7 Muns holds load crew competition

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –Chief Master Sgt. David Goldie, 7th Bomb Wing Command Chief, performs an open ranks inspection on the weapons load crew before the load crew competition begins here, March 5. The load crew competition is a timed weapons load based on safety and efficiency. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Brittney Prescott)

7 Muns holds load crew competition

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – Airman 1st Class Stephen Lebel , a weapons load crew member from the 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, helps his fellow Airmen direct the weapons into the aircraft weapons bay here, March 5. Airmen from the 7th AMXS are participating in a load crew competition that challenged them to load weapons into the aircraft safely and efficiently with the fastest time. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman First Class Brittney Prescott)

7 Muns holds load crew competition

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – Airman First Class Stephen Lebel, a weapons load crew member from the 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, verifies the proper installment of the weapon during a load crew competition here, March 5. A load crew competition not only challenges the load crews to have the fastest time, but also requires that they have a safe load with no safety write-ups. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Brittney Prescott)

7 MUNS hold load crew competition

Published March 5, 2010
By Airman 1st Class Robert Hicks
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 7th Munitions Squadron held a load crew competition here March 5.

There were two load crew teams, consisting of four Airmen on each team loading B-1B Bombers with dummy bombs, competing against one another for the load crew of the year.

The teams were tasked to load the weapons bay with a two-bomb preloaded weapons package within 30 minutes.
"We didn't go as fast I liked to," said Staff Sgt. Herman Basped, load crew member. "But everything went smooth and we worked together as a team to get the plane loaded."

During the competition the judges grade the crews on speed, safety, security and a uniform inspection performed by Chief Master Sgt. David Goldie, 7th Bomb Wing command chief. Following the inspection Col. James Milburn, 7th Maintenance Group commander, and Col. Kenneth Tatum, 7th Bomb Wing vice commander, shook the hands of the participants and wished them good luck.

"The competition went really well," said Master Sgt. Jon Hyde, loading standardization crew member. "It gives the Airmen a chance to show what they can do."

The load members go through monthly checks to make sure skills and training is up to date.

"It's very important that we practice every month," Sergeant Basped said. "We have to be trained and prepared to carry out the Air force mission."

"A lot of hard work goes into keeping these air craft's in the air," Sergeant Hyde said. "The Airmen deserve credit for the hard work that they do