The 380th Bombardment Wing's Giant Sword '87 team competed in the annual Strategic Air Command combat weapons loading held at Fairchild AFB, Wash. The Plattsburgh team wound up the tough, grueling competition in the pack behind the winning team from Pease AFB, N.H. Giant Sword is designed to test the abilities of weapons load crews, aircraft crew chiefs and security police teams from 23 of SAC's unit across the country and in Guam.

Crews were evaluated on how well they scored on written tests and then on how well they performed maintenance tasks, or in the case of the security police, on how well they completed the firing ranges, obstacle course and other tests. With the first place finish, Pease AFB claimed the prestigious Barrentine Trophy, which goes to the unit with the best combined score throughout the competition.

The team from Minot AFB, N.D., finished second, just 12 points behind the winners. Only 40 points separated the first and fifth place finishers.

Shining for the Plattsburgh team were A1C James T. Gendreau and A1C John E. Lechner. The two security police specialists completed the competition obstacle course in times well under the previous best time of 12:58

Members of Plattsburgh's munitions loading crew element were: SSgt. Mark C. Blevins, Anthony J. Caponigro, William P. McFadden and Donald C. Molner. Comprising the Plattsburgh security police element, in addition to Gendreau and Lechner, were: TSgt. Dennis W. Bradley, SSgt. Wayne A. Hagan, Sgt. John P. Addario, SrA. Thomas P. Premo and A1C Alonzo Bland, Scott A. Forbes and Henry M. Love II. The Plattsburgh crew chief and alternate crew chief were SSgt. Pascal A. Bedard and George R. Parsons.

Lt Col. Robert J. Smith Jr., served as the unit project officer for the Plattsburgh competition effort, while 2nd Lt. David A. Huni was the team officer-in-charge. MSgt. Jimmie Manning served as the support officer and TSgt. Rodolpho M. Gonzalez was the 380th MMS representative. Representating the 380th OMS was SSgt. William D. Havens.