35 AMXS races to be the best

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Stephen Kim, 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew member, puts on the fin of an AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missle during the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's load crew of the quarter competition at Misawa Air Base, Japan, April 13, 2012. The 13 and 14 AMUs joined in this friendly competition to see who the best weapons load team in the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron is and claim bragging rights for the quarter. (U. S. Air Force photo by Airman Kenna Jackson/Released)

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35 AMXS races to be the best

The weapons load crew representing the 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit uses an MJ-1 lift truck to transport an AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile to the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft during the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's load crew of the quarter competition at Misawa Air Base, Japan, April 13, 2012. The MJ-1, also called a jammer, has a lifting capacity of 3,000 pounds and is used to load and unload munitions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Kenna Jackson/Released)

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35 AMXS races to be the best

The 14th Aircraft Maintenance Unit's weapons load crew team secures an AIM-9 Sidewinder onto an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft during the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's load crew of the quarter competition at Misawa Air Base, Japan, April 13, 2012. The winning team is determined by the total points, not by the time the task is completed in. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Kenna Jackson/Released)

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35 AMXS races to be the best

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Stephen Jost, left, 35th Operations Group deputy commander and Col. Cheryl Minto, right, 35th Maintenance Group commander, presents Staff. Sgt. Joseph Sundita, Airman 1st Class Christopher Bukarteck and Airman 1st Class Kenneth Taylor, 14th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew members, with the load crew of the quarter trophy at Misawa Air Base, Japan, April 13, 2012. As the best weapons load crew of the quarter, Sundia's team won the competition with 925 points and a load time of 17:03. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Kenna Jackson/Released)

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35 AMXS races to be the best

Published April 16, 2012
By Airman Kenna Jackson
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Two weapons load crew teams competed at the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's load crew of the quarter competition at Misawa Air Base, Japan, April 13, 2012. During the competition, the squadron cheered on the best of the 13th and 14th Aircraft Maintenance Units' load crew teams while they loaded munitions onto the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. The two, three-man teams were chosen to compete in this fast-paced competition in hopes of bringing home the trophy and bragging rights.

At the end of the competition, the winning team is determined based on their loading proficiency, reliability, safety and timeliness.

"These load competition promote a sense of pride within our squadron, esprit de corps and gives bragging rights to the best load crew on base," said Tech. Sgt. Cory Mersino, 35 AMXS lead crew chief.