Page 5 - Edwards AFB Desert Wings 2-12-16

February 12, 2016 Desert Wings 5
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MXG to host annual load crew competition

E\0DVWHU6JW'DQLHO,YH\ ance with Air Force regulations and kept in clean and service- ley, Senior Airman Kyla Hayes and Senior Airman Michael
412th Maintenance Group, Weapons Test NCOIC able condition. Meyer.

The ability to safely and rapidly load weapons on an aircraft During the competition each crew will load one AIM-9X &RPSHWLQJIRUWKHVW$LUFUDIW0DLQWHQDQFH8QLWRQWKH
is critical in combat situations. PLVVLOHD&$70PLVVLOHDQGD*%8RUJXLGHG F-35 will be crew DT-2 with Staff Sgt. Devon Carroll, Staff
bomb while evaluators scrutinize the crews on their perfor- Sgt. Ryan Mabbitt and Senior Airman Jessica Meehan.
7KHVSHFL¿FIXQFWLRQRIDZHDSRQVORDGFUHZLVWRORDGWKHLU mance. The load crew to commit the fewest discrepancies with
aircraft in the most expeditious and safest method possible no safety or reliability errors within, or under, the allotted time &RPSHWLQJIRUWKHWK$LUFUDIW0DLQWHQDQFH8QLWDQG
while ensuring the reliability of the munitions. will emerge victorious. the defending quarterly champions, will be Staff Sgt. Richard
Wadkins, Senior Airman Collin Mortensen and Airman 1st
To hone these skills, 412th Maintenance Group Weapons &RPSHWLQJIRUWKHWK$LUFUDIW0DLQWHQDQFH8QLWRQWKH Class Mackie Myers.
Standardization evaluators provide academic and practical F-22 will be crew R-1 consisting of Staff Sgt. James Boz-
hands-on training to each load crew on a monthly basis. Each The competition is 10 a.m., Feb. 19 at Hangar 1600. Every-
evaluator will ensure that load crews can consistently upload one is invited to watch these
weapons safely, reliably and within a set time standard. Typi- load crews face off in a Wild
FDOO\WKHPRVWSUR¿FLHQWORDGFUHZVZLOOSRVWWKHIDVWHVWORDG West “Loadeo.”
time while accumulating the fewest discrepancies and no Parking areas will be avail-
safety or reliability errors. able on the west and north-
west sides of Bldg. 1600. If
On Feb. 19, Col. Robert Lepper Jr., 412th MXG command- you have any questions, call
er, will host the Annual Load Crew of the Year Competition 661-277-6934.
for 2015. Come on out and observe
as we demonstrate how weap-
The best load crews on Edwards will compete to determine ons loaders sharpen the tip of
which crew will emerge as the “Best in Test.” This competi- the spear and ensure the com-
WLRQZLOOLQFOXGHWZR¿IWKJHQHUDWLRQ¿JKWHUVWKH)-RLQW bat readiness of our nation.
Strike Fighter and the F-22 Raptor, competing head-to-head
against the legacy generation F-16 Fighting Falcon. Air Force photograph by Ethan Wagner Members of the 416th Aircraft
Maintenance Unit Weapons
The competition will begin with a written examination Load crew prepare to mount
of each crew member’s general weapons loading knowl- a GBU-31 guided bomb onto
edge. This will measure how much academic knowledge in- D¿JKWHUGXULQJWKHTXDUWHUO\
dividual crew members have accumulated through their years, load competition in January,
or months, of training. which they won. The 412th
Maintenance Group will hold
Next, each crew will receive a dress and appearance inspec- its annual Load Crew of the
tion from AFI 36-2903. Year Competition for 2015
Feb. 19.
This is where the load crew demonstrates their level of
professionalism through their projection of the Air Force im-
age. After the uniform inspection, each composite tool kit
used by the load crews during competition will be inspected.
Though most CTKs are different, they must still be in compli-