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Show Hilltop HILLTOP TIMES Airmen face off in weapons loading competition, winner honored in April From the 466th AMU: Weapons Load Crew Chief— Tech. Sgt. Bryan Wicker Weapons Load Crew Member #2—Tech. Sgt. Michael Young Weapons Load Crew Member #3— Senior Airman Jonathan Thorsted From the 421st AMU: Weapons Load Crew Chief— Staff Sgt. Zachary Rubinstein Weapons Load Crew Member #2— Senior Airman Marissa Carabajal Weapons Load Crew Member #3— Senior Airman Maria Ramirez From the 421st AMU: R.NIAL BRADSHAW/U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Donald Williams, 421st Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew chief and his teammates, Senior Airman Marissa Carabajal and Senior Airman Maria Ramirez, work together to lift an air-to-air missile at the weapons load competition in Hangar 37 here Feb. 13, 2015. Two 421st AMU teams and one 466th AMU team raced to see which crew will be named, "Weapons Load Crew of the Year." Winners will be announced at the Maintenance Group annual awards banquet April 11, 2015. By 1ST LT. KAYLEE AUSBUN 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs H ILL AIR FORCE BASE — Two teams from the 421st Aircraft Maintenance Unit and one from the 466th AMU competed in an annual weapons load competition in Hangar 37 here on Feb. 13. Every quarter, crews from both active duty and reserve units race to load weapons onto F-16s, then compete for the yearly title of Weapons Load Crew of the Year. Winners will be announced at the Maintenance Group annual awards banquet on April 11. The 421st, an active-duty squadron under the 388th Fighter Wing, and the 466th, a reserve squadron under the 419th Fighter Wing, went headto-head in the first-ever annual weapons load competition featuring active-duty Airmen versus their reserve counterparts at Hill. "This year is unique since the 419th won the fourth-quarter competition," said Tech. Sgt. Arthur Trachte, 388th Maintenance Group Loading Standardization crew member. They were competing for the first time in the annual competition, which typically involves a crew from the 4th and a crew from the 421st. In order to compete for the title, crew members had to first qualify and win at one of the four quarterly weapons load competitions, and that, according to Trachte, is decided by each crew's quality assurance checks. "We hold monthly proficiency tests to test their ability to meet 100 percent quality assurance; however, the assessments don't stop there, they can also be tested outside of the set once-a-month checks," said Trachte. "If they surpass the required time limit to load the weapons or have a safety violation, they are automatically out of that quarter's competition." This particular competition tests the teams' ability to load one air-toground missile and one air intercept missile, which averages a total load time of 45 minutes. "Because these Airmen are the best of the best, we expect them to load the weapons in half of the required time," said Trachte. "So each team should be able to finish in approximately 25 minutes." On Jan. 11, reservists from the 466th Aircraft Maintenance Unit finished first as the weapons load crew of the fourth quarter, ahead of the ac- tive duty's 4th AMU and 421st AMU. Every quarter, teams race to load weapons onto F-16s, then compete for the yearly title in February. The history of weapons loading competitions in the Air Force dates back before the Korean War, and this history is not lost in the motivation to compete to become the best. "We are continuing a proud tradition," said Trachte. "From prepping to loading to seeing our weapons reach their final destination as part of the overall mission — it's all part of the tradition." As the real-world mission continues to deploy Airmen all over the globe, Trachte said it is important to continue the drive to not only be able to do your job, but to do it with sense of urgency while maintaining a high level of proficiency. "We need them to be the most dependable people when they are deployed," said Trachte. "These competitions are crucial because they are put through rigorous training. This is their chance to showcase their abilities and be rewarded for doing well." Highligted above is the lineup of teams who fought for the title of Weapons Load Crew of the Year. Weapons Load Crew Chief— Senior Airman Christopher White Weapons Load Crew Member #2—Airman 1st Class Gabriel Rey Weapons Load Crew Member #3—Airman 1st Class Rhaymark Neri The winning team will be recognized at the Maintenance Professionals of the Year award ceremony. The 388th and 419th Fighter Wings maintain a classic association as a Total Force Integrated unit, meaning 419th FW personnel operate and maintain F-16s alongside the active-duty 388th FW. TIME S February 19, 2015 9 419th names Zions Bank best employer of 2014 ALEX R. LLOYD/U.S. Air Force Scott Anderson (center), president and CEO of Zions Bank, accepts the 419th Fighter Wing Employer of the Year award from Col. Bryan Radliff, 419th FW commander, and representatives from Air Force Reserve Command and the local Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve during a ceremony Feb. 7. 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs HILL AIR FORCE BASE —The 419th Fighter Wing named Zions Bank its Employer of the Year for 2014 during the wing's annual awards banquet on Feb. 7. Each year, the 419th FW recognizes one civilian employer that shows exceptional support of reservists within the organization. These employers go above and beyond, making it easier for reservists to serve both their employer and their country. Zions Bank employs several 419th reservists and their spouses. The bank pioneered a professional development program, offering internships and training specifically to service members and veterans, which has launched civilian careers throughout the Intermountain West. The Zions Bank Military Relations Group maintains contact with deployed employees and their families, providing home repairs, lawn maintenance, holiday gifts and financial assistance. "You don't have to wear a uniform to serve this nation," said Col. Bryan Raclliff, 419th FW commander. "Our employers are a huge part of what the Air Force Reserve brings to this nation." In September 2014, Zions Bank was also one of 15 employers nationwide to receive the Secretary of Defense Employer Support freedom Award, DOD's highest recognition given to employers of reservists and Guardsmen. Looking for Primary Care? 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