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Thousands of feet above the German countryside, the loadmasters proceed to open the back of a C-130J Super Hercules as the cool wind gusts throughout the aircraft. They listen on their crackling headsets for the aircraft coordinates, awaiting to signal the jump master that it’s safe to step off the ramp.
For 37th Airlift Squadron loadmasters, safely loading and unloading cargo, vehicles, passengers or paratroopers out a C-130J involves more than what just meets the eye. There are mathematic configurations, aircraft inspections and extensive mission planning taking place before the aircraft’s engines ever heat up.
“It’s like a puzzle trying to fit all the cargo within the limitations of the aircraft,” said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Perry, 37 AS loadmaster instructor. “There are a lot of pieces of equipment, and it’s three-dimensional Tetris with giant Tetris pieces. It’s a lot of fun; I enjoy it.”
To assemble their puzzle, the loadmasters must coordinate support with the 721st Aerial Port Squadron air terminal operations on the type of cargo the aircraft will be carrying.
After learning if there are hazardous materials, palletized cargo or passengers being uploaded, they configure the correct placement, space and cargo type to balance the aircraft.
Perry said they certainly wouldn’t be able to do their job without the support of all the units.
“We make do, but we aren’t nearly as good as the people who support us,” Perry said.
The support of Ramstein units is essential to the loadmaster’s mission, especially when it comes to being flexible to changing situations.
Senior Airman Brandon Ravenell, 37 AS loadmaster, said that is one of the biggest challenges.
“It is our job as loadmasters to have the knowledge and skills to be ready for anything,” Ravenell said.
Factors such as limited passenger space or uploading more cargo than planned test the loadmaster’s ability to balance their critical thinking abilities and, quite literally, the aircraft’s weight.
Though the last minute changes can be stressful at times, according to Staff Sgt. Toni Odom, 37 AS loadmaster evaluator, she feels she makes an impact in her job.
“When we do drops for the ground troops playing in the shrubs for weeks at a time in Africa, I can see the impact,” Odom said. “If we don’t get there with the pallet full of water or MREs, they don’t get to eat. I’m making a difference for the people who are out there really doing the tip-of-the-spear type work.”
Perry agrees he feels their job is impactful in the Air Force mission and said they have a unique picture seeing what everyone else’s work has culminated to.
“We have a pretty unique mission at Ramstein,” Perry said. “We have a lot of things going on, whether it’s working with other countries, picking up people or injured warriors for medical evacuations. I feel like you can definitely see the impact you make in this job. We get to see the finished product of all the work being done at Ramstein and all the things that get put together to launch a mission.”
Amongst all their mission requirements, air dropping is Perry’s favorite part of the job.
“It’s a lot of fun to throw stuff out of airplanes,” Perry said. “It’s pretty much why I became a loadmaster.”
Air drops can consist of tanks, helicopters, food and medical supplies.
The 37 AS loadmasters support air drops and deliveries for U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command. They are the only in-theater airlift squadron within U.S. Air Force Europe, granting them a large amount of air time.
“Every time I go up in an aircraft, it is surreal,” Ravenell said. “It’s a moment of excitement when we airdrop and open up the doors to know what we are doing for our country. I feel as though we as a military cannot be stopped.”
Standing on the ramp, a loadmaster surveys the German countryside. She gives the jump master a thumbs-up. One by one paratroopers take on the gusting winds and systematically exit feet-first toward the landing zone.
It’s the adrenaline rush that loadmaster’s face that makes the 37 AS loadmasters proud to employ airpower.
