The overall winner of USAFE’s Sure Fire 2005 weapons loading competition, held last week, was the 81st Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Spangdahlem AB, Germany. The other top finishers were: SrA. Joshua Shively, 23rd AMU, Spangdahlem, for the bomblift competition; the 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy, for top loadcrew.
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.