Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

Airman 1st Class Matthew Youngblood, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, high-fives Brig. Gen. Lance Landrum, 31st Fighter Wing commander, during the annual load competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on Jan. 6, 2016. The three, 3-person teams were judged on their job knowledge, dress and appearance, and munitions load performance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

Tools sit in a toolbox during an annual load competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on Jan. 6, 2016. Competitors were graded on every aspect of their performance, including putting tools away properly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

A weapons load crew member reviews an inspection checklist during the annual load competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on Jan. 6, 2016. Each year, the squadron’s top weapons load crew teams compete for 31st Fighter Wing Best Load Crew of the Year award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

A weapons load crew team completes maintenance procedures during the annual load competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on Jan. 6, 2016. The three, 3-person teams were judged on their job knowledge, dress and appearance, and munitions load performance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

Staff Sgt. Joshua Walker, left, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew chief, and Airman 1st Class Matthew Youngblood, 31st AMXS weapons load crew member, install an inert munition while Staff Sgt. Elijah Duffy, center, load competition judge, watches during the annual load competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on Jan. 6, 2016. Each year, the squadron’s top weapons load crew teams compete for the 31st Fighter Wing Best Load Crew of the Year award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

Airman 1st Class Matthew Youngblood, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, and Staff Sgt. Joshua Walker, 31st AMXS weapons load crew chief, attach an inert munition to a transportation cart during the annual load competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on Jan. 6, 2016. The three, 3-person teams were judged on their job knowledge, dress and appearance, and munitions load performance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

Airman 1st Class Erik Newman, back, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, and Staff Sgt. Elijah Duffy, center, load competition judge, watch Staff Sgt. Joshua Walker, front, 31st AMXS weapons load crew chief, install an inert munition during the annual load competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on Jan. 6, 2016. Each year, the squadron’s top weapons load crew teams compete for the 31st Fighter Wing Best Load Crew of the Year award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cary Smith)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

Staff Sgt. Devon Sheffey, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew chief, places an inert munition onto a transportation cart, during the 2016 Annual Load Competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on January 6, 2017. Each year, the squadron’s top weapons load crew teams compete to be awarded the 31st Fighter Wing’s Best Load Crew of the Year award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Areca T. Bell)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

Senior Airman Travis Campbell, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, prepares to load an inert munition on an F-16 Fighting Falcon during the annual load competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on January 6, 2017. The three 3-person teams were judged on their job knowledge, dress and appearance, and munitions load performance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Areca T. Bell)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

Staff Sgt. Ian Postler, right, load competition judge, observes Staff Sgt. Devon Sheffey, left, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew chief and Senior Airman Travis Campbell, center, 31st AMXS weapons load crew member, load an inert munition on to an F-16 Fighting Falcon during the annual load competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on January 6, 2017. Three 3-person teams competed for the title of the 31st Fighter Wing’s best weapons load crew of the year. The winning team will be announced during the Maintenance Professional of the Year Banquet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Areca T. Bell)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

Airman 1st Class Waylon Scheirer, left, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, prepares to load munitions on an F-16 Fighting Falcon while Senior Airman Michael Velasco, load competition judge, observes him during the annual load competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on January 6, 2017. Each year, the squadron’s top weapons load crew teams compete to be awarded the 31st Fighter Wing Best Load Crew of the Year award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Areca T. Bell)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

Airmen from the 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron stand ready to participate in the annual load crew competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on Jan. 6, 2016. Each year, the squadron’s top weapons load crew teams compete for the 31st Fighter Wing’s Best Load Crew of the Year award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Krystal Ardrey)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

Senior Airman Donavhan Warrington, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, inspects an F-16 Fighting Falcon during the annual load crew competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on Jan. 6, 2016. The three 3-person teams were judged on their job knowledge, dress and appearance, and munitions load performance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Krystal Ardrey)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

Staff Sgt. Patrick Peralta, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, prepares to load an inert munition onto an F-16 Fighting Falcon during the annual load crew competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on Jan. 6, 2016. Three 3-person teams competed for the 31st Fighter Wing’s Best Load Crew of the Year award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Krystal Ardrey)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

Staff Sgt. John Weiler, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew chief, loads an inert munition onto an F-16 Fighting Falcon during a load crew competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on Jan. 6, 2016. The three 3-person teams were judged on their job knowledge, dress and appearance, and munitions load performance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Krystal Ardrey)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

A judge holds a stopwatch during the annual load crew competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on Jan. 6, 2016. The three 3-person teams were judged on their job knowledge, dress and appearance, and munitions load performance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Krystal Ardrey)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

Staff Sgt. John Weiler, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew chief, pauses after the annual load crew competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on Jan. 6, 2016. Each year, the squadron’s top weapons load crew teams compete to be awarded the 31st Fighter Wing’s Best Load Crew of the Year award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Krystal Ardrey)

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Best of the best: 31 AMXS load crews compete for title

Published Jan. 13, 2017
By Staff Sgt. Krystal Ardrey, Senior Airman Areca T. Bell, Senior Airman Cary Smith
31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --

Nine Airmen from the 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron participated in an annual weapons load crew competition at Aviano Air Base, Italy on Jan. 6, 2016. The three, 3-person teams were judged on their job knowledge, dress and appearance, and munitions load performance.