After months of preparation, the weapons troop standardization load crew from the 33rd Maintenance Group at Eglin AFB, Florida, performed its first munitions loading on the F-35A Lightning II on 27 August 2013. The intent of the test was to validate loading procedures for GPS-guided bombs and air-to-air missiles to ensure the instructions for load crews are accurate and effective. The standardization load crew practiced the load trial by first using a series of tabletop exercises. The loading and unloading of four types of weapons was the first hands-on load verification for the crew, who will now serve as the instructors for other munitions load crews.
