Charleston Airmen train Davis-Monthan loadmasters

Published May 4, 2007
By 2nd Lt. Kerry Fields
437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Charleston Air Force Base Airmen traveled to Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., in late April to train augmentees how to assist loadmasters to load C-17 Globemaster IIIs in an effort to further develop Air Force capabilities.

With C-17s flying around the world delivering cargo for warfighters, Airmen need to load and unload cargo properly, efficiently and quickly, and Charleston AFB loadmasters showed Davis-Monthan AFB Airmen how to be better prepared for future C-17 operations.

When loadmasters deploy they are often under stringent time restrictions and are given a specific ground time to load and off-load the aircraft. Furthermore, the method of unloading and loading the cargo varies. The equipment can be loaded via a wench, pulleys or driven on board the aircraft.

Augmentees from different Davis-Monthan AFB squadrons and career fields were selected for the training. The training allowed for a more realistic situation that mimics deployments to bases not familiar with C-17 operations.

In addition to training the Davis-Monthan AFB Airmen, Charleston AFB loadmasters gained experience as trainers. The off-site training developed skills for inexperienced loadmasters on how to handle loading cargo without the help of an experienced supervisor.

"It is great to be able to train other individuals so they can help out other loadmasters in the future," said Airman 1st Class Matthew Efird, a 14th Airlift Squadron loadmaster.

At Davis-Monthan AFB, loadmasters were tasked with loading various cargo onto a C-17. Not only is it important for augmentees to know how to load the aircraft, but also they need to know how to properly secure it. With less than 1 inch clearance between a 31,000-pound K-loader and a 28,000-pound fuel truck, there is little room for error.

"Safety is the overall goal of a loadmaster," said Airman 1st Class Peter Jensen, a 14th AS loadmaster. "In addition to our duties, we made sure the augmentees were trained properly to minimize future potential hazards."

Loadmasters are tasked with loading cargo ranging from pallets of produce to munitions, helicopters, tanks, people and high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles.

"We can load pretty much anything that will fit and isn't against regulations," said Airman Jensen. "This off-site training allows for more experience with different loads while learning how to tie cargo down on the fly."

"This is the first time I've been to off-site training. This allowed me to get experience unloading cargo so I'm more comfortable on down-range missions," said Airman 1st Class James Soto, a 14th AS loadmaster.