Staff Sgt. Anthony Childers, a 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew leader, guides the loader toward the Joint Direct Attack Munition during the 46th Maintenance Group’s year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan 13. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a JDAM and AIM-9 and a small diameter bomb onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
Staff Sgt. Kenneth Merritt, a 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew leader, secures the AIM-9 missile before moving it to the jet Jan. 13 during the 46th Maintenance Group's year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a Joint Direct Attack Munition and AIM-9 and a small diameter bomb onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
It takes all three 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew members to position the small diameter bomb on the F-15 during the 46th Maintenance Group’s year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan 13. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a Joint Direct Attack Munition and AIM-9 and a SDB onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
Staff Sgt. Kenneth Merritt, a 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew leader, verifies the checklist for the Joint Direct Attack Munition during the 46th Maintenance Group’s year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan 13. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a JDAM and AIM-9 and a small diameter bomb onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
Staff Sgt. Anthony Childers, a 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew leader, secures the AIM-9 missile before moving it to the F-15 during the 46th Maintenance Group’s year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan 13. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a Joint Direct Attack Munition and AIM-9 and a small diameter bomb onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
Airman 1st Class Mark Blinn, of the 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, removes the straps from the AIM-9 Jan. 13 during the 46th Maintenance Group's year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a Joint Direct Attack Munition and AIM-9 and a small diameter bomb onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
Staff Sgt. Anthony Childers, a 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew leader, guides his loader carrying a small diameter bomb into position during the 46th Maintenance Group’s year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 13. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a Joint Direct Attack Munition and AIM-9 and a SDB onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
Airman 1st Class Mark Timpani, of the 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, prepares the F-15 for the AIM-9 missile Jan. 13 during the 46th Maintenance Group's year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a Joint Direct Attack Munition and AIM-9 and a small diameter bomb onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
Staff Sgt. Kenneth Merritt, a 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew leader, checks the placement of the AIM-9 while Airman 1st Class Christopher Rose keeps the weapon still Jan. 13 during the 46th Maintenance Group's year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a Joint Direct Attack Munition and AIM-9 and a small diameter bomb onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
Staff Sgt. Anthony Childers, a 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew leader, completes checks of his F-15 during the 46th Maintenance Group’s year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan 13. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a Joint Direct Attack Munition and AIM-9 and a small diameter bomb onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
Airman 1st Class Christopher Rose, of the 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, prepares the F-15 for the AIM-9 missile Jan. 13 during the 46th Maintenance Group's year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a Joint Direct Attack Munition and AIM-9 and a small diameter bomb onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
Airman 1st Class Christopher Rose, of the 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, prepares the F-15 for the small diameter bomb load Jan. 13 during the 46th Maintenance Group's year-end weapons load competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The best of the best from 46th AMXS met to load a Joint Direct Attack Munition and AIM-9 and a SDB onto an F-15. The winners will be announced at the 46th MXG annual awards banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
The Load Crew of the Year trophy awaits the winners of the 46th Maintenance Group's year-end weapons load competition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
1/17/2012 - EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The two best teams from the 46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron faced off Jan. 13 to see who'd take the title of load crew of the year for 2011.
Temperatures around 40 degrees and the unlucky "Friday the 13th" didn't seem to affect the confidence of the two crews led by Staff Sgt. Anthony Childers and Staff Sgt. Kenneth Merritt.
"We take loading very seriously so having quarterly and annual competitions is motivating," said Childers.
Merritt's crew has worked together for more than two years and load more than 200 bombs per year. He said his team made it to the final competition through consistency and pride in doing their jobs right.
The load competition usually requires a team of three Airmen to load a Joint Direct Attack Munition and an AIM-9 missile to their specific aircraft. This year the two teams competed using an F-15.
For this year's final competition, the crews also had to load a small diameter bomb - a weapon they haven't had a lot of practice with. Each competition is graded on time and accuracy of the load.
"It's truly inspiring to watch these professionals at the top of their game doing what they do best," said Col. Mike Contratto, 46th Test Wing vice commander.
The entire competition was completed in about a half an hour. In that time, the Airmen moved through their procedures quickly following specific steps from memory and training.
"I feel the poise and extensive knowledge of loading has given us the upper hand along with the will to win," said Childers, who's worked with his crew for a year and a half and average about 100 loads per year.
Childers' team finished first, but the winner will not be revealed until the annual awards banquet in March.
"This competition is well-suited to showcase just how you safely and effectively accomplish the mission of this wing day in and day out," Col. Colin Miller, the 46th Test Wing commander, told his Airmen.
