Military Air Operations Training

Images depict military personnel preparing for parachute jumps, aircraft tours, aeromedical evacuations, and loading helicopters onto transport planes, showcasing various training exercises.

Members of the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron provide members of the Spanish military a tour of the B-52H Stratofortress at Morón Air Base, Spain, Mar. 13, 2023. Bomber missions demonstrate the credibility of our forces to address a global security environment that is more diverse and uncertain than at any other time in recent history.

Hellenic army paratroopers prepare to jump during Stolen Cerberus IX at Elefsina Air Base, Greece, May 6, 2022. This exercise enhances partnerships between Hellenic armed forces and U.S. military members in a bi-lateral training environment.

Airmen from the 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, arrive at a forward operating location at Wendover Air Force Base, Utah, May 20, 2022 while participating in the Raging Gunfighter exercise. Raging Gunfighter is an Air Combat Command exercise designed to simulate operating a Lead Wing from an Austere Environment. The purpose of the exercise is to prepare the 366th Fighter Wing and its Airmen for potential future operations in accordance with the National Defense Strategy

Members of the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron provide members of the Spanish military a tour of the B-52H Stratofortress at Morón Air Base, Spain, Mar. 13, 2023. Bomber missions demonstrate the credibility of our forces to address a global security environment that is more diverse and uncertain than at any other time in recent history.

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 109th, 934th, and 156th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadrons prepare a KC-46 Pegasus, 157th Air Refueling Wing, New Hampshire Air National Guard, for training in St. Paul., Minn., Sept. 12, 2022. The Airmen are familiarizing themselves with the aircraft and its capabilities regarding aeromedical evacuation missions.

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 23rd Wing guide an HH-60W as it is loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Sept. 19, 2022. The HH-60W offers a range of improved capabilities over its predecessor and these upgrades will continue to enable safer search and rescue operations. Moody Airmen set out on the first-ever operational deployment of the HH-60W to provide rescue services in support of contingency operations.

U.S. Army soldiers from the 90th Sustainment Brigade are transported to a designated location by a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter as part of Super Garuda Shield 2022 in Baturaja, Indonesia, Aug. 8, 2022. Super Garuda Shield, a part of Operation Pathways and a longstanding annual, bilateral military exercise conducted between the U.S. military, Indonesia National Armed Forces, has now expanded to a multinational exercise encompassing 14 Nations. This exercise reinforces the U.S. commitments to our allies, and other regional partners reinforcing joint readiness, and the interoperability to fight and win together.

Members of the 147th Attack Wing test a vertical pallet stacking system at Ellington Field JRB, Houston, Texas January 5, 2022. The Wing is partnering with Air Force Research Laboratories, USTRANSOM and the University of Ohio at Dayton to test the innovative technology that allows for cargo pallets to be stacked on top of each other, enabling cargo aircraft to carry more.

The Downed Aircraft Recovery Team (DART) with Delta Company, 2-227th General Support Aviation Battalion, loads a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during a downed aircraft scenario with a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from Bravo Company, 3-227th Air Assault Helicopter Battalion, during Exercise Swift Response, Skopje, North Macedonia, May 15, 2022. Exercise Swift Response 2022 is an annual multinational training exercise, which takes place in Eastern Europe, the Arctic High North, Baltics, and Balkans from May 2-20, 2022. It aims to present combat credible Army forces in Europe and Africa and enhance readiness by building airborne interoperability with Allies and Partners and the integration of joint service partnerships.

Guardsmen with the Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Main Air National Guard train on installing a Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure System (LAIRCM) on a KC-135 aircraft at the 171st Air Refueling Wing near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sept. 8, 2022. The defensive system uses an infrared laser to protect against missile threats.

U.S. Air Force aerial port technicians and loadmasters unload cargo from a C-17 Globemaster III April 30, 2022, on the flightline at the 165th Airlift Wing in Savannah, Georgia.Airlift units transported cargo and personnel in support of Sentry Savannah 2022, the Air National Guards premier counter air exercise which encompasses 10 units of fourth and fifth generation fighter aircraft, and tests the capabilities of our warfighters in a simulated near-peer environment.

U.S. Marines with VMM-265 (Reinforced) prepare to load a Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC) 3 Training Can into a CH-53E Super Stallion during a training exercise in Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 18, 2024. The loading system was designed by GySgt. Rodrigo HernandezPolindara, VMM-265, to offer a more efficient method of transporting HIMARS.

