It's On! Maintainers prepare for Global Strike Challenge

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Load crew members from the 509th and 131st Aircraft Maintenance Squadrons began preparing for the 2014 Air Force Global Strike Command's Global Strike Challenge.

The competition will take place Oct. 8 and 9, when judges from AFGSC taking an in depth look at how well Whiteman maintainers load munitions.

"The load portion of the Global Strike Challenge is designed for load crew members to build morale and camaraderie between themselves and their opponents," said Staff Sgt. Jake Smith, 131st AMXS weapons load crew member. "It's different than something we do every day. It's something new to Airmen who haven't participated in the Global Strike Challenge or a weapons load competition, so it's a fun and exciting competition."

The Global Strike Challenge provides maintainers from across the command the opportunity to participate in innovative thinking, teamwork and esprit de corps that are central to the AFGSC's mission.

Weapons loaders from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana; Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota; F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming; Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana; Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota; and Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, will be competing in the Global Strike Challenge against Team Whiteman's maintainers.

Team Whiteman's load crew members are graded on their proficiency in several different functional areas including timeliness, reliability, safety, and order errors. A 25-question written test and a composite tool kit inspection is also part of the competition. Whiteman will have two four-man teams of from the 131st AMXS and 509th AMXS.

"The most important aspect of our loads will always be safety," Smith said. "You want to be as proficient at all times to make sure you can perform your job at the highest and safest levels possible."

Proficiency is the second most important aspect of loading munitions into aircraft, according to Staff Sgt. Jeremie Key, 131st AMXS weapons load crew member.

"You don't ever want to stop for even a split second to think about what you need to do next," Key said. "You automatically, in your head, need to know what your next step will be."

Each member of the team will have a specific job to accomplish for the load to be effective.

"My job is munitions preparation," Key said. "I take care of all the weapons. Sergeant Smith's job is to drive the lift truck, which drives the weapons into the bomb bay. The team chief and two-man have the responsibility of going over the checklist and will actually lock the weapon into the bomb rack."

At any given moment, each team member could have unique duties, which requires everyone to work interdependently to accomplish the mission, Key said.

"When we're all proficient together we get the job done safely," Key said.

The Global Strike Challenge offers a large-scale rivalry with approximately 450 competitors taking part in GSC competitions at various locations.

The challenge is a combination of historic bomb and missile competitions and incorporates three major events into one: the former Proud Shield bomber competition, the former Olympic Arena missile competition, and the former Giant Sword combat weapons loading competition.

In 2010, the 509th Bomb Wing won the Fairchild Trophy for "Best Bomb Wing." In 2012, the wing brought the Fairchild Trophy back home, after finishing in second place in 2011.

The competitive fire, determination and resolve to repeat as champions beats deeply in the hearts of every member of the team.

"I know we're going to win because we practice to win, and that's just how we do things here at Whiteman," Smith said. "It's going to be a lot of fun and I can't wait to compete."

(Editor's Note: This feature is part of Whiteman's coverage of Air Force Global Strike Command's 2014 Global Strike Challenge. For more on the challenge, visit the 2014 GSC page)