A-10 gets armed for flight

A caution sign sits outside the hangar of an A-10C Thunderbolt II during a phase II operational readiness exercise flying surge at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Aug. 17, 2001. The exercise was conducted to prepare the wing for the operational readiness inspection in the near future. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Green/Released)

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A caution sign sits outside the hangar of an A-10C Thunderbolt II during a phase II operational readiness exercise flying surge at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Aug. 17, 2001. The exercise was conducted to prepare the wing for the operational readiness inspection in the near future. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Green/Released)

U.S. Air Force weapons load crew members from the 23rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load munitions onto an A-10C Thunderbolt II during a phase II operational readiness exercise at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Aug. 17, 2011. The base conducted the phase II exercise to prepare Airmen for an operational readiness inspection scheduled for next year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephanie Mancha/Released)

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U.S. Air Force weapons load crew members from the 23rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load munitions onto an A-10C Thunderbolt II during a phase II operational readiness exercise at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Aug. 17, 2011. The base conducted the phase II exercise to prepare Airmen for an operational readiness inspection scheduled for next year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephanie Mancha/Released)

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Trenton Metyk, 23rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons armament specialist, loosens bolts on a Mark 82 bomb attached to an A-10C Thunderbolt II during a phase II operational readiness exercise at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Aug. 17, 2001. During the exercise, load crews and maintenance personnel conducted operations as if they were at a deployed location. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Green/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Trenton Metyk, 23rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons armament specialist, loosens bolts on a Mark 82 bomb attached to an A-10C Thunderbolt II during a phase II operational readiness exercise at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Aug. 17, 2001. During the exercise, load crews and maintenance personnel conducted operations as if they were at a deployed location. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Green/Released)

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jason Hough and Airman 1st Class Trenton Metyk, 23rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons armament systems specialists, remove the chaff and flares off an A-10C Thunderbolt II during a phase II operational readiness exercise at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Aug. 17, 2011. Chaff and flares are defensive mechanisms used to avoid detection and attack by enemy air defense systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephanie Mancha/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jason Hough and Airman 1st Class Trenton Metyk, 23rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons armament systems specialists, remove the chaff and flares off an A-10C Thunderbolt II during a phase II operational readiness exercise at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Aug. 17, 2011. Chaff and flares are defensive mechanisms used to avoid detection and attack by enemy air defense systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephanie Mancha/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jason Hough and Airman 1st Class Trenton Metyk, 23rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons armament systems specialists, secure munitions onto an A-10C Thunderbolt II during a phase II operational readiness exercise at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Aug. 17, 2011. An exercise evaluation team member evaluated Hough and Metyk on the proper procedures and efficiency in loading munitions onto the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephanie Mancha/Released)

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jarrod Gibson, 723rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron A-10C Thunderbolt II crew chief, reviews technical orders for a preflight maintenance check during a phase II operational readiness exercise at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Aug. 17, 2001. Gibson and his crew members are required to ensure that the A-10 is capable of flying in a deployed environment while completing the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Green/Released)

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U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jarrod Gibson, 723rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron A-10C Thunderbolt II crew chief, reviews technical orders for a preflight maintenance check during a phase II operational readiness exercise at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Aug. 17, 2001. Gibson and his crew members are required to ensure that the A-10 is capable of flying in a deployed environment while completing the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Green/Released)