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Load crews train for deployment operations

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christopher Maldonado
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFNS) --  Imagine mission success laying on the shoulders of the individuals to your right and left. For one team of Airmen, the shortcomings of one can be catastrophic to the task at hand. 

These groups of professionals assigned to the 20th Maintenance Group, spanning three fighter squadrons, work in unison to ensure the job is completed efficiently. 

The group of Airmen, known in the maintenance world as a weapons load crew, are made up of three members: a team lead who orchestrates the work being completed on the aircraft, a second member who is tasked with assembling weapon racks and launchers and a third who prepares all the munitions for installation. 

Tasked with loading various munitions, to include AIM-9X sidewinder missiles and GBU-38s, the Airmen do not take loading and handling of munitions lightly. 

“The weapons load crew performs a critical role for the close air support mission, ensuring the pilots have the correct and functional munitions to provide the air cover ground forces need,” said Tech. Sgt. Stephen Foulk, 20th MXG loading standardization crew member. “When it comes to mobilizing aircraft in support of theater objectives, the role of the weapons crews for Shaw [AFB's] F-16 [Fighting Falcons] can be called upon at a moment's notice to forward deploy to various locations.”

These Airmen must undergo periodic training to remain skilled for both stateside and deployed operations.

“We train weapons personnel here at Shaw [AFB] to do all combat loading operations needed to go down range,” said Master Sgt. Crystal Fults, 20th MXG loading standardization crew chief. “All of our weapons personnel come here once a month to get their training and stay proficient in their craft.”

Fults added the initial certification consists of an eight-day training qualifying load crews on all certifiable items and munitions.

For Shaw AFB’s F-16CM Fighting Falcons, the loading of munitions must be completed flawlessly while following all technical orders. If the load crew falls short in their attention to detail in loading or unloading munitions, the consequences could range from loss of munition, to loss of life. 

“Our job is very by-the-book,” said Fults. “We need to train this way to ensure pilot and aircraft safety, following all technical data so we can apply them when we go downrange.”

This group of Airmen will continue to work to the best of their abilities to increase the unit’s mission readiness and success, while ensure the suppression of enemy air defenses mission is executed flawlessly.