By Staff Sgt. Timothy Young, 49 WG/PA / Published October 29, 2020
Weapons loaders from the 314th Aircraft Maintenance Unit prepare to move an inert bomb during the 3rd quarter load competition, 26 October, 2020, on Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. The weapons load crews for F-16 and MQ-9 aircraft compete against each other quarterly. Crews aim to load weapons the most efficiently and with the least amount of errors. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Young)
Staff Sgt. Edward McGroder, left, and Senior Airman Thomas Pope, right, both 314th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons loaders, prepare to lift and transfer an inertmunition to an F-16 aircraft during the 3rd quarter load competition, 26 October, 2020, on Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Twelve Airmen from the 9th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 29th AMU, 311th AMU and 314th AMU competed to see who could load munitions onto their respective aircraft the quickest. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Young)
Senior Airman Thomas Pope, 314th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons loader, inspects a simulated munition during the 3rd quarter load competition, 26 October, 2020, on Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Points for the competition are awarded based on weapons loading, tool kit inspection and uniform inspection categories. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Young)
Col. Ryan Keeney, 49th Wing commander, right, and Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Temple, left, present the first place trophy to weapons loaders from the 9th Aircraft Maintenance Unit during the 3rd quarter load competition, 26 October, 2020, on Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Twelve Airmen from the 9th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 29th AMU, 311th AMU and 314th AMU competed to see who could load munitions onto their respective aircraft the quickest. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Young)
Staff Sgt. Edward McGroder, 314th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons loader, tightens down connections to a simulated munition on an F-16 aircraft during the 3rd quarter load competition, 26 October, 2020, on Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Twelve Airmen from the 9th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 29th AMU, 311th AMU and 314th AMU competed to see who could load munitions onto their respective aircraft the quickest. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Young)
Staff Sgt. Kendrick Johnson, 9th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons loader, connects an inert munition to a MQ-9 aircraft during the 3rd quarter load competition, 26 October, 2020, on Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Points for the competition are awarded based on weapons loading, tool kit inspection and uniform inspection categories. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Young)
Twelve Airmen from the 9th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 29th AMU, 311th AMU and 314th AMU competed in the 49th Wing’s third quarter load competition, Oct. 26, here.
Weapons load crews competed by loading munitions onto their respective aircraft as quickly and skillfully as possible. These quarterly events increase combat readiness and technical expertise through friendly competition.
Congratulations to the 9th AMU weapons load crew for winning this quarter’s competition.