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7th EAMU 'load toads' help put 'bat' in combat

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Justin Franklin
  • 379th Expeditionary Aircraft
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Bringing the fight to the enemy is an important part of the Global War on Terrorism, and no airframe with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing may be better at that than the B-1 Lancer. 

The bomber is capable of carrying up to 48,000 pounds of munitions, but it's the Airmen with the 379th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 7th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit, loading the weapons who help make the mission happen. 

Weapon loading on the B-1, or "Bone" as it is affectionately called, is truly a team effort. It is a carefully orchestrated cross-agency effort to achieve maximum efficiency without affecting aircraft availability for air-tasking-ordered missions. 

Weapons expediters are the nucleus for loading operations on the airfield and receive "go" orders from the 7th AMU production superintendent. The expediters spring into action after the pro super calls 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron munitions control to coordinate weapons delivery to the aircraft. 

Once the professionals in the munitions flight deliver the weapons, the basic level in weapons loading is employed. This level is a four-member certified load crew comprised of the following: a load crew team chief (crew member one), crew member two, crew member three, and crew member four, each with their own part in the process. 

The load crew team chief directs and controls the load as he runs the checklist during the operation. Crew member two actually directs movement of the weapon into the aircraft bay and locks the weapon to the B-1's suspension rack. It is the third crew member's responsibility to accomplish munitions preparation and ensure they match mission requirements - meaning the crew loads the munitions the aircrew needs. He or she also directs weapons movement from the trailer to the munitions lift truck or "jammer." Lastly, crew member four is responsible for inspecting the weapons impulse cartridges, accomplishing suspension rack-preparation and jammer driving. All of these weapons troops, or "Load Toads," work together as one to accomplish the loading operation. 

On the B-1 we use a dual loading operation concept; which means utilizing two load crews loading weapons at the same time on one aircraft. 

Under this concept the senior load crew team chief gathers all people in the area to ensure only those directly involved are exposed - this goes hand in hand with the weapons cardinal rule, "Minimum amount of people exposed to the minimum amount of explosives for the minimum amount of time." 

After all non-essential personnel have left the area, the senior load crew team chief gives a safety brief, which includes action in case of emergencies and withdrawal distances in case of fire or dropped munitions. 

Immediately following the brief the load crews start their respective parts of the operation. After performing checks and inspections, they sling the weapon from the transport trailer to the jammer and begin loading the B-1's three weapons bays. The weapons load crews start with loading the forward and aft weapons bays in tandem and follow up with the intermediate bay last. This is the point when their orchestrated movements are most apparent, as the jammers move from trailer to aircraft and back. 

Meanwhile, the weapons expediter weaves in and out of area gathering serial numbers for accountability while weapons personnel move up and down ladders. It usually takes about four hours to complete an entire upload action on an aircraft. 

Upon load completion, they perform a weapons status check to ensure that the global positioning satellite-guided weapons are communicating properly with the aircraft. 

This check ensures that the weapons will hit their mark as required, requested by ground forces within feet of their mark. 

Once the status check is done, the crews scrub their composite tool kit, which is a trailer with two toolboxes and four ladders. The crews then complete forms, documentation and prepare to move to the next aircraft. At this point the aircraft truly becomes an "all-up round ready" weapon system. 

With the 7th EAMU weapons professionals in place, the aircrew can step knowing that they will be able to place iron on target. 

Since July 24, Airmen with the 7th Aircraft Maintenance Unit have hung more than 400 tons of iron on aircraft. They have allowed and ensured the accurate delivery of more than 150 tons of lethal force on enemy targets, supporting both Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. 

The "Toads," who are based out of the 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, continually ensure the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron will bring a big "bat" to combat.