95th AMU earn first place in quarterly competition

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Vesta Anderson
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Each quarter at Hanger 4 here, top performers from the 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 43rd AMU and 95th AMU gather for their turn in the weapons load and jammer competition. 

"Each weapons-load crew consists of three members who were selected from each AMU's leadership," explained Staff Sgt. Anthony Smith, 325th Maintenance Group standardization lead crew member responsible to set up and run the competition. "The crew has to have been working together for at least 90 days, and they're selected based on their job proficiency level." 

Staff Sgt. Larry Pyne, Senior Airman Louie Duffee and Airman 1st Class Mike Dodson represented 2nd AMU. 

Staff Sgt. Jeff Taggart, Senior Airman Drew Carpenter and Airman 1st Class Daniel Dubisky represented 95th AMU. 

Staff Sgt. Stewart Baxter, Airmen 1st Class Joel Bass and Charles Fairchild represented 43rd AMU. 

Starting out with 3,000 points available, each crew is graded in three different areas, beginning with a dress and appearance inspection. 

From there, the competitors must complete a 20-question job-knowledge test.
The last test is the load itself. 

During this stage of the competition, the three-man crew, each having their own specific job, must prepare the jet for the missiles and then load the missile to the aircraft, within 30 minutes. 

"The hardest part is always after the load," said Airman Carpenter. "You're standing there waiting. You run over everything you did, looking for mistakes." 

After the weapons load competition, the jammer competition begins. 

The jammer is a vehicle, which steers from the rear, used to transport munitions to the aircraft. Unlike the weapons load, the jammer competition is an individual contest.
Selected for this competition was Airman 1st Class Rasheem Ramsey, 2nd AMU, Senior Airman Brandon Signorotti, 95th AMU and Airman 1st Class Alexander Thompson, 43rd AMU. 

Graded in three different areas, the jammer competitors must also complete a uniform inspection; however, this is where the similarities end between the two contests. 

The second portion of the competition is a jammer pre-use inspection. The individual must ensure the jammer is 100 percent serviceable, including tires pumped, no frays on wires and all liquids are filled. 

The last test is completing the coned course, where the patience and skill of the jammer is tested. 

The course is set up like a track, explained Sergeant Smith. 

The competitors must weave the jammer through four sets of cones which are placed tightly together, explained Sergeant Smith. Then, they must make a tight turn between two rows of cones. Once finished with the turn, the jammers weave through another set of cones and then another turn just like the first. This course is completed twice and to add to the difficulty, it must be completed in less than two minutes. 

"It was a fairly simple course, but it was set up to be very tight, so it was hard to turn efficiently," said Airman Signorotti. 

"You had to pretend you're driving Miss. Daisy," explained Airman Signorotti referring to the simulated missile in the trunk of the jammer. "You have to be careful and cautious." 

"The performance was better in this competition; there was a higher point spread this quarter," said Sergeant Smith. 

At 3 p.m., the scores were announced - the 95th AMU wins... in both competitions.
Winners took home the plaques and bragging rights as the quarter's top performers. 

The 95th AMU load crew has been working together since May 2006. They have competed in four other competitions, also bringing home victories. 

"Our overall performance was pretty good," said Sergeant Taggart. "There were a few mistakes, but we still brought home the win." 

"The important part of the competition was making sure we were all on the same page with timing," said Airman Dubisky. 

Taking away more than just the recognition attached to the plaque, the 95th load crew agreed that pride in their work and a shot at load crew of the year were more personal accomplishments. 

They're not the only ones to reflect on that day's events. 

"The most difficult part was trying to complete the course in the allotted time of two minutes," said Airman Signorotti, winner of the jammer competition. 

Airman Signorotti says he felt happy and excited with his win, but mostly relieved from the stress of being in the spotlight. 

Sergeant Smith explains the importance of the competition is not only a morale booster and way of recognizing hard workers, but it also allows airmen to build confidence in their job proficiency. 

"This competition creates challenges within the weapons community and hopefully most troops will see crews winning and want to be in that situation," said Sergeant Taggart. 

The victors from the 95th took home the win, each returning to a normal day on the job, but each offering their own encouragement and thoughts to other Airmen. 

"Take pride in what you do, and if the opportunity arises, take it," said Airman Signorotti. "It's a great opportunity, win or lose."