Photo By Staff Sgt. Alexis Orozco | U.S. Air Force Reserve Citizen Airmen weapons load crew team from left to right Staff...... read more read more
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. – Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 944th Fighter Wing assembled on the flightline to showcase their speed, skill, and accuracy during the 944th FW’s Annual Weapons Load Competition at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, Jan. 31, 2025.
Much like load crew challenges across the Air Force, this contest highlighted the precision and teamwork required to safely arm aircraft in high-pressure scenarios—an essential expertise for real-world missions where every moment counts. This is a two-fold event demonstrating the lethality of the total force and ensuring that America’s Citizen Airmen remain ready to deter aggression and defend the Nation.
“Today was a load competition,” said Tech. Sgt. Stephen Powell, who served as one man for the crew from the 414th Fighter Group Maintenance Squadron (MXS). “We do these once a month, loading various munitions to stay proficient. They give a good morale boost… you get bragging rights.”
Each load crew typically consists of three people: the “one man,” who oversees the operation and assists the other two members; the “two-man,” who is responsible for managing tools; and the “three-man,” who handles the ammunition.
Crews from various maintenance squadrons in the 944th FW vied for the top spot, each tasked with loading an AIM-9X heat-seeking missile and a GBU-12 laser-guided bomb. As the Air Force Reserve’s largest F-35 Lightning II, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and A-10 Thunderbolt II training wing, the 944th places a strong emphasis on weapons standardization to ensure mission readiness – contributing to surge capability. Weapon Loaders play a critical role in maintaining the U.S. strategic advantage, ensuring air superiority and the ability to protect hard power, anywhere in the world.
This year’s competition featured three teams, two loading F-35s, and one—ultimately the winning crew—loading an F-15 from the 414th MXS at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.
The remaining teams tackled loading munitions onto an F-35 aircraft, each determined to prove their technical skill and attention to detail. “Both aircraft loaded the same munitions,” explained Master Sgt. Kyle Kupiec, a Loading Standardization Crew Team Chief from the 944th FW MXS. “The crews are evaluated on speed, accuracy according to technical guidance, and our biggest concern is safety.”
All three crews arrived with one goal in mind: excellence. Their methods may have differed, but the core values of precise execution, teamwork, and professionalism shone through. “It’s always been about pushing ourselves to do better,” said Tech. Sgt. Justin Venables, Weapons Load Crew Chief from 944th FW MXS, who loaded munitions onto an F-35 for the competition. “I feel like it went really well. I wish our time was down a little bit, but we do have a lot of lessons learned.”
Senior Airman Angelina Cabello, Armament Systems Specialist with the 944th FW MXS, working on the other F-35 crew, highlighted the behind-the-scenes effort. “It’s a really big team effort and it creates some friendly competition,” she said. “It helps us push each other to be better. It was really cool to see a huge group, hopefully next time this comes around, it’ll be even bigger.”
For the 944th FW, events like this underscore the importance of weapons standardization in sustaining air superiority. Quick, accurate loading not only propels aircraft into the fight but also ensures the highest safety standards—a key theme throughout the day’s competition. “We want the winning crew to have the safest, fastest load,” Kupiec said. “That would in theory send a jet into combat and accurately perform its mission.”
The event also demonstrates the Air Force’s commitment to merit-based excellence. Load Crew Competition showcase the rigorous standards, accountability, and readiness required to maintain America’s lethal fighting force. Participants are judged solely on their skill, professionalism, and ability to execute under pressure- core elements of the warrior ethos that drive the Air Force Reserve’s success.
The competition also served as a morale booster, bringing together reservists from across the country—many of whom juggle civilian careers with a single monthly weekend of required unit training. The shared camaraderie and competitive spirit illustrated how a strong sense of purpose can unite Airmen, ensuring they remain ready for operations of any scale.
Ultimately, the 414th MXS crew claimed the win, but each competitor walked away with a renewed appreciation for the teamwork required to stay mission ready. “I just hope all of our crews take pride in what they do,” Kupiec said. “Getting to compete against your peers in a public forum like this is a ton of fun… It’s a great opportunity to showcase what all our training and practice goes toward.”
| Date Taken: | 01.31.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.15.2025 11:38 |
| Story ID: | 492808 |
| Location: | LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 40 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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