SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Airman 1st Class Nicole Nuemann (left) and Staff Sgt. Christopher Benton Jr. (center), 55th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, direct a missile into place, while Airman 1st Class Ryan Whitehead drives the bomb lift truck April 16, 2010. Wing weapons standardization held the first Weapons Load Crew of the Quarter competition for 2010. The 55th and 79th Aircraft Maintenance Units weapons load crews competed against each other in a race against time. Both load crews were tasked to load two air intercept missiles, or AIM - 120s, and two air-to-ground missiles, also known as AGM - 88s, within 45 minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Amber E. N. Jacobs)

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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -Senior Airman Dartagnan Powell, 79th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, secures a missile on to the F-16 April 16, 2010. Wing weapons standardization held the first Weapons Load Crew of the Quarter competition for 2010. The 55th and 79th Aircraft Maintenance Units weapons load crews competed against each other in a race against time. Both load crews were tasked to load two air intercept missiles, or AIM - 120s, and two air-to-ground missiles, also known as AGM - 88s, within 45 minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Amber E. N. Jacobs)

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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Airman 1st Class Hunter Haley, 79th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, drives a bomb lift truck carrying missiles April 16, 2010. Wing weapons standardization held the first Weapons Load Crew of the Quarter competition for 2010. The 55th and 79th Aircraft Maintenance Units weapons load crews competed against each other in a race against time. Both load crews were tasked to load two air intercept missiles, or AIM - 120s, and two air-to-ground missiles, also known as AGM - 88s, within 45 minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Amber E. N. Jacobs)

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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Staff Sgt. Christopher Benton Jr. (right) and Airman 1st Class Nicole Nuemann (center), 55th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, directs a missile into place while Airman 1st Class Ryan Whitehead drives the bomb lift truck April 16, 2010. Wing weapons standardization held the first Weapons Load Crew of the Quarter competition for 2010. The 55th and 79th Aircraft Maintenance Units weapons load crews competed against each other in a race against time. Both load crews were tasked to load two air intercept missiles, or AIM - 120s, and two air-to-ground missiles, also known as AGM - 88s, within 45 minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Amber E. N. Jacobs)

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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Airman 1st Class Nicole Nuemann (left) and Staff Sgt. Christopher Benton Jr., 55th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, secures a missile to the F-16 April 16, 2010. Wing weapons standardization held the first Weapons Load Crew of the Quarter competition for 2010. The 55th and 79th Aircraft Maintenance Units weapons load crews competed against each other in a race against time. Both load crews were tasked to load two air intercept missiles, or AIM - 120s, and two air-to-ground missiles, also known as AGM - 88s, within 45 minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Amber E. N. Jacobs)

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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Tech. Sgt. Samuel McDonnell (left), 20th Fighter Wing Maintenance Group, watches as Staff Sgt. James Seagle (center) and Airman 1st Class Hunter Haley, 79th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, load a missile into place April 16, 2010. Wing weapons standardization held the first Weapons Load Crew of the Quarter competition for 2010. The 55th and 79th Aircraft Maintenance Units weapons load crews competed against each other in a race against time. Both load crews were tasked to load two air intercept missiles, or AIM - 120s, and two air-to-ground missiles, also known as AGM - 88s, within 45 minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Amber E. N. Jacobs)

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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Staff Sgt. James Seagle, 79th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, secures a missile on to the F-16 April 16, 2010. Wing weapons standardization held the first Weapons Load Crew of the Quarter competition for 2010. The 55th and 79th Aircraft Maintenance Units weapons load crews competed against each other in a race against time. Both load crews were tasked to load two air intercept missiles, or AIM - 120s, and two air-to-ground missiles, also known as AGM - 88s, within 45 minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Amber E. N. Jacobs)

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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Airman 1st Class Hunter Haley, 79th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, fills out paperwork April 16, 2010. Wing weapons standardization held the first Weapons Load Crew of the Quarter competition for 2010. The 55th and 79th Aircraft Maintenance Units weapons load crews competed against each other in a race against time. Both load crews were tasked to load two air intercept missiles, or AIM - 120s, and two air-to-ground missiles, also known as AGM - 88s, within 45 minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Amber E. N. Jacobs)

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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Airman 1st Class Ryan Whitehead, 55th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, checks over missiles April 16, 2010. Wing weapons standardization held the first Weapons Load Crew of the Quarter competition for 2010. The 55th and 79th Aircraft Maintenance Units weapons load crews competed against each other in a race against time. Both load crews were tasked to load two air intercept missiles, or AIM - 120s, and two air-to-ground missiles, also known as AGM - 88s, within 45 minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Amber E. N. Jacobs)

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Weapons airmen compete in historical tradition

Published April 21, 2010
By Master Sgt. Jonathan A. Opfar
20th Maintenance Operations Squadron

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- On April 16, 2010, 20th Fighter Wing Weapons Standardization hosted the first Weapons Load Crew of the Quarter competition for the year here.

Weapons loading competitions have been a tradition in the Air Force since before the Korean War, when bomb loaders would test their skill and speed against one another. The loaders came up with the idea due to the small window of time allowed in between aircraft sorties, and also for bragging rights at the end of the day.

This particular competition involved a uniform inspection, a 20-question test based on the munitions the load crews are certified on, and an inspection of their 250-piece tool box, including all technical orders for the installation of designated munitions on an F-16CJ aircraft.

The crews had to load two air-intercept missiles (AIM-120s) and two air-to-ground missiles (AGM-88s) within 45 minutes, and had evaluators keeping both crews under close watch.

Competing for the 79th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Tigers was crew 79-6, Staff Sgt. James Seagle, Senior Airman Dartagnan Powell, and Airman 1st Class Hunter Haley. Their evaluators were Tech. Sgt. Samuel McDonnell, Staff Sgt. Jason Daley and Staff Sgt. David Burgos.

Competing for the 55th AMU Shooters was crew 55-12, Staff Sgt. Christopher Benton, Airman 1st Class Nicole Nuemann, and Airman 1st Class Ryan Whitehead. Their evaluators were Master Sgt. Jonathan Opfar, Tech. Sgt. Martin Sejda, and Staff Sgt. Matthew Linsenman.

Since they are deployed, performing real-world operations, the 77th AMU Gamblers did not compete in this competition.

Although both load crews performed exceptionally well, there had to be a winner.

This time the honor went to crew 79-6; Sergeant Seagle, Airman Powell and Airman Haley. They are now eligible to compete for the Load Crew of the Year and the chance to showcase the Tech. Sgt. Charles D. Lockwood Memorial trophy.

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