Military Airdrops and Paratroopers

Images depict military personnel involved in arial operations, including paratroopers jumping from aircraft, cargo being loaded, and supplies being airdropped.

Marines with Landing Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, participate in an external load lifting exercise with a CH-53E Super Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 as the Helicopter Support Team aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Oct. 9, 2013. Training exercises, such as this one, enhance a unit's deployment readiness capabilities by exposing Marines and equipment to realistic combat scenarios.

Men shooting grouse, Berwickshire, Scotland

010203-F-5009P-011. Base: Ahmedabad Country: India (IND)

A view from the interior of a 747 cargo aircraft as equipment arrives to be loaded aboard during Operation Ocean Venture '82. Subject Operation/Series: OCEAN VENTURE '82 Base: Fort Campbell State: Kentucky (KY) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 conduct maintenance on F-35B Lightning II aircraft while underway aboard the amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 13, 2022. Marines with VMFA-121, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, are conducting flight operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Marines with Landing Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, participate in an external load lifting exercise with a CH-53E Super Stallion from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 as the Helicopter Support Team aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Oct. 9, 2013. Training exercises, such as this one, enhance a unit's deployment readiness capabilities by exposing Marines and equipment to realistic combat scenarios.

Members from the 401st Transportation Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy paint Small Unit Support Vehicles. Vehicles will be used this winter for troop transport as part of the U.N.'s task force in Macedonia, Croatia. Base: Aviano Air Base State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA)

Supplies - 26-HK-269-46. Hurricane Katrina

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jordan Downey, a special communications signal collections operator with 3d Radio Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, conducts a radio check during Jungle Warfare Exercise 23 in the Central Training Area on Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 15, 2023. JWX 23 is a large-scale field training exercise focused on leveraging the integrated capabilities of joint and allied partners to strengthen all-domain awareness, maneuver, and fires across a distributed maritime environment. Downey is a native of Waterville, New York.

220922-N-XN177-1036 PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 22, 2022) - Sailors show the crew of an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 that chocks and chains have been removed on the flight deck aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7) Sept. 22, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

020725-N-6492H-555. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

220628-N-XN177-2105 EAST CHINA SEA (June 28, 2022) - An F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 121 prepares to launch from the flight deck of amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 28, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Royal Bermuda Regiment conducts Military Operations on Urban Terrain (MOUT) at the MOUT town on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, May 17, 2022. MCB Camp Lejeune hosted the Royal Bermuda Regiment during Exercise Island Warrior. The exercise strengthened the partnership between the Royal Bermuda Regiment and U.S. Marine Corps and the training and resources provided by the base enhanced the warfighting skills and readiness of the Royal Bermuda Regiment.

Coast Guard Personnel - Miscellaneous - 26-HK-90-231. Coast Guardsman on storage tank4. Hurricane Katrina

Sailors stand at parade rest near an SH-3H Sea King helicopter on the deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) at the ship's commissioning. Base: Naval Air Station, Norfolk State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Airmen and NATO allies gather for a group photo after the first joint foreign object debris (FOD) walk at Incirlik Air Base, May 26, 2022. U.S. Airmen joined with Turkish and Spanish military forces for the event, which demonstrated the interoperability with our allies and a mutual respect for Turkish and U.S. resources. FOD walks are designed to have as many people as possible go to a particular site to examine the flight line to help gather trash, rocks, loose metal objects, or anything else that could become a FOD hazard.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jason Moore, 25th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, closes exterior panels of an A-10 Thunderbolt II during preflight procedures prior to flight operations in support of exercise RED FLAG-Alaska 22-2 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 16, 2022. Approximately 1,600 service members are expected to fly, maintain and support more than 70 aircraft from 22 units during this iteration of RF-A.

