F-16 Fighting Falcon News

May 12, 2008 (by SSgt. Alice Moore) - The 8th Fighter Wing hosted a peninsula-wide weapons load competition on May 10.
A total of four teams competed in the event. The teams competing were from the 35th and 80th Aircraft Maintenance Units here, the 36th Aircraft Maintenance Unit at Osan, Air Base and the Republic of Korea Air Force's 38th Maintenance Squadron.

The 35th Fighter Squadron swept the competition.

"It (the competition) was awesome. I had no doubts we were going to take it all the way," said Senior Airman Russell Dosart, 35th AMU weapons load crew member.

The venue for the event rotates between Kunsan and Osan. Not only does the competition foster friendly rivalries between units, it also allows the units to train together.

"The US Air Force and RoKAF operation systems are a little different," said Tech. Sgt. Cho Seung-He, 38th MXS weapons load team leader. "This training helps us to unify the two systems."

Senior Master Sgt. Eric McGowan, 8th FW Weapons Manager said the event is a loading competition you won't see anywhere else.

"It's fellowship ... it's friendship ... it's forever," he said. "I know I can leave here today and come back a year later and see these people again and we will still have strong relationships."

Airman Dosart said the competition was a big morale booster.

"It's exciting to compete with one another, but especially with the ROKAF. They're great competitors," he said. "They know when to bring it."

The weapons load competitions are held in order for weapons Airmen to maintain proficiency.