Weapons loaders train, train, train to ensure warheads on foreheads Published Feb. 25, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Tammie Moore 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- It is not uncommon for an Airman to tell you they have the most important or best job in the Air Force after all, everyone should feel that way. However, weapon loaders tout a motto they feel says it all -- "Without weapons, we are just another airline." This simple statement is said with a sense of pride that weapon loaders have in knowing their capability has a direct impact in Air Force operations around the globe. Yet this ability comes with a great deal of scrutiny; since the Airman providing it work with things that explode. When weapon loaders arrive at their first duty location or make a permanent change of station move, they are required to go through an initial load training class that lasts about seven days. "At technical school the Airmen receive an overview of the job," said Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Paturzo, 52nd Maintenance Group weapons standardization superintendent. "Here they go over the weapon loading steps repetitively until they are proficient." To ensure the weapon loaders are up to speed before they are released for duty, there are two teams with the sole task of providing them guidance and training. The loading standardization crew makes sure their Airmen are trained according to regulations and training instructions. The squadron lead crews are members of the aircraft maintenance units who provide overview and guidance while reporting directly to the LSC. Bases with more than one airframe will have LSC and SLC teams for each assigned aircraft model. Airmen are trained by the SLC and LSC as three person crews. Each Airman, commonly known as the number one man, number two man and number three man, is trained to fill a specific role; each with unique responsibilities that only they will perform. "We are all about training," Sergeant Paturzo said. "We train them, we make sure they stay trained and if we find them doing something wrong we will retrain them again. We do several unannounced evaluations of Airmen on the job. Any Airmen who is performing a safety violation will immediately be decertified either on that weapon or on all weapons." In addition to the initial training, all weapon loaders must be evaluated monthly to ensure sustained proficiency. They have to be able to perform timed loads in their chemical warfare gear. Additionally, they have to take classroom training course every 15 months. Weapon loaders don't have a break from the stringent training requirements even -- when they are downrange., because most times a SLC deploys with them. Weapon loaders are one of the most highly-certified career field in the Air Force, placing the Airmen constantly under a microscope, said Tech. Sgt. Kevin Soukup, 52nd MXG weapons standardization SLC chief. Even the LSC and SLC team members must be evaluated monthly. After their loads, load crew members sit down with their evaluators to talk about what went well and what can be done better. Safety is what drives the LSC and SLC members to remain vigilant, according to Master Sgt. William Burns, 52nd MXG weapons standardization LSC crew member. "We are not bad guys; we are out there to help," Sergeant Burns said. "We need for them to be safe because our job deals with explosives. If the munitions releases from the aircraft, then we have done our job. We are responsible for every munitions loaded on an aircraft -- offensive or defensive."