"Giant Sword"
The SAC Combat Weapons Loading Competition
The Strategic Air Command Combat Weapons Loading Competition, aslo known as "Giant Sword" dates back to 1958 when it was first held at MacDill AFB, Florida. In October that same year, a second competition was hosted at March AFB, California. The competition then moved to Bergstrom AFB, Texas for the next two years. The competition was suspended for 13 years during the conflict in Southeast Asia. During those years, SAC munitions loaders proved their professionalism and capabilities by supporting the effort in Southeast Asia and at the same time maintaining SAC's primary mission of strategic deterrence.
The Munitions Loading Competition was held at Blytheville AFB, Arkansas, concurrently with the Bombing and Navigation Competition at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana in 1974. Aircrafts crew chiefs were included as integral members of the munitions load crews. The Competition moved to Ellsworth AFB in 1975 and expanded to include the security police elements.
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The Combat Weapons Loading Competition served several valuable purposes for SAC. The competition was a source of recognition for the munitions loaders, aircraft crewchiefs and security police who were the backbone of the SAC mission. The competition also served as a peacetime demonstration of the proficiency and capability of SAC to support the Air Force's strategic deterrent mission. Finally, the competition served as a forum to exchange new ideas and innovative ways to get the job done.
Participating teams consisted of three elements; a five person munitions load crew, an aircraft crew chief, and a six person security police team. Scoring for the munitions load teams was in three parts; a written exam, an equipment inspection and two munitions loads. Munitions loading was accomplished on ASQ-38 and Offensive Avionics System (OAS) modified B-52G, H and FB-111A. The maximum possible score for each load team was 1250 points. The aircraft crew chiefs were also scored on the basis of a written exam and two exercises, one pre-load and one post-load, for a maximum total of 250 points. Security police teams competed in four areas; a written exam, a confidence course designed to evaluate physical capabilities, a tactical weapons firing course and a practical exercise simulating a situation involving the protection of strategic ressources. Their maximum total was 500 points. The scoring for the competition was conducted by SAC Maintenance Standardization and Evaluation (MSET) members for load crews and aircraft crew chiefs, and representatives from the HQ SAC Office of the Chief of Security Police for the SP's. The wing team which scored the highest points was awarded the Barrantine Memorial Trophy. Other major awards included; Best Munitions Load Crew, Best Security Police Unit, Best Bomber Crew Chief, Best Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) Load Crew and Best Combined Load Crew.
The Giant Sword 1990 competition was to be held in September 1990 at Fairchild AFB, Washington. This SAC-wide competition included weapons laoding, bomb build-up, crew chief competitions, security police, vehicule maintenance, fuels and was to include three new categories; tanker avionics, aerospace ground equipment and vehicule operators. The competition was cancelled due to events leading to the Gulf War.
The FB-111A would not have another chance to participate in 'Giant Sword', the type made its last flight on July 10, 1991.
