Expert: James Bell - 9/13/2006

Question
James,

My son joined the Airforce since June 13th, being my only son, I've been real concerned about the job he signed for.  He signed to be a loadmaster.
So far, he is done with boot camp in Lackland air force base in San antonio, now he just finished his training in the ocean at Pensacola Florida, right now he is in spokane wa getting ready to be sent to Surviving school, he tells me he will be sent for 17 days .  I don't let him know how scare I am about what he is doing.!! Can you explain to me what Loadmaster duties are? I don't want to ask him and let him know how afraid
I'am of what he signed for.  I would really appreciate if you can expplain to me in your experiences about his job.  Thank You.

Answer
Greetings Mina -

I have walked the same path your son is embarking on, so I can give you great first-hand knolwedge about what he can expect.  As I pass things on to you, please do not take any offense at what I say, as I mean no malice.  I will, however, provide you with a lot of the terminology, or "jargon", associated with the military and his particular role.  That way, when you talk to him, you will be informed and speak the same military lingo, making the conversation between the two of you more meaningful.  This will also help pave the way to alleviate the fears you will have.

Just so you know, the Air Force doesn't have a "Boot Camp."  He attended BMT, or Basic Military Training.  Most Air Force members simply refer to it as "Basic."  The Army and other services have their basic training at various bases, but the Air Force only has ONE base where Basic takes place, and that's Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas.  Believe it or not, but simply knowing that simple term will make conversation between you and your son much more meaningful.  If you ask "Did you learn that in Boot Camp?", he will first have to correct you on the terminology, and then go on to answer your question.  But, if you ask "Did you learn that in Basic?", you are already speaking the same language, it tells him you are already on the same wave length as he is, and he can go right to the answer.  You will be amazed how that simple little item will make the communication bond between you two that much stronger.

A loadmaster is the crew member onboard a cargo aircraft who is responsible for all cargo and passengers.  His primary training will focus on weight and balance ... loading the aircraft in such a way that it is balanced within certain parameters so it remains flight worthy.  If you load too much weight to the back of the airplane where it sits on it's tail, flying that airplane would obviously be impossible.  If the aircraft is also used for airdrop, he will be responsible for inspecting the parachute rigging on the cargo and is responsible for releasing the cargo out the back of the aircraft when they pass over the drop zone.  He will also be responsible for loading, managing and downloading passengers.  If they happen to be paratroopers, he gets to kick them out over the drop zone as well.

Fairchild AFB, Washington, is where the land and water survival schools are located.  The land survival school will consist of classroom training about survival techniques, followed by a week in the scenic Washington state countryside.  That will be followed by approximately 48 hours in a simulated POW (prisoner of war) camp.  If he was in Pensacola, Florida it seems as though he has already completed the Parachute Water Survival School, meaning the Non-Parachute Survival School (also at Fairchild) is not applicable to him.

Now, having given all the technical stuff to you, let me address your fears.  Personally, I get more scared getting on the road to drive home than I do getting on an airplane to go fly.  Yes, accidents happen, but when you look at the millions of hours flown compared to the number of car accidents, he is definitely safer in the air.

At this time, we have lost approximatly 2,600 soldiers in Iraq, most of them in the Army and Marines.  Those who were lost by the Air Force can be counted on one hand.  As far as all the military services available, your son was very wise to have chosen the Air Force (yes, I am very biased).  I know there was a story out of Philadelphia last week where a solder, recently back from his tour of duty in the Middle East, was stabbed to death after using an ATM.  There was another story a while back where another soldier, also back from Iraq, was shot to death in his own front yard by a drunk causing trouble in his front yard.

Your son will be very well trained, and I don't think he will be able to find a more professional group of people to work with.  The Air Force has the highest standards of all the military services.  When he leaves the military and looks for a career in the private sector, he will be the first pick over an equally qualified Army or Marine veteran.

I don't know what else I can tell you.  I have a family website where you can look at some of the pictures I have taken during my travels.  You can visit it at ...

http://64.41.64.113/home/Air_Force.html

Your son will travel the world and will always be telling you stories of the places he has visited.  Even if he gets out after just four years, twenty years from now he will still be telling stories of his Air Force experiences.  My Dad was on bomber crews in the 50's and 60's, and he still talks about them all the time.  With the exception of Antarctica, I have spent time on every continent in the world, and flown over the three oceans and all seven seas.

I am sure you will have other questions, fears and concerns, so I will give you my e-mail address so you can write me directly (I think it is that important).  It is KC10Engr@aol.com.  If you would ever like to chat over the phone, I would be happy to talk to you.

I hope this answers your immediate questions.  Don't hesitate to write back or contact me directly if you have any more questions.

Sincerely,
James Bell