AMN Ephrian R. Thomas (left) and SRA Amanda N. Yozorski (right), 437th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, secure an updated, newly designed engine cover for the C-141 Starlifter. The new covers are part of the recently implemented Aircraft Enhancement Program and will standardize the colors for the C-17 Globemaster III and C-141 Starlifter. The covers are locally manufactured by the Survival Equipment Element. Base: Charleston Air Force Base State: South Carolina (SC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

040810-F-5043B-028. Country: Unknown Scene Major Command Shown: CENTAF

220603-N-N3764-1006Caribbean Sea - (June 3, 2022) Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Michael King, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28, Detachment 8, washes an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter on the flight deck of the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15), June 3, 2022. Billings is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

220626-N-XN177-2283 PHILIPPINE SEA (June 26, 2022) - An F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 121 launches from the flight deck of amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 26, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

221030-N-IG750-1134 PHILIPPINE SEA (Oct. 30, 2022) Sailors aboard the Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship, USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7), send supplies to the U.S. Navys only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), during a replenishment-at-sea in the Philippine Sea, Oct. 30. Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, and supports alliances, partnerships and collective maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Idaho Army National Guards Mortar Platoon, HHC, 2-116th Combined Arms Battalion sharpen their skills preparing for deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

The 500-pound GBU-22, foreground, and the 2000-pound GBU-24 Paveway III low-level laser-guided bombs. Base: Eglin Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An Iraqi general looks at the captured enemy weapons that were turned in by Marines with Engineer Ordnance Maintenance Platoon, Maintenance Company, 2nd Supply Battalion Reinforced, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), at the Taji National Maintenance Depot aboard Camp Taji, Iraq, July 28. The depot is responsible for destroying unserviceable weapons and turning over serviceable weapons to the Iraqi government to support the Iraqi army.

DN-ST-89-11364. Base: Nas, Alameda State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Combat Engineer Soldiers in Alpha and Bravo Companies, 236th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina Army National Guard, conduct engineer qualification table VI, which includes M2 Bradley live fire and breaching an obstacle, on a training range in the vicinity of Fort Bliss, Texas, Sept. 26, 2019.

Forward view from the cockpit of a Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star, somewhere in Korea. Buildings, telephone lines, and sandbags appear in the background.

031103-F-1798W-005. Base: Tikrit State: Salah Ad Din Country: Iraq (IRQ)

PACIFIC OCEAN (May 12, 2022) A CH-47 Chinook helicopter, assigned to U.S. Armys 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, prepares to land on the flight deck of Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) while underway for Pacific Partnership 2022. Now in its 17th year, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific.

221019-N-KY668-1146NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. - (Oct. 19, 2022) - The Brazilian Navy Training Ship NE Brasil (U 27) pulls into Naval Station Mayport, Florida, Oct. 19, 2022. Brasil is a training ship and its mission is to provide training to Midshipmen and to represent Brazil while sailing abroad. During the Midshipmen cruise, sailors are trained in navigation, meteorology, seamanship and damage control while introducing the crew to life onboard a ship.

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 27th Special Operations Security Forces Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element and 27th Special Operations Mission Support Group Mission Sustainment Team 2 perform sentry duty during a Coyote Dicer joint exercise at Melrose Air Force Range, May 18, 2022. U.S. Army Green Berets assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group trained and integrated DAGRE Airmen and simulated partner nation forces into forward base defense operations performed by MST Airmen. The multilateral field exercises purpose is to train and validate air and ground component readiness to execute direct action and close air support missions through various training scenarios.

A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing, stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, rests on the flight line at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Dec. 1, 2022. Airmen assigned to the 437th Airlift Wing and 509th BW performed a specialized fuel operation, marking the first time a C-17 refueled a B-2, increasing flexibility for the bomber to conduct agile combat employment operations.

120207-N-JL826-024 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Feb. 7, 2012) Airman Bart A. Taylor, assigned to the Knighthawks of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136, wipes down the cockpit of an F/A-18F aircraft aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). Enterprise is underway participating in exercise Bold Alligator 2012, the largest naval amphibious exercise in the past 10 years, which represents the Navy and Marine Corps' revitalization of the full range of amphibious operations. The exercise focuses on today's fight with today's forces, while showcasing the advantages of seabasing. This exercise will take place 30 Jan -12 Feb, 2012 afloat and ashore in and around Virginia and North Carolina.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Chance Oakes, a flight-line mechanic with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 464, guides a CH-53E Super Stallion prior to takeoff at an undisclosed location, Oct. 11, 2022. HMH-464 provided assault support for Marine Forces Special Operations Command during Exercise Raven 23-1 to enhance combat readiness in an unfamiliar expeditionary environment. HMH-464 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force.

