition evaluator. "It instills a competitive spirit amongst all of the 23d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crews and between the AMU's. Finally, it gives us a chance to showcase our load crew's skills to the rest of the base and local community who otherwise may not know what it is we do on a daily basis."

It looked as if the fate of the 74th was sealed when the 75th crew finished three-minutes before them but it came down to overall points.

"I wasn't too worried about time," said Harvey. 'It was nerve racking doing it in front of an audience. I just tried to stay focused. Munitions prep, rack prep and following the checklist were the most important things to me during the competition."

With every aspect of the crew's performance evaluated during the competition, the scores were close but it came down to the small details. The 74th AMU had a slower time, but had fewer toolbox and uniform discrepancies and fewer small technical errors.

"At the end of the day it is usually not the crew that loaded the fastest that wins," said Wright. "More often it is the crew that performed the load safely and reliably with a keen eye for attention to detail that becomes the victors."

A crew from each of Moody's two AMUs is selected to participate in the competition each quarter based on quarterly achievements but winning comes down to crew unity.

"It can take a long time for a load crew to become a well-oiled machine," said Wright. "Crew cohesiveness is built upon daily as they work together during normal flight-line operations and deployments. Being able to anticipate what the members of your crew are going to do before they do it is a huge benefit. Good communication amongst each other is also paramount. Both skills are vital to crew cohesiveness."

The 74th not only won bragging rights, but they received a plaque to commemorate their achievement and a chance at the Load Competition of the Year title.

"I'd say we're pretty darn good," said Harvey. "It was a rush ... it's all about the bigger picture and what we contribute to the mission."