Photo By Staff Sgt. Kevin Dunkleberger | U.S. Airmen assigned to the 55th Expeditionary Fighter Generation Squadron and 79th...... read more read more
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The 378th Air Expeditionary Wing hosted the largest weapons load competition in U.S. Air Forces Central Command history with five squadrons competing for the top spot, July 20.
Weapons load competitions are a deep-seated Air Force tradition, based on demonstrating job expertise. They also include a healthy amount of squadron pride and bragging rights.
The event pits three-member load crews, oftentimes from multiple squadrons and/or airframes, against one another to test which team can load a specific configuration from strict technical data the fastest, with the least number of infractions.
While load competitions have become a base-wide event over the years, more so resembling a barbeque-like environment complete with music, squadron cheering sections and morale, there is a method to the madness.
“Loading competitions have largely remained the same over the 21 years that I have been in,” said Senior Master Sgt. Bryan Bradbury, 378th AEW weapons section chief and event organizer. “The munitions have advanced, but the framework of aircraft, munitions preparation, the upload and post-load inspection are the key phases that remain constant. As the first missile goes up, or the first lift truck motor fires, the crowds go wild! The sound of cheers going up and down the flightline as the crews race to the finish with precision and urgency will always stick with me.”
The root cause for hosting load competitions remains the same - to recognize the most proficient, reliable and fastest load crew that demonstrates technical prowess under time pressure and gazing eyes from the crowd. However, by opening the competition to the base, the event integrates career fields that may not get a chance to regularly see the weapons load crews at work.
There is something to be said for the unrestricted access load competitions provide. Airmen from back shops, to office spaces, get to see weapons crews in their element. The event helps connect all Airmen to the mission and warfighter mindset, as it is not every day someone can watch the crews directly responsible for enabling the lethality of U.S. aircraft load weapon systems with such precision, agility and speed.
In addition to opening the load competition to U.S. service members from the Air Force, Army and Marines, the 378th AEW also invited Royal Saudi Air Force service members to attend, with more than 50 RSAF members engaging in a verbal skills exchange, sharing tips from similar career fields and joining in the fun.
“My biggest take away was the magnitude of the competition, the amount of people there and how invested everyone was, including our host nation,” said Staff Sgt. Oscar Fernández, 55th Expeditionary Fighter Generation Squadron weapons load crew chief and competitor. “I was honored to be selected by my squadron, that definitely motivated me. We knew that we wanted to showcase our loading capabilities to the best of our ability, but when we found out the entire weapons community, the wing and RSAF service members were going to be there, it really gave us the extra juice to be at the top of our game and compete to bring the trophy home to our squadron!”
| Date Taken: | 07.20.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.26.2025 04:21 |
| Story ID: | 549380 |
| Location: | (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) |
| Web Views: | 39 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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