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Ceremonial Military Events

Images feature formal military ceremonies such as change of command, promotions, and awards, showcasing leadership transitions and honors within military ranks.

Brigadier General Renea Dorvall receives her general officer flag at a promotion ceremony held in the Helena Armed Forces Reserve Center auditorium on Jan. 6, 2023.
Brigadier General Renea Dorvall receives her general officer flag at a promotion ceremony held in the Helena Armed Forces Reserve Center auditorium on Jan. 6, 2023.
242 assets in this story
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The Utah Air National Guard celebrated its Airmen of the Year during a banquet held in their honor at the Zions Bancorporations Midvale Technology Campus on Jan. 6, 2023, in Midvale, Utah. The Airmen of the Year award program recognizes Airmen who display superior leadership, job performance, and personal achievement.
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DA-SC-85-11204. Base: Arlington State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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General Jimmy D. Ross, Commanding General of the Army Material Command, United States Army, promotes the Deputy CHIEF of STAFF for Resource Management Brigadier General Robert T. Howard to Major General. Accompanying him is his wife Ciretta. Base: Pentagon State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Retired Brig. Gen. Kenneth J. Stromquist provides keynote remarks at the Proctor, Minnesota Memorial Day Observation on May 30, 2022. The event honored Captain James Verville and Captain Sherman Gonyea who were killed when their F-101 Voodoo crashed shortly after take off from the 148th Fighter Interceptor Group 50 years ago. The son of Verville, Chief Master Sgt. Kurt Verville of the 148th Fighter Wing, sits in the front row with his family.
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Lt. Col Christopher Olson took command of the 346th Test Squadron from Lt. Col. Adan Reyes during a change of command ceremony June 27, 2023 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Col. Thomas Bodnar, 318th Cyberspace Operations Group, was the presiding officer of the ceremony.
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Air Force Capt. Taylor Bye and Kory Kolligian II pose with the 2020 Koren Kolligian Jr. Trophy during a ceremony at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., May 11, 2022. Bye was awarded the trophy to recognize her outstanding airmanship when her A-10C attack aircraft suffered a catastrophic gun malfunction and she safely performed a belly landing with the loss of the aircraft landing gear and canopy.
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040531-F-9032T-017. Base: RAF Lakenheath State: East Anglia Country: England / Great Britain (ENG) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE
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Major Gen. Rashed Al Shamsi, Deputy Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defense, and U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., pose for a photo during the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, England, July 15, 2022. Brown attended RIAT to meet with air and space chiefs from other nations and demonstrate the Department of the Air Forces commitment to its allies and partners.
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Col. Michael Parks, 507th Air Refueling Wing commander, passes the 507th guide-on flag to Lt. Col Joseph Ronzio, commander of the 507th Medical Squadron, on Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Oct. 15, 2022. Ronzio replaced Col. Alvin Bradford, as the 507th MDS commander during the change of command ceremony.
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Command Chief Master Sgt. Brett Cownie, South Dakota National Guard retiring state command chief, speaks during a state command chief change of responsibility ceremony at Joe Foss Field, South Dakota, Sept. 10, 2022. A change of responsibility is a formal transfer of command chief responsibilities and duties from one command chief to another.
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U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Stein (left), 502nd Operations Support Squadron commander, presents U.S. Army Air Corps 1st Lt. Gerald Teldon, retired, with the Air Medal for his honorable service as a pilot on July 29, 2022, at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life and Learning, San Antonio, Texas. Teldon, born in the Bronx, N.Y., in 1924, joined the military in 1944. He completed 62 missions during WWII and the Korean War. Lt. Col. Andrew Stein, 502nd Operations Support Squadron commander, was the presiding officer. The awards presented to Teldon are as follows: the Air Medal; American Campaign Medal; European - African - Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; National Defense Medal; and the Distinguished Unit Citation.
