Photo By Senior Airman Johnny Diaz | U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 525th Force Generation Squadron adjust an AIM-9M...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA – The new year started with a bang as weapons and ammunition crews competed in the Mission Generation Competition of the Year at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Jan. 9, 2026. This competition tested accuracy, precision, and speed as crews assembled and loaded ordnance onto three U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors.
Spectators – both civilian and military – gathered at Hangar 25 as the stage was set for the bomb build and load competition. Among those in attendance was U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Andrew King, weapon standardization superintendent assigned to the 3rd Maintenance Group.
“It is an annual competition to identify who is the best, most ready, most capable,” said King. “In order to be eligible, they have to meet certain criteria.”
Competitors were subjected to a series of tests and inspections in the lead-up to the event. Weapons crews completed a dress and appearance inspection, a written exam on job knowledge and task familiarity, and a rigorous career field-based fitness assessment.
The competition kicked off with the bomb build; two ammo teams assigned to 3rd Munitions Squadron went head-to-head assembling ordnance traditionally used by JBER F-22s. Each team of three Airmen raced to load 96 sticks of MJU-53 flare countermeasures and 500 rounds of PGU-39A/B dummy ammunition for the M61A2 cannon.
“By participating in this friendly competition, not only do we get to bring people from all different areas of the career field together to accomplish one mission, but we get to show those who might not be as familiar with it what happens behind the scenes,” said Airman 1st Class Natalie Colville, a conventional maintenance technician assigned to 3 MUNS. “We deal with various components during these competitions that we might not use on a daily basis but may be important for future exercises or activities.”
Following the bomb build, load crews representing 525th Fighter Generation Squadron, 90th Fighter Generation Squadron, and 477th Air Maintenance Squadron each raced to load one AIM-9X, one AIM-9M and two AIM-120 missiles. Crews utilized the Osla Beam Assembly, a pneumatic crane system, to load munitions to their assigned F-22.
“This event is combat tested; this is what we do,” said King. “It provides reassurance to the public that when the time comes, we got it.”
Winners of the competition will be announced at the Maintenance Professional of the Year event this spring.
| Date Taken: | 01.09.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 01.26.2026 14:44 |
| Story ID: | 556709 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 6 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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