"Load Toads" square off in load crew competition

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jacob Jimenez
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, FLa. --  The 482nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron held their quarterly load crew competition here July 15.

The competition focuses on team building and training of loading skills of the 482nd AMXS weapons loaders.

"This competition helps instill leadership and pride in our Airmen and sharpen them in their area of responsibility," said Maj. Scott Briese, 482nd AMXS commander.

The load crews were evaluated in four areas to determine the winner: dress and personal appearance, tool kit inspection, a general knowledge test, and actual munitions loading to include speed and proficiency.

Ultimately, the winning load crews for each quarter will compete against each other at the end of the year for the title of Best Load Crew of the Year.

Each crew loaded their assigned F-16 with one AIM-9X Sidewinder missile and one GBU-54 bomb. The AIM-9X is a supersonic, air-to-air guided missile that employs a passive infrared target acquisition system. The GBU-54 bomb is a laser joint direct attack munition, low drag general purpose bomb and is guided by GPS.

The load crews are comprised of three Airmen, known affectionately as "load toads". Each member of the crews performed distinct tasks under the direction of their load team chief.

The competition concluded with the members of the winning team receiving a commander's coin and a certificate.

The members of the winning load crew are Master Sgt. Nelson Rodriguez, Senior Airman Christian Marrero-Santana and Senior Airman Antonio Ortega.

"Every quarter the weapons load competition builds confidence and proficiency for the competing load crews," said Briese. "This last competition, once again solidified another crew that will compete at the end of the year."