Senior Airman Eric Arrington and Senior Airman Keli Manglona go over a pre-load checklist on an AIM-9 air-to-air missile during a weapons load competition Jan. 7, 2011, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Weapons load competitions are conducted quarterly to keep Airmen sharp and recognize superior performers. Weapons load teams are evaluated for their use of the checklist, safety and overall speed. Both Airmen are assigned to the 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron as aircraft armament systems journeymen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth)
by Tech Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
1/11/2011 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) -- Airmen partake in weapons load competitions conducted quarterly to keep Airmen sharp and recognize superior performers here Jan. 7. Weapons load teams are evaluated for their use of the checklist, safety and overall speed.
1/12/2011 3:49:26 PM ET MSgt Brothers, Being a photographer for the USAF I can understand how you might perceive the photos of the winners not being on the web a dishonor to them. Although I was not there, most of these competitions are only covered by one photographer maybe two if that shop is lucky to have enough Airmen to spare. While the photographer SHOULD cover the entire event of all participants the photographer can get caught up in all the crazy, fast-paced commotion and get stuck in one bay with a crew. Before he/she knows it, the event is over and they didn't get a chance to get to the other team. From a quick glimpse of the photos it seems they are of the same three Airmen so I believe this is what happened. Again I was not there so I have no idea if this photographer had that issue. I might add we are not told the winner of the competition even at the event, and our higher ups want the stories posted to the web ASAP
SSgt McGuffin, Beale AFB
1/11/2011 8:56:24 PM ET Nice to see the load comp pics here on the web page but how can you not show the crew that won? Congrats to SSgt Eric Crawley, SrA Jolin Daigneault and A1C Phillip Hohner from Flanker AMU for winning the load comp by 201 points.
