Military Expert 1 Ivan Lim, 425th Aircraft Maintenance Unit load crew member, ensures the fins on a missile are properly attached and straightened. The four-way contest was between the 425th, 310th, 309th and 308th AMUs.
Staff Sgt. Laquisha Ray, 756th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew team leader, ensures the guides on an AIM-120 are aligned with its mount during the competition. The winners of the competition will be announced today at the quarterly 56th Maintenance Group “Best of the Best” awards ceremony. The annual load crew competition is Feb. 1.
Senior Airman Derrick Terrell, 310th AMU load crew member, checks the fins on a missile during the competition. Crews had only 20 minutes to complete the load, which is a task normally allotted 40 minutes.
Members of the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit, crew 205, attach AIM-9 ordnance to the mount on an F-16 Fighting Falcon Jan. 11 during the 2012 fourth quarter load crew competition at Luke Air Force Base. Crews were tasked with loading an AIM-9 and AIM-120 ordnance to see which crew could accomplish the task the quickest and safest with the fewest deficiencies. Other considerations are uniform and tool kit inspections, and a 25-question test for each crew member.
Photos by Staff Sgt. Jason Colbert
Members of the 62nd AMU, crew 205, position AIM-120 ordnance to attach to an F-16 Fighting Falcon while judges observe. Rather than using packages and boards to decide, AMUs determine their best load crews through competition.
