Between overseeing cargo and passengers on flights crisscrossing the globe and long deployments, it's no wonder that airmen who work as loadmasters develop some strong bonds between each other during their time in the Air Force.

Call it a byproduct of their job.

"You're spending so much time together in very close quarters," said Dewey Green, a master sergeant and the chief loadmaster of the 4th Airlift Squadron at McChord Field.

So it's only natural for loadmasters to want to foster those friendships and connect with others in their career field.

The Professional Loadmaster Association offers just that. Established in 1997, the PLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the loadmaster community together. The Northwest chapter has about 150 members and there are more than 2,000 members across 14 chapters spanning the globe.

"There's a camaraderie, and we all understand each other," said Bill Cannon, a retired chief master sergeant who founded the association and now lives in Gig Harbor.

After retiring from McChord in 1982, Cannon wanted a way to still connect with his loadmaster brethren. He started the PLA on a whim.

"I was all alone (as the first member)," said Cannon, who was a loadmaster on a variety of different mobility airframes throughout his 30-year Air Force career. "Once the word spread, a lot of people wanted to get in on it."

The association features loadmasters from a variety of different generations. The Northwest chapter has loadmasters that are currently serving on active duty as well as retirees from the Vietnam era.

"It's great to hear the stories of some of the older guys' experiences," said Green, who became chapter president earlier this year. "It's been nice getting to know these guys."

In addition to hosting monthly meetings, the Northwest chapter participates in a variety of charity work and raises money for different organizations that support military personnel. The PLA offers four scholarships, two academic scholarships for college entry, and a third scholarship for vocational/technical school after high school graduation. Its members also recently placed flags at the gravesites of deceased loadmasters at cemeteries around the South Sound on Veterans Day. Cannon is proud of how far things have come in 13 years.

"Loadmasters like it and they do a good job with it," said the former chief, who accumulated more than 16,000 flying hours during his Air Force career. "It all worked out really well."

Membership is open to all active duty, Reserve, Air National Guard and retired aircraft loadmasters of all military services. Civilian and foreign flying loadmasters are also welcome to join. For more information or to join the PLA, visit www.loadmasters.com.