Tech Sgt. Stevens S. Harkins from the 179th Airlift Wing Maintenance Group, Mansfield, Ohio, begins daily operations on the flight line April 24, 2019. Maintainers conduct regular inspections of the aircraft in order to maintain mission readiness with ready Airmen and ready aircraft.

Service members participate in an agile combat employment joint force exercise on Sept. 8, 2022 at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. The exercise provided an opportunity for cross-platform familiarization training for fuels and crew chiefs who were able to get first-hand experience with multiple platforms they usually would not obtain at their home station, adding to the war fighting efforts.

U.S. Army Sgt. Benjamin Cline, 3631st Signal Company, reverses a High Multipurpose Mobility Wheeled Vehicle towing a satellite transportation terminal onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, May 16, 2022. This tactical command post movement supports the 1st Theatre Sustainment Commands theater optimization strategic plan in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

Czech Air Force Capt. Peter Dedourek, an engine technician with 22nd Helicopter Air Force Base of Czech Air Force, Czech Republic, receives a socket wrench while performing maintenance on a U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper helicopter at the CNATT schoolhouse on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 24, 2022. CNATT instructors trained alongside servicemen with the Czech Air Force on aviation mechanics to expand their knowledge on various technical skills.

070126-A-9307C-023. Base: Camp Blessing Country: Afghanistan (AFG)

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment arrive at Aviano Air Force Base, Italy, May 23, 2022 from a deployment to Latvia to demonstrate the United States commitment to our NATO Allies and to bolster defensive capabilities. During the deployment, the paratroopers conducted multiple training exercises with NATO allies, including Saber Strike. They increased overall combat effectiveness and cohesion between the 173rd Airborne Brigade and other NATO forces.The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance.

Soldiers of the Alaska Army National Guard transfer their luggage prior to boarding a HC-130 Combat King II for transport to Bethel, Alaska, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

U.S. Air Force Airmen unpack aerospace ground equipment during an Agile Combat Employment exercise at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Oct. 18, 2022. Gunfighters must be able to rapidly arrive in theater, establish logistics and communications with theater command and control, receive follow-on forces, generate missions and project combat power.

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division sit in a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft during a joint training exercise on Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, July 25, 2022. This exercise included aircraft from five different U.S. Air Force squadrons and Marines with 3/5, 1st MarDiv to enhance their expeditionary operations in a joint-training environment. This was the first time MCAS Camp Pendleton staged five C-17 Globemaster III aircraft on the air station at one time.

OPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA , FLORIDA (4 September 2019) -- Florida National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, from the CBRN Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP), load equipment and prepare for potential missions responding to Hurricane Dorian.

U.S. Navy Fleet Master Chief Donald O. Myrick, command senior enlisted leader for U.S. Transportation Command, shares advice and answers questions at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, Sept. 12, 2022. During his visit, Myrick commended many of Team Charlestons star performers.

U.S. Air Force member of the 96th Maintenance Squadron conducts post flight recovery on an F-15EX Eagle after its arrival for The Great Texas Airshow Apr. 21, 2022, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. The U.S. Air Force is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a The Great Texas Airshow as a key event. The airshow features the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds performing for people to display the pride, precision and professionalism the U.S. Air Force represents. Through air shows and flyovers, they aim to excite and inspire. In addition to showcasing the elite skills all pilots must possess, the Thunderbirds demonstrate the incredible capabilities of the Air Forces premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Aircraft Armament Systems specialists assigned to the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, Duluth, Minn., remove the handling set of a M61A1. Aircraft Armament Systems specialists ensure that explosive devices can be accurately delivered from F-16 Fighting Falcons on October 7, 2022. From testing and evaluating new weapons systems to loading ordnance, these professionals make sure when a pilot pulls the trigger, the devices successfully launch away from the aircraft toward the target.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Moss, left, a boom operator with the 108th Wing, briefs U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Lisa J. Hou, D.O., the Adjutant General and Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, about the KC-135R Stratotanker before a training flight on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, March 31, 2022. The Stratotankers assigned to the 141st Air Refueling Squadron "Tigers" allow the Wing to support Air Mobility Command with mid-air refueling and air bridge support to overseas contingency operations and homeland defense.

