Commentary from Senator Sakamoto

March 28, 2007

A Military First – An All Female Loadmaster Crew

On March 24, a C-17 mission flew out of Hickam Air Force Base with a loadmaster crew made up exclusively of female Airmen from the National Guard as well as active duty personnel.  This historic assignment was made by Chief Master Sgt. Alan R. Ogata, 204th Airlift Squadron in the course of the usual crew rotation.  Without knowing it, Ogata made history in March, Women's History Month.  He notes: "The three female loadmasters – Tech Sgt. (Karie) Contreras and Staff Staff Sgts. (Kimberly) Kido and (Joline) Manuia – just happened to come up in rotation and I recognized that they'd represent a good mix of skills and experience on this mission.  The realization that all three were female – and that this was probably our first all-female loadmaster mission – really just came after the fact." 

Loadmasters are responsible for prepping, loading and balancing cargo on the ground prior to takeoff and seeing to needs of the passengers during the flight.