Soldiers assigned to the 1st Combined Arms, 1-163rd Cavalry Regiment conduct vehicle recovery operations during the U.S. Army Central Best Squad Competition at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, May 5, 2022. BSC measures the physical and mental ability of squad level elements over the course of the four-day event.

220507-N-CY569-1030 MEDATERANIAN SEA (May 7, 2022) Sailor acts as simulated casualty during a general quarters drill in the hangar bay of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), May 7, 2022. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S., allied and partner interests in Europe and Africa.

A KC-10 Extender assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing is prepped for divestment at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. on Sept. 15, 2022. The retirement of the KC-10 was heralded by the arrival of the KC-46 Pegasus, which now serves the 305th AMW as the backbone of its strategic global refueling mission.

Sgt. Nathanial Hersil, a Soldier with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 120th Field Artillery, completes a medical lane during the Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis., April 9, 2022. The State Best Warrior Competition tested the 16 competing Soldiers on their basic Soldier skills to determine who will represent Wisconsin at the Regional Best Warrior Competition in May. (112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment photo by Spc. Alexandra Behne)

AIRMAN Apprentice Quincy L. Clausnitzer of the VC-5 Line Division, signals the pilot of an A-4E Skyhawk aircraft prior to takeoff. Base: Naval Air Station, Cubi Point State: Luzon Country: Philippines (PHL)

The Hazardous Substance Incident Response Management class provides personnel with the knowledge and skills necessary to respond safely and effectively to the release of hazardous substances.VFA-86's LS1 Chris Ballesteros was the first to don the Level A HAZMAT Protection Suit.

The Advanced Air MobilityNational Campaign project’s NC Integrated Dry Run Test team is pictured in front of a Bell OH-58C Kiowa helicopter provided by Flight Research Inc. in Mojave, California the first week of December 2020 at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California.

U.S. Air Force 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron Weapons Systems Officer Capt. Jonah Kanye West conducts simulated pre-planned strikes in a 23EBS B-52H Stratofortress with the Belgian Air Force during a Bomber Task Force mission over Belgium Aug. 24, 2022. This BTF mission integrated with German and Belgian Air Forces, demonstrating the United States commitment and assurance to NATO allies and partners.

A U.S. Marine Corps drill instructor with Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, introduces himself to new recruits on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Sept. 2, 2022. Lima Company will spend Forming Day learning the rules and regulations of recruit training.

Members of 15th Brigade, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), conduct artillery operations during a training event at Camp Naha, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 6, 2022. 15th Helo Unit conducted aviation training, which coincided with the JGSDF 15th Brigade's 12th Anniversary.

U.S. Marines with 8th Communication Battalion (8th Comm), II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) Information Group, stand by a Teams Antenna during a mission rehearsal exercise (MRX) aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Dec. 12, 2022. Marines from 8th Comm conducted MRX to demonstrate the capability to support MEF-level exercises in the future.

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214 (VMFA-214), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, participate in a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Feb.1, 2024. During the change of command ceremony Lt. Col. Christopher J. Kelly, outgoing commanding officer, relinquished command to Lt. Col. Robert F. Guyette, incoming commanding officer. Marine Corps

A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, participates in an aerial maneuver rehearsal alongside aircraft from the Turkish military during exercise EFES 2022 in Turkey, June 4, 2022. EFES22 is an international combined joint live-fire exercise focused on increasing force readiness, promoting stability and prosperity in the region, and interoperability between the U.S., Turkey, and allied nations.