The 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, Utah National Guard, load four AH-64D Apache helicopters onboard a C-5 Galaxy, to be transported to Morocco in support of African Lion 22, a U.S. Africa Command annual exercise on Saturday, June 18, 2022.The 1-211th ARB aircraft maintaniners prepped the aircraft for loading onto the C-5 by folding the blades and then members of the 151st Air Refueling Wing, Utah Air National Guard, assisted in loading and securing the helicopters on the C-5 from Travis Air Force Base, California, for transportation to Morocco.

Airmen from the 151st Air Refueling Maintenance Group and 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) load a Polaris Military RZR onto a KC-135R at Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base, Utah, in preparation for a joint force exercise being held at Dugway Proving Ground on Sept. 8, 2022. The exercise is designed to challenge the status quo and allow the U.S. military to improve strategies against their greatest competitors.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Johnathan Ferguson, 305th Air Mobility Wing quality assurance inspector (Right), and U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chase Staron, 305th Air Mobility Wing crew chief, perform a quality assurance inspection at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. on Nov. 22, 2022. Ferguson is one of over one million registered bone marrow donors through the Department of Defenses Salute to Life program. This year he met with the recipient of a donation he made in 2012 that allowed the patient to achieve remission of leukemia.

Maj. David Swan, commander and UH-60 Blackhawk pilot, left, and Sgt. 1st Class William Taylor, crew chief, both from the 1-230th Attack Helicopter Battalion, Tennessee Army National Guard perform preflight checks for an upcoming air assault mission as part of Northern Strike in Grayling, Mich., on Aug. 12, 2022. Northern Strike 22 brings approximately 7,400 participants from 19 states and four coalition countries to Northern Michigan to validate the readiness and interoperability of multicomponent, multinational and interagency partners from Aug. 6 to 20, 2022, at the National All Domain Warfighting Center.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ray "Charlie" Smith, aviation mission survivability officer, headquarters and headquarters company, 1st General Support Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, points out a location on the joint battle command platform to Sgt. Jamal Brower, aviation operations specialist, headquarters and headquarters company, 1st General Support Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, before embarking on a man-portable air defense systems threat lane training at the Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Sep.3, 2022. MANPADS prove to be a prolific threat for all peer and near-peer adversaries. The Hohenfels Training Area provides a unique terrain that allows the aircraft to conduct realistic nap of the earth flying. Saber Junction 22 provides a combat training center rotation for the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade to assess the brigade's readiness to execute unified land operations in a joint, combined environment and to promot

U.S. Air Force Capt. Matthew Myers, 405th Expeditionary Aeronautical Evacuation Squadron flight medic, explains how Airmen and coalition partners can load injured patients into the cargo bay of a C-130 at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, Jan. 20, 2023. The 405th EAES and the 386th Expeditionary Medical Squadron partnered with the U.S. Army and coalition forces for medical evacuation training that evacuates and saves the lives of military members who are injured in the field.

030827-M-7837W-061. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Blaire Airfield, Al Kut State: Wasit Country: Iraq (IRQ)

Bravo Co of the 1-228th Aviation Regiment, Joint task force-Bravo based out of Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras conducted a training flight May 10, 2022 in support of Lt. Keenan Kost's progression as a CH-47F Chinook pilot while supporting the TRADEWINDS22 exercise. Tradewinds 2022 is a multinational exercise designed to expand the Caribbean regions capability to mitigate, plan for, and respond to crises; increase regional training capacity and interoperability; develop new and refine existing standard operating procedures; enhance ability to defend exclusive economic zones; and promote human rights and adherence to shared international norms and values; fully integrate women into defense, peace and security missions; and increase maritime domain awareness to deter illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities.

An Alaska Army National Guardsman boards a C-17 Globemaster III for transport to Eielson Air Force Base to pick up additional service members, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

Sgt. Denton Anderson, flight engineer with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment, Mississippi Army National Guard, guides cargo onto a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Meridian, Mississippi, Sept. 29, 2022. Approximately 20 Soldiers and Airmen from the Mississippi National Guard are deploying to Florida to assist with emergency response in the wake of Hurricane Ian.

U.S. Airmen and Royal Air Force aviators work alongside each other to perform routine maintenance on a U.S. Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint at Kadena Air Base, Japan, August 4, 2022. In support of co-manned missions with our allied nation, these aviators received joint training and were deployed to Kadena to become an integrated crew.

Members of the East Africa Response Force (EARF), assigned to Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) provide a capabilities brief for interagency officials during the 2022 East Africa Security Forum (EASF) at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 11, 2022. More than 50 US government interagency officials working in more than 10 countries throughout East Africa attended the EASF. During the forum, representatives with the U.S. DoS, DoD, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and the National Security Council discussed topics ranging from overarching long-term strategy to specific security threats in the region.

