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362nd Training Squadron A-10 crew chief apprentice course students, watch their wingmen as they perform an operational gear swing check on an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 10, 2018. By giving each student the time and training needed, Sheppard will produce quality Airmen to ensure they each will benefit the Air Force once at their first bases. However the courses keep to a strict training program allowing Sheppard to ship out over 60,000 students, including all courses, a year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio)

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Airman 1st Class Brandon Johnson, 362nd Training Squadron A-10 crew chief apprentice course student, performs an operation gear swing check on an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 10, 2018. The student will test the gear swing in both standard and emergency simulations. An emergency would happen if the A-10's redundant systems are disabled, the pilot could still lock the landing gears and keep the main gear not fully extended to reduce the damage the plane would receive from landing on it's belly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio)

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Staff Sgt. James Weishaupt, on ladder, 362nd Training Squadron A-10 crew chief apprentice course instructor, talks to his student, Airman Megan Smith, as she performs an operational gear swing check on an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 10, 2018. The A-10 has two modes that she will have to check, standard and emergency. According to one of the instructors the A-10 is one of the hardest planes to take down because of all the redundant systems it has that the pilot can fall back on when worse comes to worst. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio)

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Airman 1st Class Brandon Johnson, 362nd Training Squadron A-10 crew chief apprentice course student, looks back while in the flight deck of an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 10, 2018. The A-10 is more commonly known as the Warthog for it's "rough" appearance. The A-10 is also known as the Warthog for it's toughness as it is one of the Air Force's most important assets being in service since 1976. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio)

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362nd Training Squadron A-10 crew chief apprentice course students, stand in front of an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Sheppard Air Force, Texas, Oct. 10, 2018. The A-10 is more commonly known as the Warthog as it is not the prettiest of planes. The big gun on the front of the A-10 is a GAU8/A Avenger gattling-style autocannon. It is mostly used in an anti-tank role and can fire 3,900 30mm bullets in a minute. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio)

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Staff Sgt. James Weishaupt, 362nd Training Squadron A-10 crew chief apprentice course instructor, climbs up the side of an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 10, 2018. Originally becoming an instructor was a assignment, but recently the Air Force has changed that to a volunteer duty, offering those Airmen who actively want to teach the opportunity to choose when in their career to come and train the next generation of Airmen. (U.S. Air Froce photo by Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio)

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Tech. Sgt. Jacob Johnson, 363rd Training Squadron F-22 armaments apprentice course instructor, shows his students how to attach the barrels of an F-22 Raptor's 20mm gattling gun at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 12, 2018. The students must attach six barrels to the gun and must angle it perfectly to fit in the base. This gun can shoot up to 6,000 rounds per minute. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio)

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363rd Training Squadron F-22 armaments apprentice course students, attach muzzles to 20mm gattling guns at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 12, 2018. The muzzle helps retain the barrels' individual movement keeping them straight when firing, making sure all 6,000 rounds per minute hit their target. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio)

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Tech. Sgt. Jacob Johnson, 363rd Training Squadron F-22 armaments apprentice course instructor, inspects the work of his students, Airman Justin Walker, middle, and Airman Jennifer West at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 12, 2018. Students in the armaments course learn to disassemble, inspect, assemble and test the weapons they will be putting on to the F-22 Raptor. They are currently assembling an F-22's 20mm gattling gun. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio)

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Airman Sidney Jones, 363rd Training Squadron F-22 armamnets apprentice course student, connects a firing contact assembly to an F-22 Raptor's 20mm gattling gun as her wingman, Airman Miles Bussey watches at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 12, 2018. The firing contact assembly is one of the most important pieces in the gun as it transmits the electrical signal from the flightdeck to the gun and without it the gun could not shoot. Torquing it correctly will keep it from coming loose and falling into the gun causing it to jam and endager the pilot and mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio)

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Airman Shomari Montague, left, and Airman Miles Bussey, 363rd Training Squadron F-22 armaments apprentice course students, assemble an F-22 Raptor's 20mm gattling gun at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 12, 2018. Bussey and Montague are tightening the center clamp that holds together the six barrels of the gun. Once they are finished assembling a gun the armaments students will test it before giving it the seal of approval to be installed onto an F-22. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio)

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Sheppard in Photos

Published Oct. 12, 2018
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Meet the Airmen who work on one of the deadliest aircraft the Air Force has and the Airmen who assemble the guns for those aircraft.

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