Photo By Tech. Sgt. Nick Wilson | The 8th MXS won the first quarter load crew of the quarter competition for the third...... read more read more
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Three-man teams of Airmen from the 8th Maintenance Squadron, 80th and 35th Aircraft Maintenance Units battled it out during 2016’s first-quarter Load Crew of the Quarter competition April 8, 2016, to showcase teamwork, precision and attention to detail.
“Each person has a particular job in order to accomplish the overall task,” said Master Sgt. Jason R. Sinkar, 8th Maintenance Group weapons standardization superintendent. “Their attention to detail must be above reproach as far as items they inspect, what they’re looking at and what they’re portraying to their team leader because they’re evaluated during the competition.”
Additionally, these crews of technicians are evaluated once a month by the same individuals who judge the competition to ensure they remain proficient at their jobs.
“Together, each member of the crews have to be able to mesh each of their responsibilities,” Sinkar said. “The leader of the crew has to guide and facilitate the overall process.”
The rivalry between each of the crews gives maintainers an opportunity to showcase their efficiency, skills and levels of experience as maintenance professionals.
“Everyone takes pride within their unit, and a friendly rivalry sparks individuals to try to be better than everyone else, which raises everyone’s standards,” Sinkar said. “The 35th AMU against the 80th AMU historically has been the one here, but right now we include the 8th MXS in that as well.”
The 8th MXS has been included in the quarterly load competitions over the last year because they are in the same career field, and thus, certified to load munitions and augment both the 35th and 80th AMU’s when they are needed.
This quarter, the 8th MXS won the competition for the third consecutive quarter in a row. This is the first time in Wolf Pack history this has ever been achieved by an augmented load crew.
“We have that drive! We have that passion! We have the talent and mentality to not only get it done, but to go above and beyond to accomplish any given task,” said Senior Airman Matthew Dunar, 8th MXS weapons load team member and jammer driver. “Our team has done a good job at consistently coming together as a cohesive unit throughout the year.”
Dunar feels that his fellow load crew members have been able to go the extra mile and give 110% effort to any challenge placed in front of them because of the morale and support that the squadron provides. Putting challenges in front of the young specialists of today can help to mold them into future leaders.
“As the maintenance squadrons provide opportunities like this, it not only allows our technicians to showcase their talents, but it sets them up for weapons-loading challenges that may come their way in the years to come,” said Master Sgt. Anthony Higuera, 80th AMU weapons section chief. “It also allows load crews to see the legacy that was laid in the past by our prior weapons loaders. I definitely remember how the load competitions made me want to strive for that excellence when I was younger.”
Working under stress to overcome a challenge gives Airmen an opportunity to practice for when they might need to effectively load weapons that enable pilots to destroy their adversaries. In order to do this effectively maintainers are equipped with technical orders (T.O.), which are checklists that help them complete each task safely and reliably.
“If we miss one step in our T.O., then the weapon might not launch correctly or be reliable,” said Senior Airman Raymond Gates, 80th AMU weapons load team member. “My T.O. is like my bible. It’s what I live. It’s what I breathe. I can’t do my job without it.”
As load members use T.O.’s to get their munitions loaded, the team leads maintain a balancing act to keep an eye on everyone’s safety while simultaneously working to ensure each weapon is wired correctly.
“I need to make sure my guys are safe no matter what,” said Staff Sgt. Ernesto Sierra, 80th AMU weapons load team leader. “If they tell me something is wrong, or if something could possibly injure them, then we’ll have to take a time out. Everyone on the team has a family. I need to ensure they get back home the way they arrived after their tour in Korea.”
In spite of the job’s dangers, the quarterly load competitions allow men and women to demonstrate their abilities to their leadership. That way, there is no doubt in their minds that when the time comes, their specialists can deliver the business end of the mission to the enemy’s back door.
“I trust that we can rely on not only on our weapons crews, but Wolf Pack Airmen as a whole,” Sinkar said. “Everyone has an important job within the Air Force. While the pilots are the products of what everyone supports, load crews are responsible for putting the weapons on the aircraft to make them deadly.”
| Date Taken: | 04.08.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 04.12.2016 04:11 |
| Story ID: | 195097 |
| Location: | KR |
| Web Views: | 69 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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