A joint team of Medical, Logistical, and Operational Guardsmen based out of Oahu Island administers COVID-19 vaccines to Airmen and Soldiers on Jan. 5, 2021, at Kahului, Hawaii. A C-17 Globemaster III, operated by 154th Wing Airmen, was modified into a mobile vaccination clinic to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to Airmen and Soldiers on neighboring islands.

U.S. Air Force Airmen inspect combat rubber raiding crafts and other equipment on a C-17 Globemaster III on Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, October 11, 2022. In the event of a catastrophic in-flight failure of a SpaceX rocket, a rescue mission will launch from JB Charleston and conduct an overwater airdrop to secure the capsule and crew.

Idaho National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, as well as active duty counterparts joined forces with a one-team, one-fight mentality for joint training during a mass casualty exercise on Feb. 4, 2023, near Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. Medical personnel from Gowen Fields 124th Medical Group and active duty medical personnel with the 366th Medical Group from Mountain Home Air Force Base teamed up for several mass casualty events, which also included the use of medevac Soldiers and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the Idaho Army National Guards 1st of the 168th Aviation Regiment to participate in the medical evacuation scenarios. Combat medics performed treatment and stabilized casualties at a field medical tent in a simulated deployed location. The focus for the combat medics during the mass casualty scenarios was an emphasis on Tactical Combat Casualty Care. The TCCC is the military guideline for trauma life support in pre-hospital combat medicine, designed to reduce preventable deaths while

A U. S. Air Force Airman from the 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, (SANGB) Mich. performs Agile Combat Employment (ACE) training while loading bombs onto an A-10 Thunderbolt II also from SANGB during an Integrated Combat Turn (ICT) during Northern Agility 22-2/Northern Strike 22, at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, Mich., Aug. 8, 2022. Northern Agility 22-2 and Northern Strike 22 executing currently demonstrate how the Air Forces new Agile Combat Employment concept can be integrated into the joint fight. Northern Strike provides the perfect backdrop for the Michigan Air National Guard to establish Michigan as a center of excellence for ACE.

Members from the 51st Munitions Squadron prepare munitions to be loaded during a quarterly load crew competition at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Jan. 5, 2024. Before a load crew competition takes place, conventional maintenance technicians participate in a bomb-building competition. The munitions constructed are then loaded onto aircraft during the load crew competition, completing the real-world process from start to finish, creating comprehensive training, and enhancing interoperability between both career fields.

Engineers from 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade erected partially notional obstacles as defense against a possible counter attack by opposing forces during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 23 (JPMRC-23) at Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on Big Island, Hawaii Nov. 3, 2022. All obstacles are partially notional on PTA due to restrictions on digging and cutting off roadways.

Tech. Sgt. Thomas Niewulis, 56th Rescue Generation Squadron support section NCOIC, pack up a lift bag during a crashed, damaged or disabled aircraft (CDDAR) recovery training at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Oct. 20, 2022. These trainings give Airmen practice needed to execute real-world recoveries effectively.

U.S. Space Force Chief Master Sgt. Susan Sparks, Space Launch Delta 45 Senior Enlisted Leader, tandem jumps with pararescuemen from the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Space Force Base, Fla., July 28, 2022. Sparks is SLD 45s newest SEL.

Inside the Marine KC-130/R, Sergeant Jeremiah Hockett, USMC, Loadmaster, Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron-252 (VMGR-252), secures an Army John Deere 6X4 "Gator" All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) to the deck. The ATV, with its crew, will be flown into Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of the Army during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Country: Unknown Scene Major Command Shown: VMGR-252

Airmen from the 455th Expeditionary Aerial Port Squadron work side by side with loadmasters to load a C-17 Globemaster III with cargo here Aug. 1, 2011. The 455 EAPS's mission is moving passengers and cargo all throughout Afghanistan. More than 80 percent of all people and supplies traveling through the country come through 455 EAPS.

U.S. Army Sgt. Anthony Marotta, a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter crew chief with the New Jersey National Guard's Det. 2 , C Company, 1-171st Aviation Regiment, prepares for a flight from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. to North Carolina on Sept. 17, 2018. The New Jersey National Guard sent three pilots, two hoist operators/crew chiefs, and two Air National Guard Tactical Control Party Airmen to assist the North Carolina National Guard and local authorities in the wake of Hurricane Florence to move supplies, people, and conduct rescue operations as needed. Marotta is from Collingswood, N.J.