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Senior Master Sgt. Carmen Daniels, 192nd Force Support Squadron senior enlisted leader, promotes to the rank of chief master sergeant June 4, 2022, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Lt. Col. Fallon Martin, 192nd Support Squadron commander, presided over the ceremony attended by Daniels' family, friends and fellow members of the Virginia Air National Guard. (U.S. Air National Guard by Staff Sgt. Kellyann Elish)
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Retired Maj. Gen. Jerrold Allen, Order of the Daedalians national commander, presents U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Eric Kut, 6th Airlift Squadron, with the Chief of Staff of the Air Force 2021 Exceptional Aviator Award, at ceremony hosted by the 305th Air Mobility Wing on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Sept. 26, 2022. The CSAF 2021 Exceptional Aviator Award was presented to U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Eric Kut, 6th Airlift Squadron Chief of Group Standards and Evaluations, by the Order of the Daedalians for his actions as the aircraft commander of the REACH871 mission. This mission resulted in the ground evacuation of 823 Afghan civilians from Kabul while under enemy fire and allowed the Air Mobility Command commander to waive C-17 floor-load restrictions from 300 to 450 passengers, facilitating the evacuation of 124,000 personnel during the Air Forces largest non-combatant evacuation operation in history.
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Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. gives remarks during a ceremony for retired Col. Clarence E. Bud Anderson, promoting Anderson to the honorary rank of brigadier general at the Aerospace Museum of California in McClellan, California, Dec. 2, 2022. The ceremony was an opportunity to honor the 100-year-old World War II triple ace during the 75th anniversary year of the U.S. Air Forces establishment as a military service.
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DF-ST-86-11846. Base: Arlington State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. Jay Raymond, presents a gift to Chief of Staff Japan Air Self Defense Force Gen. Shunji Izutsu, during a bi-lat meeting at the 37th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Col. April 6, 2022.
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Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., right, poses with Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force Gen. Park Inho after a meeting at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., April 6, 2022. Brown and Park discussed regional security and partnership between their services.
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GEN. Hearney, Assistant Marine Corps Commandant, poses with GEN. Paul VanRiper, Commanding General, Marine Corps Development and Education Command, Quantico, as they hold a framed certificate presented to GEN. VanRiper after his promotion. Base: Marine Corps Base, Quantico State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON - (November 23, 2022) Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) San Antonio held a reenlistment ceremony in honor of Aviation Boatswain's Mate First Class Petty Officer Ignacio M. Tobar. NTAG San Antonios Commanding Officer, Stephanie Simoni welcomed Tobar, his family, and command members in preparation for the ceremony highlighted by Tobar reciting the Oath of Enlistment.
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930104-D-9880W-022. State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Command Chief of Air Combat Command, David Wade had his retirement ceremony on June 24, 2022, at Langley, AFB. Chief Wade will retire Nov. 1, 2022, after thirty years of service in the United States Air Force.
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Congressman John Garamendis 2022 Women of the Year Award recipients from Travis Air Force Base, California, stand for a group photo at Woodland, Calif., Oct. 13, 2022. Congressman John Garamendis 2022 Women of the Year awards were given to 58 outstanding women residing in Californias Third Congressional District.
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DA-SC-88-02787. Country: Unknown
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Brig. Gen. Peter T. Green III, Assistant Adjutant General for Air, Massachusetts Air National Guard, retired after 40 years of service in a ceremony held at the 104th Fighter WIng on Sept. 10, 2022. Brig. Gen. Green started his career as a security forces specialist at the 104FW and prior to moving to Massachusetts ANG Joint Force Headquarts was the 104FW Commander. Distinguished guests included Maj. Gen. Gary W. Keefe, The Adjutant General, Massachusetts Air National Guard, Brig. Gen. Virginia Gaglio, Chief of Staff and Air Component Commander, Massachusetts ANG, Col. David 'Moon' Halasikun, 104FW Commander, Massachusetts Senator John Velis, Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe, and other 104FW leaders, members, family and friends. (U.S Air National Guard Photos by Master Sgt. Lindsey S. Watson)
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Brig. Gen. Peter T. Green III, Assistant Adjutant General for Air, Massachusetts Air National Guard, retired after 40 years of service in a ceremony held at the 104th Fighter WIng on Sept. 10, 2022. Brig. Gen. Green started his career as a security forces specialist at the 104FW and prior to moving to Massachusetts ANG Joint Force Headquarts was the 104FW Commander. Distinguished guests included Maj. Gen. Gary W. Keefe, The Adjutant General, Massachusetts Air National Guard, Brig. Gen. Virginia Gaglio, Chief of Staff and Air Component Commander, Massachusetts ANG, Col. David 'Moon' Halasikun, 104FW Commander, Massachusetts Senator John Velis, Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe, and other 104FW leaders, members, family and friends. (U.S Air National Guard Photos by Master Sgt. Lindsey S. Watson)
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PARIS (Jan. 24, 2024) - Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti meets with Chief of the French Navy Adm. Nicolas Vaujour at the Ecole Militaire for a small group discussion in Paris, Jan. 24. During their discussions, they focused on current operations, CNOs priorities, future deployment opportunities, and increasing interoperability between the navies.
