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Military Graduation Ceremonies

Images showcase groups of airmen in uniform during graduation ceremonies, marching in formation, and saluting, set against a backdrop of cheering crowds.

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Lee Mills, left, Lt. Gen. David Krumm, Col. Kirsten Aguilar, and Col. David Wilson salute the American flag during the 673d Air Base Wing and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, change of command ceremony at Heritage Park on JBER, June 28, 2022. U.S. Air Force Col. Kirsten G. Aguilar turned over command to Col. David J. Wilson as Lt. Gen. David A. Krumm, commander Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Region, Alaskan Command, and 11th Air Force, officiated before gathered family members, distinguished guests and military personnel.

Tomokatsu Morita, 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron aircraft refueling vehicle operator, briefs Japan Air Self Defense Force logistics officer trainees on refueling truck operations at the 374th Fuels Management Flight building during a regular bilateral forces tour of Logistics Readiness Squadron units at Yokota Air Base, Japan, July 6, 2022. JASDF logistics trainees based out of Ashiya Air Base, Japan, have visited Team Yokota multiple times a year since 2003 to experience allied logistics operations first-hand, in preparation for working alongside U.S. forces as they progress into their career fields.

A Vandenberg honor guardsman posts the Space Force colors during a change of command ceremony on Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., July 8, 2022. U.S. Air Force Col. Jessica Spitler relinquished command to U.S. Air Force Col. Brent J. Cunningham.

The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, headline the Fort Wayne Air Show, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, June 5, 2022. The Thunderbirds are slated to perform nearly seventy air shows in almost three dozen different locations this year.

030206-F-6701P-001. Base: Ramstein Air Base State: Rheinland-Pfalz Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

Capt. Kathy Felger, the commanding officer of U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, gives remarks during a Memorial Day ceremony, May 30, 2022, on base in Cape May, N.J. This Memorial Day, Adm. Karl Schultz, commandant of the Coast Guard, called on all members of the service to honor and remember our countrymen who were killed on the battlefield or died from related injuries or sickness as they fought to preserve the ideals of freedom and democracy. The Coast Guard will remember all United States Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and Merchant Mariners who paid the ultimate sacrifice, who gave their last full measure of devotion fighting for our Nation and the family members they left behind.U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Timothy Tamargo

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Emily Wilson, assigned to the 36th Security Forces Squadron raises the U.S. flag during the annual Peace Officers Memorial Service and Wreath Laying Ceremony on May 15, 2022, at the Hagatna Police Precinct, Guam. The ceremony was held to honor all the law enforcement agencies on Guam, as well as those protectors who have fallen in the line of duty.

041106-D-8175-W-002. Base: San Antonio State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Dave Millard, a 173rd Fighter Wing Honor Guard member, salutes the flag during a retreat ceremony at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Ore., Oct. 28, 2022. The honor guard is an important part of nearly every Air Force ceremony, from posting the colors to ceremonial flag folding and military funeral honors.

Nearly 20 Soldiers from Blanchfield Army Community Hospital and the 531st Hospital Center were formally welcomed into the U.S. Armys Noncommissioned Officer Corps at an NCO Induction Ceremony at Fort Campbells Wilson Theater, June 27.

More than 500 Airmen assigned to the 323rd Training Squadron graduated from Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Sept 14-15, 2022. Col. Lauren A. Courchaine, Commander, 37th Training Wing, reviewed the ceremony

U.S. Air Force Academy -- An international cadet holds up his home nation's flag during the U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2022 Graduation Ceremony at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 25, 2022. Nine-hundred-seventy cadets crossed the stage to become the Air Force/Space Forces newest second lieutenants. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joshua Armstrong)

U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy Honor Guardsmen, present the U.S. Flag to salute during a Memorial Day ceremony at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 27, 2022. Memorial Day also provides the opportunity to pay homage to the families that have lost loved ones in service to their country.

Canadian Armed Forces Chief of the Defense Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre presides over the North American Aerospace Defense Command Colors passing between U.S. Northern Command and NORAD Outgoing Commander Air Force Gen. Glen D. VanHerck and Incoming Commander Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot during the U.S. NORTHCOM and NORAD Change of Command ceremony at Peterson Space Force Base, Feb. 5, 2024. (DoD

More than 500 Airmen assigned to the 324th Training Squadron graduated from Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Sept 7-8, 2022. Maj. Gen. Craig Wills, 19th Air Force commander, reviewed the ceremony.