060401-A-0527A-003. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Kandahar Airfield Country: Afghanistan (AFG)

Master Sgt. Joshua Stanton, 815th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, holds a chain as Staff Sgt. LaWanna Johnson, 403rd Force Support Squadron services specialist, secures a forklift to a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Sept. 10, 2022. Johnson participated in Multi-Capable Airman training in an effort to learn skills outside of her Air Force Specialy Code for Agile Combat Employment.

U.S. service members board a KC-130J Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252 during Exercise Trident 23-2 at Blackstone Army Airfield, Virginia, Nov. 16, 2022. VMGR-252 provided assault support to U.S. Navy SEALs during a training exercise to enhance combat readiness and improve naval integration. VMGR-252 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Christopher Ensman, and Tech. Sgt. Michael Cashman, HC-130J Combat King II loadmasters assigned to the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, direct a loading vehicle during a combat airlift operation at an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, October 31, 2022. The HC-130J is a rapidly deployable, multi-capable airframe, capable of performing combat search and rescue, aerial refueling, and combat airlift missions within the CENTCOM AOR.

Airmen from the 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard launch F-15 fighter aircraft from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans in support of North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) Operation Noble Defender (OND), June 29, 2022. As a part of OND, which is a recurring operation, the Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR) coordinated and conducted joint operations with the U.S. Navy while concurrently launching jets from different locations across the United States' gulf coast and Puerto Rico. OND, is an integrated air and missile defense operation designed to ensure the defense and security of the northern and southern approaches to North America. This particular OND allowed NORAD units to exercise maneuvers designed to defend the southern approach to the United States from simulated cruise missile threats. NORAD is a bi-national Canadian and American command that employs a network of aerial, ground-based, and space-based sensors, air-to-air refueling tan

U.S. Army Sgt. Konner Case, a CH-47 helicopter repairer assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment, Mississippi Army National Guard, guides an ATV aboard a CH-47 at the Southwest Florida International Airport, Lee County, Florida, October 4, 2022. The 111th is deployed to south Florida to respond to the devastation of Hurricane Ian.

U.S. Marines with with 2nd Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) load into a CH-53E Super Stallion during ANGLICO Basic Course (ABC) Infantry Week on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aug. 31, 2022. ABC is a four-week-long training event designed to integrate newly joined Marines with their assigned teams.

U.S. Army soldiers with 2nd Squadron, Red Platoon, representing the 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas, and 3rd Squadron Red Platoon representing the 1-502 Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team based out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, practice loading and unloading procedures during a safety exercise training on Fort Hood August 14, 2022. Soldiers receive the training to understand how to get soldiers on and off an aircraft safely. The best Squad Competition reinforces fundamental Soldier skills and Squad level tactics.

U.S. Marines observe Airmen from the 22nd Airlift Squadron load Marine Corps equipment onto a C-5M Super Galaxy at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 27, 2022. The C-5M transported over 100,000 pounds of Marine Corps equipment and personnel from Kadena AB, to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, as part of a Major Command Service Tail Trainer mission.

Members of the 36th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., carry a litter onto a WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft assigned to the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron June 23, 2022. The 36th AES is an Air Force Reserve unit within the 403rd Wing tasked with the lifesaving mission of providing care to patients in various airframes as they are transported to accommodating medical facilities.

U.S. Air Force bomb loader technicians assigned to the 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Minot Air Force Base N.D., prep a B-52 Stratofortress aircraft for munitions. A 4 person weapons load crew fit a B-52 aircraft with M117 and MK82 munitions at Minot AFB, April 21, 2011.

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 909th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron oversee a KC-135 hot-pit operation at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 28, 2022. Hot-pit refueling allows the aircraft to keep its engines running while receiving fuel, which minimizes ground time and ensures the mission will continue with minimal delay.

110325-F-UI176-727YOKOTA, Japan (March 25, 2011) Marines and Airmen push a pallet of supplies aboard a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft after a flight to Marines Corps Air Station Iwakuni to pick up Marines assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171. MWSS-171 is heading to Sendai Airport to set up portable showers for humanitarian assistance to Japan as part of Operation Tomodachi.

U.S. Army Sgt. Eric Segura, assigned to Alpha Battery, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, reassembles the firing mechanism for the M109 Paladin howitzer as part of his qualification training at Forward Operating Site Adazi, Latvia, July 1, 2022. The 3/4 ABCT is among other units assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, proudly working alongside NATO allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, Americas forward-deployed corps in Europe.

