Looking down a missile

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Miles Smith, an armament systems specialist with the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, inspects a fin on an AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile at Misawa Air Base, Japan, June 6, 2016. Smith and his weapons loading team were honing their skills during a three-day surge exercise to practice wartime capabilities and procedures. Surges focus on 24-hour operations and performing under the stress and time crunch of a simulated combat zone. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Deana Heitzman)

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Armament loading weapons

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Lanell Lewis (left) and Staff Sgt. Miles Smith (center) prepare an AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile for loading onto an F-16 Fighting Falcon via an MHU-83 lift truck, driven by Senior Airman Mitchell Gibson at Misawa Air Base, Japan, June 6, 2016. Smith, Gibson and Lewis are armament systems specialists with the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron who participated in a three-day surge, sharpening their proficiency in aircraft maintenance and wartime operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Deana Heitzman)

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Tightening a missile fin

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mitchell Gibson, an armament systems specialist with the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, tightens a fin on an AGM-88 high-speed anti-radiation missile at Misawa Air Base, Japan, June 6, 2016. Airmen from the 35th Operations and Maintenance Groups underwent a three-day surge, which increased the operations tempo to a level similar to that experienced during wartime scenarios. Armament Airmen simulated arming F-16 Fighting Falcons throughout all hours of the day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Deana Heitzman)

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Maneuvering a missile to load

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Miles Smith (left), Senior Airman Mitchell Gibson (center) and Airman 1st Class Lanell Lewis, armament systems specialists with the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, maneuver an AGM-88 high-speed anti-radiation missile out of a housing casket at Misawa Air Base, Japan, June 6, 2016. Smith, Gibson and Lewis participated in a three-day surge, sharpening their proficiency in aircraft maintenance and wartime operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Deana Heitzman)

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Aligning perfectly

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Lanell Lewis signals Staff Sgt. Miles Smith, both armament systems specialists with the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, to maneuver an AGM-88 high-speed anti-radiation missile out of a housing casket at Misawa Air Base, Japan, June 6, 2016. Smith operated a MHU-83 lift truck to load weapons onto an F-16 Fighting Falcon during a three-day surge, practicing and improving combat readiness and readying for wartime loading scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Deana Heitzman)

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Armament Airmen practice wartime capabilities

Published June 8, 2016
By Senior Airman Deana Heitzman
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Armament Airmen with the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Misawa Air Base Japan, hone their skills during a three-day surge exercise to practice wartime capabilities and procedures, June 6, 2016. Surges focus on 24-hour operations and performing under the stress and time crunch of a simulated combat zone.

Looking down a missile

Armament loading weapons

Tightening a missile fin

Maneuvering a missile to load

Aligning perfectly