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Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. (May 2, 2024): Success in any future war will depend on moving huge amounts of goods quickly and safely to units across the world. In this photo by Staff Sergeant Spencer Slocum, Master Sergeant Greg Barham, 167th Airlift Wing instructor Loadmaster, and Staff Sergeant Christian Magliocca, 15th Airlift Squadron instructor Loadmaster, await refueling operations to complete during the Forward Area Refueling Point Rodeo held here this week. The training gave C-17 Globemaster III transport crews a chance to develop greater agility to quickly respond and provide global airlift where needed.

The job of moving these giant cargoes belongs to the Loadmaster, an enlisted Airman who is responsible for mathematically preplanning the correct placement of the load on an airplane. They also prioritize the order in which supplies or equipment are loaded onto an aircraft such that more tactically important material (e.g., ammunition) is off-loaded first. These loading decisions can mean life or death for forward deployed troops.

Generally, a Loadmaster’s duties fall into three categories: providing passenger comfort and safety, securing cargo, and taking part in airdrop operations. Before each flight, they perform calculations and create plans for passengers and cargo to ensure that cargo will not shift suddenly during flight. Loadmasters also ensure regulations regarding placement of one type of cargo in proximity to another are considered and that everything is secured before takeoff.

Perhaps the most challenging task for Loadmasters is airborne delivery. Delivering paratroopers and their cargo by parachute is a highly technical and dangerous undertaking. In such tricky situations, Loadmasters must ensure equipment does not shift during abrupt maneuvers which can produce dangerous handling problems for the pilot.