Ellsworth's participation concludes load competition

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Abigail Klein
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  With the timer running and a large assembly of 28th Maintenance Group members watching every move, Tech. Sgt. Edward Nettles, 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load team chief, cautiously and quickly helps his three team members load four AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles into a B-1 Lancer.

This timed exercise was part of the Eight Air Force Load Competition at the Load Crew Training Facility here Feb. 12, which pitted the 28th Bomb Wing against other bomb wings.

Inspectors from Eighth AF evaluated the 28 BW along with four other bomber bases including the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB, N.D., the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB, Texas, and the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo.

The competition is part of Giant Sword II, a weapons loading and security forces competition similar to competitions held previously by then-Strategic Air Command.

"This a friendly competition between the bomber bases to help promote esprit de corps," said Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Dunn, 28th Maintenance Squadron lead standardization team chief. "It also builds teamwork, and job satisfaction because when all is said and done, the winning team gets to go home with bragging rights."

In addition to a timed load of the missiles, the competition included an evaluation of dress and appearance, a 25-question written test, composite tool kit inspections, and a preflight inspection.

"These crews have been preparing for more than a month," said Senior Master Sgt. Daniel Moran, 28 AMXS Airframe and Powerplant General section NCO in charge. "This is the crew chief's bread and butter and they've worked hard preparing for it."

Staff Sgt. Bryan Auxier, 28 AMXS B-1 dedicated crew chief, also seemed confident with his part in the preflight inspection.

"It was intense, but I think we really impressed them and they acknowledged what a great job we did," Sergeant Auxier said. "We're the last base they've evaluated for the load competition so they've seen it all and know what they need to look for."

Chief Master Sgt. Donald McElroy, Eighth AF evaluator team chief from Barksdale, was responsible for evaluating, and directly expressed his impressions to members of the load competition crew.

"Chief McElroy complimented us after it was over and told us how impressed he was," said Senior Airman James Burnham, 28 AMXS load crew member and one of four members in the load competition.

Airman Burnham credited his crew's ability to work together as the reason for their success.

This competition marks the first ACC load competition since 1994. The competitions were previously used by SAC as a means to motivate crews and were referred to as Giant Sword II. The weapons loading portion of the competition involves several elements of weapons handling including storage, retrieval, transporting, loading and preflight tasks.

The Gulf War and the today's fight only lessened the interest in these historical competitions.

"This tradition has been set to the wayside due to us being at war and claiming that we don't have time for these activities," Sergeant Dunne said. "And after several years of not promoting this sort of competition and challenge I think that it has taken a toll on our morale."

Along with reinvigorating Giant Sword II, group team building and morale, the competition will challenge Airmen's knowledge, said Maj. Carolyn Forner, 28 AMXS commander. The Eight AF inspectors will require that Airman rise to a high standard of professionalism.

The results for each bomber base will be revealed during a symposium at Barksdale on March 4.