Weapons Load Crew of the Year 2016

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgts. Nicholas Williams (left), Matthew Runnels (middle), and Nicholas Kipp (right), 43rd Aircraft Maintenance load crew, carry a weighted training missile to a side weapons bay on an F-22 Raptor during the 2016 Weapons Load Crew of the Year competition at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 20, 2017. The trio were named the best weapons load crew of the year for 2016 during the Maintenance Professional of the Year awards ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Javier Cruz/Released)

Weapons Load Crew of the Year 2016

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgts. Nicholas Williams (right), Matthew Runnels (left), and Nicholas Kipp (middle), 43rd Aircraft Maintenance load crew, were announced the winners of the 2016 Weapons Load Crew of the Year competition held at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., on Jan. 20, 2017. The trio competed against four other teams of top weapons load crews from each quarter of 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Javier Cruz/Released)

Get Stung

Published March 21, 2017
By Tech. Sgt. Javier Cruz
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The results are in and three 43rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit Airmen have secured their spots in Tyndall history as simply the best of the best.

Four of the top Tyndall weapons load crew teams competed for the coveted title of Weapons Load Crew of the Year 2016 in January, some blood was shed. The competition began with uniform inspections and knowledge test, then one team at time entered the arena with an F-22 Raptor.

Load crews competed under a time restriction to accumulate points for safety, reliability violations, undetected foreign objects, and technical order or instruction errors.

Staff Sgt. Matthew Runnels, Staff Sgt. Nicholas Kipp and Staff Sgt. Nicholas Williams, 43rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit, are the Weapons Load Crew of 2016. The team received their title at the Maintenance Professional of the Year awards banquet in February.

“The thing that makes our team so successful is how we work together daily,” said Staff Sgt. Nicholas Kipp, 43rd AMU weapons load crew member. “We do this job together and you have to know each person’s strengths and weaknesses.”

The competition was so fierce that only 30 points out of a possible 3000 separated the top two teams.

“If you don’t understand your team, there’s no way it’ll work.” Kipp said.
A momentum crippling technical malfunction brought another team to a dead stop half way through their run. Undaunted by the blow the team rallied to recover and finished the run, a testament to the fierce competition and determination of the Airmen involved.

“Everybody has their own job on the load but we help each other,” said Staff Sgt. Matthew Runnels, 43rd AMU weapons load crew chief. “If someone finishes their part early, they jump in and help where needed.”

Newcomers to the competition quickly learned what it means to know your team. Runnels had this advice for any potential challengers.

“Know your job and know the other guys job,” Runnels said. “Just keep practicing.”

Weapons load crew competitions are held quarterly and only the winning team will secure a spot to compete in the 2017 arena.