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5th Air Force

Shogun Showdown 2023

Senior Airman Kevin Arredondo, 44th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew member, prepares CATM-120C missiles for loading during Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. The CATM-120C is a training unit used to simulate the AIM-120 missile. It is captively carried on the aircraft and identical to the live missile in weight, center of gravity and overall appearance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

From left to right, an F-15C Eagle assigned to the 67th Fighter Squadron, an F-16CM Fighting Falcon assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron, an HH-60G Pavehawk assigned to the 33rd Rescue Squadron, an F-22A Raptor assigned to the 525th Fighter Squadron and an F-15C Eagle assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron are positioned before the start of the Shogun Showdown weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. This year’s Shogun Showdown is the first time Kadena has hosted a load competition with five weapons load crews competing against each other on different airframes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brooke Martin, left, 480th Fighter Generation Squadron weapons load crew chief, Airman 1st Class Joey Bahena, center, and Airman 1st Class Christopher Sowinski, right, 480th FGS weapons load crew members, laugh together during their introduction to the audience at Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. The purpose of the event was to hold friendly competition amongst weapons load crews for several different airframes, showcase multi-capable Airmen in action and demonstrate the work that goes into generating a combat-ready aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Matthew Banks, 33rd Helicopter Maintenance Unit weapons specialist, prepares to load a GAU-18 machine gun attached to an HH-60G Pavehawk assigned to the 33rd Rescue Squadron at Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. The purpose of the event was to hold friendly competition amongst weapons load crews for several different airframes, showcase multi-capable Airmen in action and demonstrate the work that goes into generating a combat-ready aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

Airman 1st Class Joey Bahena, 480th Fighter Generation Squadron weapons load crew member, attaches an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile to an F-16CM Fighting Falcon assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron during Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. The purpose of the event was to hold friendly competition amongst weapons load crews for several different airframes, showcase multi-capable Airmen in action and demonstrate the work that goes into generating a combat-ready aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joffee Miller, 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew chief, prepares CATM-120C missiles for loading during Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. The CATM-120C is a training store used to simulate the AIM-120 missile. It is captively carried on the aircraft and identical to the live missile in weight, center of gravity and overall appearance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

Brig. Gen. David Eaglin, left, 18th Wing commander, speaks with the 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew about the challenges faced during Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. The purpose of the event was to hold friendly competition amongst weapons load crews for several different airframes, showcase multi-capable Airmen in action and demonstrate the work that goes into generating a combat-ready aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Matthew Banks, left, 33rd Helicopter Maintenance Unit weapons specialist, and Brig. Gen. David Eaglin, right, 18th Wing commander, talk about the challenges faced during Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. During the competition members loaded munitions while being graded on speed, reliability, safety and proficiency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

Senior Airman Kevin Arredondo, left, 44th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew member, and Staff Sgt. Bryor Mortiz, right, 44th AMU weapons crew chief, load ordnance onto an F-15C Eagle assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron during Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. The purpose of the event was to hold friendly competition amongst weapons load crews for several different airframes, showcase multi-capable Airmen in action and demonstrate the work that goes into generating a combat-ready aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

Senior Airman Rachel Rigsby, left, and Senior Airman Andrew Eastep, right, 525th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew members, finish loading CATM-120C missiles onto an F-22A Raptor assigned to the 525th Fighter Squadron during Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. During the competition members loaded munitions while being graded on speed, reliability, safety and proficiency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

Staff Sgt. Calvin Corpuz, 525th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew chief, prepares a CATM-120C missile for loading onto an F-22A Raptor assigned to the 525th Fighter Squadron during Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. The load crew chief is responsible for leading the crew and providing direction. They also provide the final look over the aircraft once loading procedures have completed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

Airman 1st Class Aubrey Jourdan, 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew member, operates a bomb lift truck during Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. The purpose of the event was to hold friendly competition amongst weapons load crews for several different airframes, showcase multi-capable Airmen in action and demonstrate the work that goes into generating a combat-ready aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Bryor Mortiz, left, 44th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons crew chief, Airman 1st Class Miles McKie, center, and Senior Airman Kevin Arredondo, right, 44th AMU weapons load crew members, pose for a photo after winning Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. The purpose of the event was to hold friendly competition amongst weapons load crews for several different airframes, showcase multi-capable Airmen in action and demonstrate the work that goes into generating a combat-ready aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

Senior Airman Noah Kohl, left, Senior Airman Marcus Thomas, center, and Staff Sgt. Matthew Banks, 33rd Helicopter Maintenance Unit weapons specialists, smile during their introduction to the audience of Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. Rather than loading explosive ordnance onto their aircraft, the 33rd HMU load crew competed by loading two GAU-18 machine guns to an HH-60G Pavehawk assigned to the 33rd Rescue Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

Senior Airman Connor Stears, center, 18th Munitions Squadron armament technician, explains the capabilities of a M61A1 Vulcan Cannon machine gun, which are typically attached to fighter aircraft, before the start of Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. The 18th MUNS provided information to the audience for the several gun and missile systems that are a part of generating combat-ready aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

Airman 1st Class Miles McKie, 44th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew member, loads ordnance onto an F-15C Eagle assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron during Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. During the competition members loaded munitions while being graded on speed, reliability, safety and proficiency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

U.S. Air Force Col. Laura Goodman, left, 18th Maintenance Group commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Richey, right, 18th Maintenance Group senior enlisted leader, pose for a photo with the winning load crew at Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. The purpose of the event was to hold friendly competition amongst weapons load crews for several different airframes, showcase multi-capable Airmen in action and demonstrate the work that goes into generating a combat-ready aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)

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Shogun Showdown 2023

Published Feb. 6, 2023
By Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Senior Airman Kevin Arredondo, 44th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew member, prepares CATM-120C missiles for loading during Shogun Showdown, a weapons load competition at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 3, 2023. The CATM-120C is a training unit used to simulate the AIM-120 missile. It is captively carried on the aircraft and identical to the live missile in weight, center of gravity and overall appearance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sebastian Romawac)