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A B-52H Stratofortress takes off during Exercise Combat Hammer at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Feb. 9, 2016. Combat Hammer, a week-long air-to-ground combat training exercise, allows exercise evaluators to assess the employment of various munitions used by the B-52 from storage through impact. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class J.T. Armstrong)
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Airman 1st Class Dylan Giron, left, and Senior Airman Jesse Knappen, 28th Munitions Squadron crew members, apply a lanyard to a bomb dummy unit-50 as part of the delayed timer unit during a training session at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 19, 2016. The 28th MUNS consists of more than 240 Airmen working in four flights, providing support for the 27 B-1 bombers assigned to Ellsworth AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Denise M. Nevins/Released)
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Senior Airman Daniel Deweese, 28th Munitions Squadron conventional maintenance crew chief, checks to ensure the lugs on a bomb dummy unit-50 are flush during a training session at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 19, 2016. The Airmen from the 28th MUNS complete thorough inspections of each unit before sending the munitions off to the next group and it reaches its final destination. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Denise M. Nevins/Released)
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Senior Airman John Luong, 28th Munitions Squadron munitions inspector, spray-paints a weapon serial number on a bomb dummy unit-50 during a training session at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 19, 2016. The WSN is used to label munitions from different pallets so if there was a malfunction it could be easier to determine if it was a technical error or factory issue. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Denise M. Nevins/Released)
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Airman 1st Class Dylan Giron, left, and Senior Airman Jesse Knappen, 28th Munitions Squadron crew members, apply a lanyard to a bomb dummy unit-50 as part of the delayed timer unit during a training session at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 19, 2016. The 28th MUNS consists of more than 240 Airmen working in four flights, providing support for the 27 B-1 bombers assigned to Ellsworth AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Denise M. Nevins/Released)
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Airman 1st Class Ignacio Luna, 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, prepares a bomb bay for loading during a quarterly load crew competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 29, 2016. Once the aircraft is armed, weapons loaders execute quality checks to verify all weapons systems are operational proceeding to B-1 missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Donald Knechtel/Released)
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Airmen from 37th Aircraft Maintenance Unit clinched victory during a weapons load crew quarterly competition, Jan. 29. Various load crews from the 28th Bomb Wing showcased their skills by racing against time to load explosives on a mock B-1 bomber accurately and safely. "The competition shows how well we are prepared to load up a jet as fast and safely as we can to complete the mission that needs to be done," said Airman 1st Class Ignacio Luna, 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member. "The biggest challenge we faced was that we were up against a crew that was far more experienced than we are, so we were the underdogs." Though the 37th AMU were not favorites of the competition, they worked together and got the job done. "Weapons load competitions build team work and unit camaraderie," said Tech. Sgt. Harold VanderMolen, 28th MXG loading standardization crew team chief. "They also provide the winning unit recognition for their hard work and the pride of showcasing the 28th BW Load Crew of the Quarter trophy in their unit." The Loading Standardization Crew evaluates each load crew unit competing on performing safe and reliable weapons loading operations in accordance with B-1 bomber weapons loading technical orders, and Air Force instructions. The load crew members were required to load two 500 pound Mk-82 general purpose bombs, and one Guided Bomb Unit 31v3 within a strict 25-minute time standard. VanderMolen added these competitions are serious business and crews dedicate time prior to ensure their best performance. "Crews will come down to the Weapons Standardization area and practice the load," VanderMolen said. "They'll inspect the munitions and equipment prior to load competition day to ensure nothing will be missed. It's easy to read it in a book, but it is a whole different story actually performing it." Though the event offers team and morale building, the competition tests the Airmen's knowledge and skills by pushi
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Airman 1st Class Ignacio Luna, 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, prepares a bomb bay for loading during a quarterly load crew competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 29, 2016. Once the aircraft is armed, weapons loaders execute quality checks to verify all weapons systems are operational proceeding to B-1 missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Donald Knechtel/Released)
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Airman 1st Class Damian Wiseman, 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, right, is congratulated by Senior Master Sgt. Justin Price, 28th AMXS weapons flight chief, after winning a quarterly load crew competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 29, 2016. The groups were evaluated on technical procedures, safety and reliability issues. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Donald Knechtel/Released)
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Airman 1st Class Damian Wiseman, 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member, right, is congratulated by Senior Master Sgt. Justin Price, 28th AMXS weapons flight chief, after winning a quarterly load crew competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 29, 2016. The groups were evaluated on technical procedures, safety and reliability issues. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Donald Knechtel/Released)
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Airmen of the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron participate in a load crew of the quarter competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 29, 2016. The 34th and 37th Aircraft Maintenance Units displayed their skills during a 25-minute loading challenge, which included a quiz, tool box setup evaluation and uniform inspections. The victors this quarter were the Airmen from the 37th AMU. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Sadie Colbert/Released)
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Tech. Sgt. Derek Abbott, 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crewmember, left, assists Airman 1st Class Ignacio Luna Jr., 28th AMXS weapons load crewmember, with positioning an inert bomb into a training B-1 bomber bomb bay during a load crew of the quarter competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 29, 2016. Airmen were evaluated on how quickly they loaded munitions according to established procedures and standards – under normal conditions, load times are approximately 40 minutes; however, during the competition, Airmen were challenged to complete the process within 25 minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Sadie Colbert/Released)
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Airman 1st Class James Balcom, 37th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, fills the auxiliary power unit of a B1-B Lancer as part of his final inspections to ready the aircraft before an aircrew boards for a mission Sept. 22, 2015 at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Balcom is deployed from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
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Tech. Sgt Nasir Ahmad and Airman 1st Class James Balcom, 37th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chiefs, check several sections of a B1-B Lancer as part of their final inspection to ready the aircraft before an aircrew boards for a mission Sept. 22, 2015 at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Ahmad and Balcom are deployed from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
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Tech. Sgt Nasir Ahmad and Airman 1st Class James Balcom, 37th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chiefs, remove a panel underneath a B1-B Lancer to check for leaks as part of a final pre-flight inspection Sept. 22, 2015 at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Ahmad and Balcom are deployed from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
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Airman 1st Class Brian Allen, 37th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, looks through his tools to perform preventative maintenance on a B1-B Lancer Sept. 22, 2015 at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Allen is deployed from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
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