A U.S. Marine Corps recruit with Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, aims down range during a table one course of fire at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 5, 2024. Table one course of fire is designed to introduce recruits to the basic fundamentals of marksmanship and rifle safety. Marine Corps

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jaderik Williams, 347th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment journeyman, places a dated tag on a V7 Quick-don mask at the 71st Rescue Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Jan. 4, 2023. The V7 Quick-don mask allows for continual oxygen flow if smoke is detected in the aircraft. The masks are sanitized and tested four times within the 120-day inspection cycle.

DN-ST-86-00437. Base: Nav Station Anacostia Washington State: District Of Columbia (DC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

220626-N-XN177-2326 PHILIPPINE SEA (June 26, 2022) - An F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 121 lands aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 26, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. Soldier using Mine Detector to Identify Mines Laid in Field, Normandy, France, June 1944

Soldiers from the Alabama National Guard's 31st CBRN Brigade and Romania's 72nd NBC Defense Battalion join forces to crosstrain on tactics, techniques, procedures, and equipment at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, April 24-30, 2022. The troops integrated into combined teams for exercises involving hazardous material reconnaissance, analysis and decontamination; Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle (NBCRV) operations; site security; medevac; M4 carbine marksmanship; machine gunnery and more. The force-to-force engagement was the second part of a two-part event, with the first held in Romania in September 2021. Both engagements focused on maintaining readiness and enabling troops from both nations to work together in the same environments to defend against imminent threats from near-peer adversaries in the Black Sea region.

Novi, Michigan, Military contractors disiplay weapons for the U.S. Army at the Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering & Technology Symposium (GVSETS) . HDT Global showed its Wolf-X robotic combat vehicle

Diver in hard hat on exhibit at the History of Diving Museum, Islamorada, Florida

220828-N-QI593-1007 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 28, 2022) Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Manuel Monge, from Amarillo, Texas, assigned to the Proud Warriors” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 72, cleans the blades of an MH- 60R Seahawk helicopter on the flight deck aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) in the Atlantic Ocean, Aug. 28, 2022. Bainbridge is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet, to defend U.S., allied and partner interests.

U.S. Marines with 3d Battalion, 3d Marines conduct fire team attack drills on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 8, 2022. This training improved the Marines proficiency at the tactical level and developed small-unit leadership. 3/3 is forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program.

New U.S. Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, run in formation during a motivational run at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Oct. 13, 2022. The motivational run was the last physical fitness event conducted in recruit training.

220512-N-IL330-2094 PACIFIC OCEAN (May 12, 2022) - Damage Controlman Fireman Abigail Alejo, from Tampa, Florida, checks spray nozzles during a countermeasure wash-down on the flight deck aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), May 12, 2022. Tripoli is underway conducting routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet.

A test site maintainer with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division launches a catapult at the electromagnetic aircraft launcher system testing site on May 11, 2022, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. NAVAIR's mission is to provide full life-cycle support of naval aviation aircraft, weapons and systems operated by Sailors and Marines. This support includes research, design, development and systems engineering; acquisition; test and evaluation; training facilities and equipment; repair and modification; and in-service engineering and logistics support.

iss053e315809 (Dec. 5, 2017) --- Expedition 53 astronauts aboard the International Space Station took this photo of the California wildfires in the Los Angeles on Dec. 5, 2017.

U.S. Navy Capt. Michel Brandt, back, commanding officer of the amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25), leads sailors from the Royal Thai Navy on a tour of Somerset Feb. 23, 2024. Exercise Cobra Gold demonstrates the U.S. commitment to the region by building interoperability, multilateral cooperative arrangements, advancing common interests, and a commitment to our allies and partners in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Marine Corps

A close up view of the Stabilization Force (SFOR) acronym stenciled on the side of a vehicle. As part of the change from Operation Joint Endeavor to Operation JOINT GUARD, all military vehicles in the Bosnian Theater must now display the SFOR symbol. Subject Operation/Series: JOINT GUARD Base: Sarajevo Country: Bosnia And/I Herzegovina (BIH)

060220-M-4855P-022. Base: Leyte Country: Philippines (PHL)

of 2