A Day in the Life of...A C-130 Loadmaster

Published Aug. 28, 2008
By Airman 1st Class Mindy Bloem
43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- As I sat poised with my camera in hand in the back of a C-130H, waiting for the loadmasters to give the signal for the air drop during one of their training flights, I suddenly found myself wondering, how in the world did I end up here?

In all my years before joining the service, I would have never guessed I would end up on some military aircraft highlighting different Air Force career fields for my particular base's newspaper. I suddenly realized just how lucky I was and what an incredible opportunity I had been given.

When I arrived promptly at 4 p.m. to start my day with the loadmasters of the 2nd Airlift Squadron, I remember thinking that if I could just get through this night without getting sick, I'd be grateful. On my previous two flights aboard the ever-trusty C-130, I found myself lying prostrate in the flight deck praying my nausea away. I didn't want to look like a wimp in front of the crew of tonight's flight, and as a preventative measure, I decided to eat a combination of lunch and dinner around 2:30 that afternoon. I wanted to be full but not have a full stomach. I am not sure if that was the smartest move , but by the end of this story you will at least see whether it worked or not.

After I arrived at the squadron and the introductions were made, I learned the loadmasters I would be accompanying would be performing a simulated Container Delivery System drop and a simulated Heavy Equipment Drop. I was told they perform these simulated drops four to five times a week for training purposes. In a real world situation, the CDS bundle might carry things like beans, rice, bullets - necessities for a re-supply mission. The heavy equipment platform may carry anything from a bulldozer to a humvee.

I was so impressed with the fact that these vital crew members do such an amazing job of providing our servicemembers with the necessary food and equipment to accomplish their missions. As I followed them around that evening, I was also impressed with the way they interacted with each other. Not one member -- pilot, engineer, navigator, loadmaster -- seemed to think their particular position as superior to any other; each treated the each other with respect, bearing in mind that everyone was an integral component to completing the mission at hand.

I followed the loadmasters out to the aircraft a couple of hours ahead of the rest of the crew because the loadmasters must go through a process of inspections and checks before the aircraft can take off. I watched them take painstaking measures to ensure all the safety, function and equipment checks were performed. I felt bad for them doing all of that work in the heat. They looked hot and tired, but when I asked each of them if they would ever consider cross-training, they all emphatically said no. One member, Staff Sgt. Casey Crew, who has been a loadmaster for the past five years, said he loves his job because of the constant change, not having to work a set schedule and the opportunity to travel. This sentiment was reiterated by the others I talked to that night as well. After observing first hand the special bond all the crew members on that flight seemed to share, I began to see why they value their jobs so highly.

After the aircraft is rigged up, Joint Airdrop Inspection then comes out to make sure it's rigged up properly. Tech. Sgt. James Segalla, another loadmaster, said the reason for this is the more eyes that are on the load equal less chance of mistakes, and that they are the experts at rigging while loadmasters are experts at air drops.

He also said the reason these training flights were so crucial to the loadmasters is they have to know how to properly rig the load, get it out of the aircraft on time, and fly it at low altitudes and all types of situations in order to complete their job quickly and accurately in a real-world situation.

Once the flight was underway, I was astir with anticipation waiting for the load to drop. I noticed that the job of a loadmaster seems never done, as they were continually getting up to check off every item from their checklists. It was finally time for the first load to drop.

I watched for the green light, which, even I knew, meant "go." The green light flashed and the 'chute swung out and blossomed, then the platform hesitated for a moment as the release lever activated the extraction line, releasing the deployment chutes and allowing the platform to slowly descend to the ground. Once the load clears, there is only a short amount of time before the ramp and door begin to close.

After both loads were dropped, I watched the crew continue to perform checks and get everything back in its rightful spot. I was even allowed to sit up in the flight deck where I watched the pilots perform various assault landings.

I definitely left that night, which incidentally was just after midnight, with a newfound respect for not only our loadmasters, but for all the C-130 crew members, without whom we'd be in pretty dire straits.

I am also happy to report that I only experienced moments of feeling nauseated, but that is also thanks to the crew who were constantly supplying me with water, peppermints and cold compresses. They gave me a "day in the life of" I will never forget.

A Day In The Life Of A C-130 Loadmaster