Page 7 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, December 2020

6 December 2020 news http://www.luke.af.mil Thunderbolt Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt 7
Thunderbolt
December 2020
http://www.luke.af.mil
www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
Reserve citizen Airmen hold first Your dream car deserves a dream rate

loAd cRew competition No payments for 90 days 1 Refinance Auto Loan

Need a new loan? Explore our Auto Loan Calculator and
get estimated rates and monthly payments on financing. RATES AS LOW AS

by Master Sgt. • Lower your interest rate
LoUiS VegA JR. %
• Lower your car payments
944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
• Terms up to 84 months 2.99 APR 2
Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 944th
Maintenance Group hosted their first ever Apply online. Visit cuwest.org/refi today.
load crew competition here Nov. 8. 90 Days No Payment
Two teams, one assigned to the F-16
Fighting Falcon and the other to the F-35
Lightning II, competed for 944th Load
Crew of the Year bragging rights during
the event.
“Since we have two different styles of
aircraft, we’re one of the few units that can
do an internal wing load competition,” said
Chief Master Sgt. Ralph Thompson, 944th
Maintenance Squadron weapons manager.
“Most other units only have one AMU (Air-
craft Maintenance Unit) they work out of.”
The F-35 team consisted of Staff Sgt.
Joseph Cius, 944th Aircraft Maintenance
Squadron load crew chief, Senior Airman
Jocelyn Zavala and Senior Airman James
Meeks, 944th AMXS armament systems
load crew members. This team competed 1 90 Days No Payment option will extend your loan by three (3) months, and finance charges will accrue on unpaid principal. This offer does not apply to refinancing existing Credit Union West loans. Federally Insured by NCUA
2 APR= Annual Percentage Rate. Actual APR based on borrower’s credit history, year of vehicle, and loan terms.
with their active-duty counterparts last
year, beating out eight of the best load Staff Sgt. Tyler Bolken
crews at Luke AFB, to become champions Staff Sgt. Joseph Cius (center), 944th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew chief, Senior Airman Jocelyn Zavala (left) and
and was the team to beat in this year’s Senior Airman James Meeks (right), 944th AMXS armament systems load crew members, work together Nov. 8 during the 944th
944th event. Load Crew competition here.

It’s Your Day.

We Have Your Back.

tech. Sgt. nestor Cruz Staff Sgt. Tyler Bolken
Senior Airman Alberto Hernandez, 944th AMXS armament systems load crew mem- 944th Maintenance Group load crew Reserve Citizen Airmen take a written test Nov.
ber, competes Nov. 8, during the 944th Load Crew competition here. 7 as part of the first ever 944th Load Crew competition here.

“It was my first year loading an F-35,” said light on the legacy side over here on the F-16 foreign objects or debris was in their box prior up faster is valuable. There also have to be no
Cius about winning last year’s base event. side,” said Logsdon. “I attribute the victory to to loading; and loading the munitions safely. mistakes. It does us no good if we get there
“It’s the drive, how serious people take it, Hernandez and Olea, we went with the motto, Both crews were selected to compete by faster if the munition doesn’t do what it is
and it is how well everyone performs that ‘slow is smooth, smooth is fast.’” their supervisors based on their evaluations intended to do.”
day. Communication is key.” Load crew competitions are designed to throughout the year, quality assurance sta- Col. Scott Briese, 944th MXG commander,
This year, Cius and his crew were defeated encourage friendly interaction among load tistics and overall work performance. praised Thompson for being instrumental in Special U.S. Military rateS 45 minutes north of anthem in camp Verde, aZ
by the F-16 team led by Tech. Sgt. Dylan crew members and enable them to display the “They train consistently and must conduct orchestrating the 944th event and shared his
Logsdon, 944th AMXS weapons load crew high skill level at which they operate. Teams monthly MPRLs (Minimum Proficiency vision for future events. In honor of the brave men and women who serve this country, Out of Africa 3 miles west of i-17 on Hwy 260
chief, along with Senior Airman Alberto compete by loading a number of weapons Reliability Loads) to retain their certifica- “Next year, we hope to incorporated the is proud to offer special military rates on general admission. The discout applies to
Hernandez and Senior Airman Jonathan onto their respective aircraft in the fastest tions,” said Thompson. “We have to make Fighter Wing’s geographically separated active U.S. active duty military, U.S. cadets, and veterans. Must show proper I.D. 928-567-2840
Olea, 944th AMXS armament systems load time and with the fewest errors. The two sure they’re proficient at every munition we units from Davis-Monthan (A-10 Thunder- at our admission gate (DD214 or State Veterans ID card), whether ticket is facebook/OutofAfricaPark • twitter/OutofAfricaPark
crew members. load crews were graded on a written exam of have on our munitions list. When we are in bolts) and Seymour Johnson Air Force Bases purchased at the park or online. Please note that no additional discounts apply.
“They’re a great crew as defending load 25 questions; their Composite Tool Kit — to combat down range we have to be quick and (F-15E Strike Eagles) into the annual 944th Family members of active and retired military can receive military discount with outofafricapark.com/birthday
comp champs, but it was nice to shine some make sure all tools were accounted for and no all the time we are saving to get that aircraft FW Weapons Load competition.” proper ID such as a DD Form 1172-1 or DD Form 1173.