A U.S. Marine with Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, rehearses during fast rope training aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18) in the Sea of Japan, Sept. 5, 2022. Fast roping allows for fast inserts in a contested area. The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region.

Engineers prepare to test the parachute system for NASAs Orion spacecraft at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in Yuma, Arizona on Aug. 24, 2015. During the test, planned for Wednesday, Aug. 26, a C-17 aircraft will carry a representative Orion capsule to 35,000 feet in altitude and then drop it from its cargo bay. Engineers will test a scenario in which one of Orions two drogue parachutes, used to stabilize it in the air, does not deploy, and one of its three main parachutes, used to slow the capsule during the final stage of descent, also does not deploy. The risky test will provide data engineers will use as they gear up to qualify Orions parachutes for missions with astronauts. On Aug. 24, a C-17 was loaded with the test version of Orion, which has a similar mass and interfaces with the parachutes as the Orion being developed for deep space missions but is shorter on top to fit inside the aircraft. Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

U.S. Airmen from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing and U.S. Soldiers load a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System onto a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 41st Airlift Squadron at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, June 7, 2022. The 41st AES transports cargo to regions around the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Alaska Air National Guard Tech Sgt. Michael Cashman, a loadmaster on the HC-130J Combat King II aircraft with the 211th Rescue Squadron, 176th Wing, waits for clearance before leaving Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson with a delegation of 32 soldiers, airmen and civilians from the Alaska National Guard and Department of Military and Veterans Affairs bound for Gambell, Alaska, on St. Lawrence Island March 28, 2023.

The Interior Alaska Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps visits 168th Wing as part of summer camp and learns about the 168th Wing, pilot, boom operator, aircraft maintenance, security forces, and civil engineering missions. The Interior JROTC cadets are students at West Valley High School Marine Corps JROTC, Lathrop High School Army JROTC, Eielson Air Force Base High School Air Force JROTC, and North Pole High School Air Force JROTC.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Donovan Eliopulos, 321st Contingency Response Squadron commander's executive assistant, trains Airmen on C-17 Globemaster III protocols May 20, 2022, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. Airmen assigned to the 321st CRS conducted training on different skill sets used in the CR to develop mission-capable Airmen.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Abigail Bregenzer was promoted from Sergeant to Staff Sergeant on board a Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter.

U.S. Army Sgt. George Esquivel, a flight engineer with B Company, 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, California Army National Guard, loads members of a firefighting hand crew onto a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from, Sept. 9, 2019, in Red Bluff, California, before taking them to the Red Bank Fire in Tehama County. By midday, the Chinook and its crew had taken nearly 40 firefighters to work the fire lines in remote areas with rugged terrain.

SCHRIEVER SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- United States Air Force Airmen and Space Force Gaurdians load a Mobile Constellation Control Station aboard a C-17 at Peterson Space Force Base on Wednesday, Sept 14 2022. The unit is being transported to an operating location as part of the 4th Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Space Force Base's multi-day operation to provide proof of concept for missions outside of the United States returning the MCCS to Schriever Space Force Base. The 4th SOPS mission is to operate the U.S. Space Force's protected and wideband Military Satellite Communications systems. They provide warfighters global, secure, survivable, strategic and tactical communication during peacetime and throughout the full spectrum of conflict. ( U.S. Space Force Photo By: Tiana Williams)

Group of soldiers in camouflage uniforms hold weapons in a field tent, Plan and prepare for combat training. Group of soldiers in camouflage uniforms hold weapons in a field tent, Plan and prepare for combat training. ,model released, Symbolfoto Copyright: xZoonar.com/WosunanxPhotostoryx 21541960 ,model released, Symbolfoto ,property released

Paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division conduct Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) operations on February 21, 2024. FARP provides fuel and ordnance necessary for fixed-wing operations. Army

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph Collins, center left, Defense Health Agency noncommissioned officer in charge of respiratory, briefs U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, right, U.S. Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force commander, at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 18, 2024. Rupp's visit provided U.S. Air Force leadership from across Japan with a forum to discuss military quality of life issues, the global security environment, and increasing threats throughout the Pacific theater.

