Local Giant Sword II weapons loading competition

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Darcie Ibidapo
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 8th Air Force's Giant Sword II weapons loading competition begins with Dyess' local weapons loading competition here, Feb. 9. 

Giant Sword II is a competition designed to promote espirit de corps between the bomber wings, demonstrate nuclear expertise and reinvigorate the nuclear enterprise. 

The teams will be evaluated on their dress and appearance, a specialty knowledge test, composite tool kits inspection, pre-flight inspection, and weapons load. 

Load crew competitors are: Tech. Sgt. Thomas Perry, Staff Sergeants Teddy Miro and James Travis, and Senior Airman Brandon Morefield. 

"We are constantly practicing the load," said Sergeant Perry. "I want this load to be fast, smooth, and flawless. It has to be, we are going up against the best of all the bomber bases. We were selected to represent Dyess because we are the best of the best and now we need to show everyone else what we are capable of." 

Technical Sgt. Wesley Hilbrich and Senior Airman Trenton Rougeau are the crew chiefs selected to perform the pre-flight inspection aspect of the competition. 

"It's highly important to study general technical orders and Air Force instructions for pre-flight inspections," said Sergeant Hilbrich. "We have the chance to be the best within five bomber bases and we need to give it are all." 

Security Forces will also play a role in the competition. 

The Security Forces team will be composed of four Airmen. At least two members of the team must be first term Airmen. They will be evaluated on weapons firing, physical fitness, standardization and evaluation scores, and job knowledge. 

The Security Forces team will not be evaluated during the weapons load competition but will be evaluated by 8th AF on Feb. 16. 

Dyess will compete against other 8th AF units for Best Wing, Best Load Crew, Best Crew Chief Team and Best Security Forces Team. 

In addition to Giant Sword II, the wing will also be competing in 8th AF's Proud Shield II, a bombing and navigation completion. 

Proud Shield II is a competition designed to increase the understanding of long-range strike's role and impact in today's strategic environment, improve the collaborative capability and teamwork of all long-range strike assets, and promote a healthy competition and espirit de corps among the AF's long-range strike community. 

The competition will involve a scored weapons drop at the Utah Test and Training later this month. 

Each unit will be evaluated on its timing and target accuracy for Best Wing and Best Bomb. 

Winners from both competitions will be announced at the symposium on March 4 held at Barksdale Air Force Base, LA. 

The local weapons load competition will be held in the weapons load training facility at 11 a.m. on Feb. 9. The base is invited to attend and show their support for Team Dyess.