301st weapons load competition makes Airmen combat-ready

  • Published
  • By Capt. Candice Allen
  • 301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas --  
Divided into four teams, 12 Airmen from the 301st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here competed in its annual weapons load competition Feb. 8.

Working side-by-side, active duty and Reserve Airmen towed, placed, and properly loaded four inert munitions onto each of the four F-16s in under 47 minutes. Three inspectors evaluated a crew on general knowledge test and munitions load.

At the core of this competition, the ability to load the aircraft quickly and reliably produces combat-ready Airmen.

"Everything we train is on a wartime scenario. If we are in the AOR [Area of Responsibility], we have to turn aircraft as quick as possible so the aircraft is ready for its next mission," said Chief Master Sgt. Tod Bell, 301st Aircraft Maintenance Unit superintendent and wing weapons load competition organizer.

"Many of our missions are in support of TICs (troops in contact). This means the pilots get a call that American or coalition forces are taking heavy enemy fire and need help. If our pilots roll in on a target and go to drop their bombs and the bombs do not come off or drop as a dud and we lose soldiers from a sister service because of it, then we failed at our job. I think this something that no weapons troop would want on their conscience."

The wing commander, Col. John Breazeale, was among 100 spectators that watched the timed event.

"There is nothing better than a competition to highlight the professionalism of our weapons load teams.  They are a critical part of the kill chain when we deploy," Breazeale said.  "As a commander, it's also great to see our Reserve and active component Airmen work side-by-side. This competition is another way we demonstrate our ability to execute our mission to train and deploy combat-ready Airmen."

Shortly after competition, the squadron declared Staff Sgt. Kaisha Gurtner, Senior Airman Lindsey Floyd and Staff Sgt. Luke Hatton weapons load champions for 2014.

These Airmen competed at the numbered Air Force level against the 482nd Fighter Wing and 419th Fighter Wing Feb. 18-19 in Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. 

"My crew is all reservists and we work 40-plus hour weeks in the civilian sector," said Staff Sgt. Kaisha Gurtner, a weapons load crew chief. "So, to come out two days a month and, not only love what we're doing, but to be successful is a huge accomplishment. I truly enjoy being a part of this unit, so to be named load crew of the year is really amazing."

This was Gurnter's first year as a load crew chief in this competition, and second year competing.

A load crew chief controls the aircraft during loading and unloading. The chief oversees everything his or her crew does, which includes munition preparation and aircraft preparation.

"I couldn't be successful without my crew," Gurtner said. "I hold my crew accountable to an exceptionally high standard and they expect the same from me. That in itself is why we have been successful and hopefully will continue to see success in the future."

This is the third year the 301st held a weapons load competition. Guidance on these competitions are outlined in Air Force Instruction 21-101, Aircraft and Equipment Maintenance Management. 

"The load comp is just one way of instilling pride and giving recognition to those guys that are busting their behinds to get the job done and take the fight to our enemies," Bell said.