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Weapon loaders from the 28th Munitions Squadron, the 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and the 37th Aircraft Maintenance Unit compete in an annual weapons loading competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 7, 2019. Each team was given 40 minutes to load two inert GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions and one inert AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile onto a simulated B-1 bomber. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christina Bennett)

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Load Crew Members assigned to the 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit prepare to load an inert AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile into a simulated B-1 Bomber at the annual weapons loading competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 7, 2019. The JASSM weighs 2,250 pounds and has to be lifted approximately 17 feet in the air to be inserted into the bomb bay of the simulated B-1 bomber. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christina Bennett)

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Load crew members from the 28th Munitions Squadron use a munitions lift truck or ‘jammer’, to load an inert AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile into a simulated B-1 bomber at the annual weapons load competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 7, 2019. Each team was required to complete the loading process within 40 minutes and were also graded on proficiency, technique and safety. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christina Bennett)

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Load crew members from the 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit use a munition truck or ‘jammer’, to load an inert AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile into a simulated B-1 Bomber at the annual weapons load competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan.7, 2019. Squadron leadership selected weapons loaders to represent each unit as the best load crew of 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christina Bennett)

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Airman 1st Class Falcon Wilson, a 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit load crew member, inspects an inert GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition for damage prior to loading it onto a simulated B-1 bomber at the annual weapons load competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan.7, 2019. Each load crew is made up of four Airmen, with each one being responsible for a different aspect of the operation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christina Bennett)

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Staff Sgt. Cordel Shields, a 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit load crew member, goes over his checklist after loading an inert GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition onto a simulated B-1 bomber at the annual weapons load competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 7, 2019. During the competition, load crew teams were given 40 minutes to install two inert GBU-38 JDAMs and one inert AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile onto a simulated B-1 bomber. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christina Bennett)

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Judges for the annual weapons load competition watch as the 28th Munitions Squadron load crew install a second GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition onto a simulated B-1 bomber at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 7, 2019. Participants competed to be recognized as the 28th Maintenance Group’s best load crew for 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christina Bennett)

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Staff Sgt. Cordel Shields, a 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit load crew member, prepares to load a GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition onto a simulated B-1 bomber at the annual weapons load competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 7, 2019. Load crew members are responsible for safely loading and unloading munitions, testing suspension, launch and release systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christina Bennett)

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Senior Airman Andrea Walls, a 28th Munitions Squadron load crew member, loads an inert AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile onto a simulated B-1 bomber at the annual weapons load competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 7, 2019. The JASSM weighs 2,250 pounds and must be lifted approximately 17 feet in the air to be inserted into the bomb bay of the simulated B-1. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christina Bennett)

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A load crew member participating in the annual weapons load competition inspects a bomb rack prior to loading a munition onto a simulated B-1 bomber at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 7, 2019. A small cartridge is installed onto the rack that will release the bomb from the aircraft, so the rack must be inspected as well as the munition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christina Bennett)

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The load crew team from the 28th Munitions Squadron inspect their work after loading two inert GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions and one inert AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile onto a simulated B-1 bomber during the annual weapons load competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 7, 2019. The winning team of the annual competition is announced at the Maintenance Professional of the Year awards banquet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christina Bennett)

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Load crew of the year competition

Published Jan. 11, 2019
By Airman 1st Class Christina Bennett
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. -- Weapon loaders from the 28th Munitions Squadron, the 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and the 37th Aircraft Maintenance Unit compete in an annual weapons loading competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 7, 2019. Each team was given 40 minutes to load two inert GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions and one inert AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile onto a simulated B-1 bomber.

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