040305-A-1526R-014. Base: Muniz Air National Guard Base State: Puerto Rico (PR) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Staff Sgt. Faizan Farooq, 9th Airlift Squadron flight engineer, completes pre-flight checks before takeoff on a C-5M Super Galaxy at Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts, Jan. 4, 2023. Aircrew from the 9th AS retrieved a Dover Air Force Base C-5 from WARB, where it was undergoing maintenance in the isochronal dock.

BOSTON (Sept. 27, 2022) U.S. Navy petty officers first class, selected for promotion to chief petty officer, participate in a gun drill during Chief Petty Officer Heritage Weeks. During the week, Constitution Sailors teach the selectees a variety of time-honored maritime evolutions while living and working aboard the ship.USS Constitution, is the worlds oldest commissioned warship afloat, and played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855. During normal operations, the active-duty Sailors stationed aboard USS Constitution provide free tours and offer public visitation to more than 600,000 people a year as they support the ships mission of promoting the Navys history and maritime heritage and raising awareness of the importance of a sustained naval presence. USS Constitution was undefeated in battle and destroyed or captured 33 opponents. The ship earned the nickname of Old Ironsides during the war of 1812 when British canno

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron work alongside Airmen from McConnell Air Force Bases Agile Combat Employment office to remove all excess fuel from the Versatile Integrating Partner Equipment Refueling (VIPER) kit at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 7, 2022. The VIPER kit is a universal system that can be outfitted with multiple adapters to refuel varying airframes, pushing the envelope of U.S. Air Force refueling capabilities.

Spc. Brandon Delgado, a U.S. Army Trooper assigned to Apex Battery, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, loads a round into an M109 Paladin during a Table XVIII combined-arms live-fire exercise, Jan. 17 on Fort Cavazos, Texas. Paladin crews are responsible for supporting the movement of ground forces through artillery fire.

030418-F-3217C-006. Base: Tyndall Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AETC

U.S. Army Paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, board a C17 Globemaster III Aircraft from 86AW/37th Airlift Squadron at Aviano Air Base, in Pordenone, Italy Sept. 7, 2022 in preparation for an airborne operation onto Hohenfels Drop Zone, Germany as part of Exercise Saber Junction 22. Saber Junction 22 is a multinational rotational exercise designed to assess the readiness of the U.S. Armys 173rd Airborne Brigade to execute unified land operations in a joint, combined environment and to promote interoperability with more than 4,500 participants from the U.S. and Allied and partner nations at the U.S. Armys Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels training areas from August 29 to September 20, 2022.

U.S. Air Force Col. Rudolph Cachuela, Air Mobility Command surgeon general, and Chief Master Sgt. James Woods, AMC Office of the Surgeon General chief of medical enlisted force, speaks with 87th Medical Group staff onboard a KC-46A Pegasus during his visit to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Sept. 22, 2022. Cachuela toured the 87th MDG, Joint Base MDL Medical Simulation Training Center and the 87th Air Base Wing Headquarters.

U.S. Air Force Col. Rudolph Cachuela, Air Mobility Command surgeon general, and Chief Master Sgt. James Woods, AMC Office of the Surgeon General chief of medical enlisted force, speaks with 87th Medical Group staff onboard a KC-46A Pegasus during his visit to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Sept. 22, 2022. Cachuela toured the 87th MDG, Joint Base MDL Medical Simulation Training Center and the 87th Air Base Wing Headquarters.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Gerald Burroghs, a traffic manager with the 137th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron (SOLRS), Oklahoma National Guard, pushes cargo onto an aircraft at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma City, Oct. 13, 2022. In a total force partnership, the 137th SOLRS and five members of the 321st Contingency Readiness Squadron partnered to conduct passenger and cargo movement, working with Joint Base Charleston active and Reserve aircrew to load a C-17 Globemaster III.

Airmen from the 176th and 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadrons secure an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter and equipment on a 144th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III in preparation to transport the helicopter to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richadson, Alaska. The Pave Hawk experienced a malfunction after completing a medevac mission in Western Alaska. The aircraft landed safely at the Alaska Army National Guard hangar in Bethel after the mission but was unable to complete the trip back to JBER. The ability to seamlessly transition from rescue operations to global mobility provides the 176th Wing with a strategic edge, showcasing the Wings commitment to agile combat employment and effectiveness when handling complex situations, both within the state and across the globe. (Alaska National Guard

Maintainers from the 151st Air Refueling Wing participate in an unprecedented joint force exercise on Sept. 8, 2022 at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. The exercise provided an opportunity for cross-platform familiarization training for fuels and crew chiefs who were able to get first-hand experience with multiple platforms they usually would not obtain at their home station, adding to the war fighting efforts.