Yokota Air Base Honor Guard march in formation during the 374th Maintenance Squadron change of command ceremony, May 23, 2022, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. A change of command is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit from one commanding or flag officer to another.

U.S. Air Forces SrA Aliyah Lugo, 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber), renders a salute to the over 300 fallen silent warriors at a ceremony held Sept. 9, 2022 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. Jay Raymond and Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Roger A. Towberman salute during a basic military training graduation ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, on June 23, 2022. The ceremony marked a milestone as the first BMT graduation to include all-Guardian flights, taught by Guardian military training instructors, using Space Force specific curriculum.

Bradley Reppert of the Fire Department of the City of New York tolls a bell in honor of the 2,996 lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, during the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., Sept. 9, 2022. The annual event is held in honor of those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, and in remembrance of those who responded.

U.S. Air Force airmen line the walkway to the Wings of Liberty Park, recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the U.S. Air Force. The celebration was a joint venture between RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath personnel. Base: Raf Lakenheath State: East Anglia Country: England / Great Britain (ENG)

More than 600 Airmen assigned to the 320th Training Squadron graduated from Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, July 7-8, 2022. Col. Catherine Barrington, 90th Missile Wing commander, reviewed the ceremony.

Military leaders from Joint Base San Antonio and local Fiesta and community members show honors during the All Veterans Memorial Service in San Antonio, Texas, April 10, 2022. The All Veterans Memorial Service is the oldest military event in Fiesta San Antonio and is hosted by the Alamo Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America. The service, attended by veterans, spouses and survivors, veterans groups, and the general public, honors the sacrifices of past and present U.S. military members.

010330-F-0857S-503. Base: Ramstein Air Base State: Rheinland-Pfalz Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Basic cadets from the class of 2026 arrive at the U.S. Air Force Academy for in-processing (I-Day), on June 23, 2022, in Colorado Springs, Colo. I-Day marks the start of their journey of becoming a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force and Space Force.

Soldiers of the first graduating class of the Patriot Academy, the first ever accredited military high school in U.S. history, sit awaiting their diplomas at their graduation ceremony at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, Ind., March 18. The program was design to combat the nations epidemic drop out rates and to give troubled youth a second chance.

Remains of U.S. Army Air Corps Cpl. LaVerne Dirk Van Dyke, B-25 crew member, is laid to rest at the Zeeland Cemetery, Michigan, May 12, 2022. Van Dyke's great-niece, Beth Klomparen and great-nephew, Steve Klomparen accepted the ceremonial folded flag from Wright-Patterson Air Force Honor Guard 80 years after Van Dykes death. Remains of six crew members were found in a remote area of Papua New Guinea in 1998. The DNA analysis process to identify the remains took 20 years and another three years to bring Van Dyke home to his final resting place.

More than 700 Airmen assigned to Flights 90-72, graduated from U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, January 03-04, 2024. Col. Nathan T. Colunga, Commander, Special Warfare Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex, Texas, reviewed the ceremony.

041215-F-9471G-005. Base: Mcguire Air Force Base State: New Jersey (NJ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Silent Drill Team prepare for a performance during the Coast Guard Designation Ceremony for Greater Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, Jan. 26, 2023. During the Ceremony, Greater Charleston was officially recognized as the 33rd Coast Guard community through a program that honors communities that provide outstanding support to Coast Guard members and their families.

A Coast Guard Academy swab tries to maintain military bearing as her cadre swarm around her on Day One, June 27, 2022.

Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment White Currahee” were given the opportunity to represent the 3rd Brigade Combat Team and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during the funeral service of Jim Pee Wee” Martin at the Dayton National Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio September 21, 2022.Martin was a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division, he fought on D-Day in Nazi occupied France; In addition to the invasion of Normandy, Martin also parachuted in Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands, and the Battle of the Bulge.At the age of 101 Martin passed away peacefully in his home on September 11, 2022. He was one of the last remaining Airborne "Toccoa Originals" of 1942.

The flag is folded by members of the 181st Intelligence Wing base honor guard during a retreat ceremony at Hulman Field Air National Guard Base, Ind., Sept. 10, 2022. Retreat ceremonies are held to represent two things: signifying the end of the official duty day and paying respect to the flag and everything for which it stands.

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- U.S. Air Force Academy cadets participate in the annual Acceptance Day Parade. During this event, cadets receive their fourth-class shoulder boards to recognize completing Basic Cadet Training (BCT) and to signify their acceptance into the Cadet Wing. The parade takes place on the Academys Stillman Field in Colorado Springs, Colo., August 5th, 2022.

