Maintainers compete for load crew of year

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
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.