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77th AMU wins load crew competition

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. John Gordinier
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
The 77th Aircraft Maintenance Unit won the quarterly load crew competition Oct. 19, beating the 55th and 79th AMUs here. The results were announced Oct. 26.

Each load crew begins the competition with 2,000 points, said Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey McLaughlin, 20th Maintenance Group loading standardization crew member. Each discrepancy results in a deduction of points. The competition is determined by totaling the AMU crew with the highest point total in the end as the winner, but in the event of a tie, the crew with the fastest load time wins.

The results were: 77th AMU in 1st place, 55th AMU in 2nd place and the 79th AMU in 3rd place.

Representing the 77th AMU were: Staff Sergeants Samuel McDonnell and Richard Hammett and Airman 1st Class Eric Solon. Each winner received a three-day pass and a plaque.

The three-man crews are selected to represent their AMU by a monthly load proficiency pass rate, quality assurance pass rate, duty performance as well as dress and appearance, said Master Sgt. Cleveland Harper, 77th AMU weapons flight chief.

"The weapons load crew competition program is designed to promote morale and to increase proficiency, knowledge, professionalism and integrity," Sgt. McLaughlin said.

"The competition also showcases our weapons loading capabilities as well as recognizes the best load crew in the wing for the period," Sgt. Harper said.

During the competition, each weapons loader is evaluated on his or her appearance, the time it takes to load the weapons onto the aircraft, how safely he or she loads the weapons, reliability and technical proficiency, Sgt. McLaughlin said.

A reliability error is a violation of technical order requirements that could reasonably lead to damage and/or premature failure of equipment, he said.

Technical proficiency errors are based on the load crews' adherence to the technical orders. These errors are normally committed by a crew member, but corrected by the load crew chief during the post-load inspection.

Also, each team's tool kit is inspected and each member is given a 20-question weapons-knowledge test.

The quarterly winners are eligible to compete in the weapons load crew of the year competition, which occurs approximately in February or March.