By Senior Airman Jovante Johnson, 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published January 22, 2020
Two U.S. Air Force load crews from the 52nd Maintenance Group stand ready to begin the annual weapons load crew competition in Hangar 1 at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Jan. 17, 2020. Load crews are not only tested on how fast they can load weapons onto an F-16 Fighting Falcon but also on their individual dress and appearance, written knowledge and organization of tools. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jovante Johnson)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kayla Fargher, 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew member, secures an inert missile to an MJ-06 lift truck, also known as a "jammer," during the Annual Weapons Load Crew Competition in Hangar 1 at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Jan. 17, 2020. The two teams competing are the best load crews from previous quarterly weapons load competitions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jovante Johnson)
Members of the 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron align an inert missile onto an F-16 Fighting Falcon from an MJ-06 lift truck, also known as a "jammer," during the Annual Weapons Load Crew Competition in Hangar 1 at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Jan. 17, 2020. The competition required two teams of three Airmen to load weapons onto the wings of an F-16 Fighting Falcon as quickly and accurately as possible. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jovante Johnson)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Brandon Shaw, 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, loosens an inert missile so it could be picked up and moved by an MJ-06 lift truck, also known as a "jammer," during the Annual Weapons Load Crew Competition in Hangar 1 at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Jan. 17, 2020. Friends, family, and members of the Spangdahlem community attended the competition to see which of the two teams would take home the trophy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jovante Johnson)
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Gabrial Valenzuela, 52nd Maintenance Group weapons standardization superintendent, center, overlooks uniforms of participants in the Annual Weapons Load Crew Competition at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Jan. 17, 2020. The competition consisted of a three-part evaluation including dress and appearance, a multiple choice test on munitions and aircraft parts, and a timed evaluation of loading munitions onto and F-16 Fighting Falcon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jovante Johnson)
Members of the 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron gather to calculate the scores of the Annual Weapons Load Crew Competition at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Jan. 17, 2020. The maximum time permitted for loading is 45 minutes. Both load crews completed the competition in 22 minutes and 42 seconds. The winning load crew will be announced at the Maintenance Professional of the Year banquet scheduled for March 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jovante Johnson)