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Col. Michael Clancy, 52nd Munitions Maintenance Group outgoing commander, makes his final remarks during the 52nd MMG change of command ceremony, July 15, 2022, at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Clancy served 10 years as enlisted before earning a commission in 1996.
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Long-time volunteers at the 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum, along with Royal Air Force Mildenhall leadership and spouses, proudly show off their Queens Award for Voluntary Service, presented by The Lady Dannatt, center, MBE, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk, at Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk, England, Sept. 8, 2022. The award, signed by the Queen, is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the United Kingdom, and became poignant and bittersweet as it was presented on the day Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away. Only two volunteer groups in Norfolk received the award as part of the Platinum Jubilee and in recognition of extraordinary service to the community. The 100th Air Refueling Wings heritage dates back to the 100th Bomb Group and the museum is dedicated to Airmen of the Eighth Air Force who served during World War II.
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040319-A-1409B-001. Base: Fort Gordon State: Georgia (GA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: SOUTHEAST
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Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks speaks at the National Capital Region ROTC Detachment commencement at Fort Myer, Virginia, May 20, 2022. The class of 2022 had 87 cadets with 14 of them commissioning as Distinguished Military Graduates, the top 20% of cadets in the nation.
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DA-SC-88-02818. Base: Arlington State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. E-quantay Mason, Phoenix Raven with REACH 651, receives the Distinguished Flying Cross from Maj. Gen. Corey Martin, 18th Air Force commander, at Travis Air Force Base, California, Dec. 9, 2022. Martin recognized 24 Airmen for their heroic actions during Operation Allies Refuge. The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded to any officer or enlisted person of the U.S. armed forces for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.
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Keesler personnel make a trip to the grog bowl during the 81st Training Group Airman's Ball inside the Bay Breeze Event Center at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Sept. 30, 2022. The event was geared toward Airmen in training on how to participate and act during a formal military ball so they can feel confident in their abilities when arriving at their follow-on locations. The Airmen served in key positions throughout the ball such as emcees, color guard, POW/MIA table ceremony, national anthem singer and the invocation.
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030310-D-2987S-016. Base: Pentagon State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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US Air Force Lieutenant General Ronald Marcotte, Air Mobility Command vice commander and Mary Schirmer pose in front of the new building 868 placard on the CHIEF MASTER Sergeant Edward A. Schirmer rehearsal hall at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Base: Scott Air Force Base State: Illinois (IL) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Veterans' Employment and Training Service - Veterans Day Salute Awards
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U.S. Air Force Col. Kris Barcomb, Space Launch Delta 30 vice commander, retires after 23 years of dedicated and honorable service at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., July 8, 2022.
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NASA Honor Awards and Presidential Rank Awards Exceptional Service Medal to John J. Adams.
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US Air Force General Hal Hornburg swears in the seventeen newest Air Force recruits (not shown) during their enlistment ceremony held at Dover Downs International Speedway. The ceremony was part of Air Force Appreciation Weekend and helped kick off Air Mobility command's Year of Retention and Recruiting. Base: Dover State: Delaware (DE) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass delivers a keynote address, Airmen: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, during the 2022 Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., Sept. 21, 2022.
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Lt. Col. Brandon Greenawalt, 730th Air Mobility Squadron outgoing commander, right, passes a guidon to Col. Christopher Kiser, 515th Air Mobility Operations Group commander, during the 730th AMS change of command ceremony, June 8, 2022, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The passing of the guidon signifies Greenawalt relinquishing command of the 730th AMS.
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Rebecca Paddymo, 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron program coordinator, holds the John L. Levitow award and Airman Leadership School diploma at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 18, 2022. Paddymo was chosen for the award by her Airman Leadership School peers and for her academic scores.