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Basic cadets from the Class of 2027 arrive at the U.S. Air Force Academy for in-processing (I-Day), on June 28, 2023, in Colorado Springs, Colo. I-Day marks the start of their journey of becoming a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force and Space Force.

Canada, Nova Scotia, Halifax. Citadel, National Historic Site. Detail of historic military uniform. (Editorial Usage Only)

040715-F-8156G-001. Base: RAF Mildenhall State: Suffolk Country: England / Great Britain (ENG) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

U.S. Space Force Tech Sgt. Oscar Llamas, Military Training Instructor, 1st Delta Operations Squadron, bumps fists with a basic military training Guardian graduate during a coining ceremony on June 22, 2022, at the Pfingston Reception Center on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

More than 500 Airmen assigned to the 320th Training Squadron graduated from Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, August 31-Sept 1, 2022. Brig. Gen. Randy P. Oakland, Director of Operations and Communications, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, JBSA-Randolph, Texas, reviewed the ceremony.

Airmen from the 420th Munitions Squadron, right, salute during the national anthem at RAF Welford, England, Nov. 10, 2022. Airmen from the 501st Combat Support Wing, Royal Air Force, and distinguished guests came together to honor the sacrifices of armed forces veterans, past and present.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Sam Gonzalez, a first sergeant for the 146th Mission Support Group, 146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard, evaluates a teams performance in the exhibition drill event of the California Cadet Corps statewide drill competition, April 23, 2022, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. Gonzalez and fellow Airmen from the 146th Mission Support Group volunteered to judge the competition alongside service members from both the Army National Guard and California State Guard. California Cadet Corps is a school-based youth leadership development program run by the Cal Guards Task Force Torch which focuses on youth and community programs.

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., salutes the U.S. Air Force Total Force Band as they pass during the Tournament of Roses Parade Jan. 1, 2022, in Pasadena, California. Americas Air Force participated in Americas New Year Celebration that includes the Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl Game, to kick-off 2022 and a yearlong celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Department of the Air Force.

The Soldiers of the Connecticut National Guard's Officer Candidate School, class 67, pose for a photo with Maj. Gen. Francis Evon, adjutant general of the Connecticut Guard, and Brig. gen. Ralph Hedenberg, assistant adjutant general - Army, following a commissioning ceremony at Camp Nett, Niantic, Connecticut, Aug. 20, 2022.

More than 700 Airmen assigned to Flights 90-72, graduated from U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, January 03-04, 2024. Col. Nathan T. Colunga, Commander, Special Warfare Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex, Texas, reviewed the ceremony.

A Soldier assigned to 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, watches the activities of a Dining In at Ft. Carson, Colo., Sept. 9. The brigade held the dining in to celebrate its past, build a more cohesive team, and provide a social atmosphere for camaraderie and fun. U.S. Army photo by Maj. Jason Elmore.

Col. David Lopez, Commander of Air Combat Command's Executive, promotes to Brigadier General at Langley Air Force Base, May 22, 2022. Lopez was presented his 1 star general officer flag.

More than 500 Airmen assigned to the 323rd Training Squadron graduated from Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, July 20-21, 2022. Col. Lauren A. Courchaine, Commander, 37th Training Wing, reviewed the ceremony.

040614-F-4350W-002. Base: RAF Lakenheath State: Suffolk Country: United Kingdom (GBR)

The four Army JROTC Cadets chosen to participate in the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier pose with Tom Tolbert, Director of the Army JROTC Leadership Bowl (left), and Col. Casey Geist, director of Army JROTC (right). The Cadets were in Washington D.C. to compete in the 2022 Army JROTC Leadership Bowl that took place June 19-22. | Sarah Windmueller, U.S. Army Cadet Command Public Affairs

Elizabeth Giebler, the senior math instructor at the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School, selects new cadets she taught last year to join her during the annual Ice Cream Social event on Sunday at West Point. West Pointʼs community members gathered at The Plain to play host to over 1,200 new cadets who enjoyed a dayʼs rest during the Ice Cream Social, also known as New Cadet Visitation Day.

U.S. Air Force Col. Gwendolyn Foster, left, outgoing Defense Health Agency Sacramento Market director and 60th Medical Group commander, prepares to relinquish command during the DHA Sacramento Market change of directorship and the 60th MDG change of command ceremony at David Grant USAF Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, California, July 13, 2022. The change of command ceremony is rooted in military history, dating back to the 18th century, where the command flag is passed to the individual assuming command in the presence of the entire unit.

