Airmen with the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, La., participated in a munitions maintenance competition as part of this year’s Global Strike Challenge. Members of the 2nd Munitions Squadron and the 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron last week showed off their skills in three areas: pre-flight, missile loading, and munitions building. “The competition is extremely important,” said Capt. Brian Sporysz, 2nd MUNS operations officer. “It builds camaraderie among the individuals who are loading and building, and it helps prepare them for Barksdale’s warfighting efforts.” Speed and accuracy are the judges’ main concerns in this competition. The final scores will be posted at Barksdale’s Air Force Global Strike Symposium in November. Global Strike Challenge is the Air Force’s premier bomber, ICBM, and security forces competition. Units participate from across Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Combat Command, the Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Command. (Barksdale report by A1C Andrea F. Liechti)
Depot-level maintenance took longer than expected for nearly three-quarters of Air Force aircraft from fiscal 2019-2024, according to a new report, as unplanned repairs rise across the aging fleet. The report, from the Government Accountability Office, also found that the extent of the delays has been masked because officials often revise their target timelines after unplanned work occurs.