Maintainers from the 151st Air Refueling Wing participate in an unprecedented joint force exercise on Sept. 8, 2022 at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. The exercise provided an opportunity for cross-platform familiarization training for fuels and crew chiefs who were able to get first-hand experience with multiple platforms they usually would not obtain at their home station, adding to the war fighting efforts.

110423-N-RC734-340GULF OF ADEN (April 23, 2011) Marines assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (13th MEU) board a landing craft air cushion (LCAC) assigned to assault craft unit (ACU) 5 aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45). Comstock is underway supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

The 96th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Red team pick up an AIM-9 onto the rail during the squadrons weapons load competition July 29 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The Red team battled the Blue (F-16) team for weapons loadcrew supremacy during the quarterly competition. The Red team claimed victory this quarter. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

A crew chief with the 421st Fighter Generation Squadron, prepares a F-35A Lightning II for takeoff during Exercise Agile Tiger on April 5, 2022, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. Exercise Agile Tiger is designed to grow warfighting talent.

Paratroopers from the U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division, board a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan, in preparation for a joint forcible entry exercise during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 24-02 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Feb. 8, 2024. The 11th Airborne Division is taking advantage of JPMRC 24-02s location to innovate, experiment with, and test new equipment to give our soldiers a tactical edge against any adversary, in the worlds harshest environment. Air Force

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Maximiliano Montes, 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron C-130J Super Hercules aircraft maintenance journeyman, inspects components of a C-130J at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Feb. 9, 2024. Montes competed in the second annual 86th Maintenance Group Aerospace Maintenance Competition. Air Force

Two airmen remove a panel from an F-16 Fighting Falcon during an Air National Guard commercial shoot in Peoria, Ill., Sept. 28, 2012.

Airmen with the 124th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron launch, recover, and perform routine systems checks on the A-10 Thunderbolt II, June 7, 2022 at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. The 124th Fighter Wing is participating in Agile Rage, a guard bureau-led effort to execute on the Air Forces agile combat employment mission.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jared Theoy, a loadmaster with the 7th Airlift Squadron, straps down baggage before a flight at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Oct. 7, 2022. Team McChord Airmen are preparing to participate in Exercise RED FLAG-Alaska 23-1 as part of Exercise Rainier War 22B. Exercise Rainier War is a full-scale readiness exercise with an Air Force Generation prioritization; demonstrating the ability to generate, employ and sustain a combat force during a rigorous wartime scenario.

EDUCATING OUR YOUTH: More than 25 teenagers from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County, Idaho, toured Gowen Field as part of their out-of-school program to learn more about the Idaho Army National Guard's equipment and missions on July 8.During the day, teens visited with the Idaho National Guard's 204th Regional Training Institute, where they enjoyed learning about and climbing around on some of the organization's tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Heavy Equipment Transporters and trailers.For lunch, they got to experience a meal fit for a Soldier by chowing down on some "Tailored Operational Training Meals", similar to the more common "Meals Ready-to-Eat" but packaged with less calories.Later, the group visited with the Idaho Army National Guard's State Aviation Group, where they got to interact with some of its rotary wing pilots and crew chiefs. To end the day, they climbed around several UH-60 Black Hawks and felt what it's like to sit behind the helicopter's steering system.

Weapons cargo bound for Ukraine is loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster III during a security assistance mission at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Sept. 14, 2022. Since 2014, the U.S. has committed more than $15.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Daniel McAllister, an F-15 pilot from the Oregon Air National Guard's 142nd Wing, prepares to take-off from Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon in support of North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) Operation Noble Defender (OND), Sept. 14, 2022. This recurring Noble Defender operation, demonstrated the ability to launch at a moments notice from dispersed air and maritime locations to defend Northern approaches in multiple regions across the continent from all domains, displaying resilience in the face of multiple and complex threats. NORAD is a bi-national Canadian and American command that employs a network of aerial, ground-based, and space-based sensors, air-to-air refueling tankers, and fighter aircraft controlled by a sophisticated command and control network to deter, detect, and defend against aerial threats that originate outside or within North American airspace.

An Airman assigned to the 79th Fighter Generation Squadron works on the underside of an F-16 Viper at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, April 21, 2022. The 20th Fighter Wing is delivering ready forces for combat operations with Airmen who are expertly trained and prepared to deploy at any time.

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