23rd AMU claims best weapon loader title

Published Sept. 14, 2007
By Staff Sgt. Tammie Moore
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The weapon load from the three aircraft maintenance units at Spangdahlem went head-to-head in competition fighting for the opportunity to be named the best team on base Sept. 11.

After preparing and loading an A1M 9 missile, an MK-82 low drag general purpose bomb and a CBU-87 cluster bomb in 35 minutes and 23 seconds with the fewest discrepancies, the 23rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit Fighting Hawks walked away as the victors in a narrow win.

This quarterly competition is designed to boost morale in the weapons community, said Chief Master Sgt. Maurice Harris, 52nd Maintenance Group wing weapons manager. By coming out here and doing this, weapon loaders are projecting air power.

The Airmen who competed were selected based on their outstanding performance during the quarter, Chief Harris said.

The weapon load crew teams included:
22nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit:
Staff Sgt. Anthony Toliver
Airman 1st Class Jonathan Gaffney
Airman 1st Class Tavette Tanner

23rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit:
Staff Sgt. Famous Williams
Senior Airman Richard Bates
Senior Airman Damon Clark

81st Aircraft Maintenance Unit:
Staff Sgt. Adam Wright
Senior Airman Ashley Hunter
Senior Airman Freddie Morales

"You get to know your job better because of these competitions," Sergeant Williams said. "This is important for morale; a competition to press everyone to do their best. You come here to win. The load went fine. My crew members were well prepared.

The competition does more than increase morale it focuses, the Airmen on doing their job to the best of their abilities.

"We are proficient enough to let the pilots go up in the air and do what they do," Airman Clark said. "Once they come down, it is guaranteed that we can provide them with enough ammunitions in a short amount of time so they can go back up again and complete their mission."

Sergeant Williams said, "This is our main mission, if we do our job right the pilot can do their job right."

This job competency is what weapons loaders take pride in.

"This competition is important because without weapons we are just another airline," Chief Harris said.