U.S. Air Force Airmen and their families attend the 75th Air Force Ball at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Sept. 17, 2022. The ball brought Team Moody and their families together to celebrate 75 years of airpower. The Air Force was established through the National Security Act on Sept. 18, 1947.

PENSACOLA, Fla. - An audience of Navy sailors grins at the stage during their graduation from the Navy Recruiting Orientation Unit (NORU) on 08 Dec, 2023. From here, these new recruiters will disperse to recruiting stations across the country and use their skills to help man the fleet.NORU is the Navys sole recruiting schoolhouse responsible for the instruction of Enlisted and Officer personnel in professional sales, prospecting techniques, marketing, applicant processing, recruiting terminology, leadership, ethical behavior, and activity analysis. It also provides continuum training for the Navys Career Recruiting Force and prepares selected leaders for the challenges of operating a Navy Recruiting District (NRD).

The chief petty officer cover is presented during the chief petty officer (CPO) pinning ceremony for Sailors from the first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Destroyer Squadron Two and Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12, Oct. 21, 2022. Fifty six Sailors were pinned during the CPO pinning ceremony held in the hangar bay, Oct. 21, 2022. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) is deployed in the Atlantic Ocean, conducting training and operations alongside NATO Allies and partners to enhance integration for future operations and demonstrate the U.S. Navys commitment to a peaceful, stable and conflict-free Atlantic region.

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY NAPLES, Italy (July 29, 2022) Chief Petty Officers assigned to U.S. Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples remove anchor collar devices from Chief Master-at-Arms Megan Low, from Racine, Wisconsin, during a commissioning ceremony held at NSA Naples in Capodichino, Italy, July 29, 2022. NSA Naples is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed, when they are needed to ensure security and stability in the European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility.

YOKOSUKA, Japan (July 28, 2016) The ceremonial color guard rehearses on the flight deck of the Navys only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), for the Carrier Task Force 70 change of command. During the change of command, the color guard presents the flags, which each represent a different ally in the western Pacific. Ronald Reagan provides a combat-ready force, which protects and defends the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Air Force 422nd Security Forces Squadron Defenders prepare to perform a 21-gun salute during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Brookwood American Military Cemetery, England, May 29, 2022. Memorial Day provides us a solemn opportunity to remember our fallen brothers and sisters in arms, reflect upon their courageous sacrifice, and show gratitude for the freedom they gave their lives to defend. It also affords us the opportunity to pay homage to those families who lost their loved ones in service to the Nation-and continue to feel the full weight of that sacrifice today.

Instrumentalists with the 566th Air Force Band, Illinois Air National Guard, pose for a group photo in Peoria, Illinois, May 1, 2022. Also known as the ANG Band of the Midwest, the bands community relations mission is to maintain troop morale and retention, boost recruiting efforts and preserve national heritage.

Woman soldier of Israel Defense Forces, Wailing Wall, Jerusalem, Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo delivers remarks and participated in the annual Veterans Roll Call at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on November 9, 2018.

More than 500 Airmen assigned to the 323rd Training Squadron graduated from Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, January 18-19, 2023. Lt. Gen. Robert J. Skinner, Director of the Defense Information Systems Agency and Commander of the Joint Force Headquarters- Department of Defense Information Network, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, reviewed the ceremony.

040531-F-6905B-002. State: New Mexico (NM) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Peter Choi, commander of the 36th Civil Engineer Squadron, and Chief Master Sgt. Keval Smith, senior enlisted leader of the 36 CES, watch a fountain ceremony being performed during the Mañenggon Memorial ceremony at the Mañenggon Valley in Yona on July 3, 2022. Choi and Smith are in attendance of the ceremony as representatives for the sister village sister squadron program, which pairs military units with local villages to foster and develop a program of mutual sharing and understanding between the people of Guam and military personnel and their families.

Review of Cadets, The Citadel Military College, Charleston, South Carolina

Members of the 911th Airlift Wing stand in formation for a passing of the flag ceremony during the retirement of 911th AW Command Chief Master Sgt. Jamesha M. Barnes at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania, June 5, 2022. This special presentation included members of all ranks to represent the progression of Barness career and featured a hand-selected detail of all female Airmen.

U.S. Space Force Spc. 4 Jillian Taylor, Vandenberg Space Force Base Honor Guard ceremonial guardsman, left, and U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Diana Nieva, Vandenberg Space Force Base Honor Guard ceremonial guardsman, right, fold the United States flag during a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at Vandenberg Space force Base, Calif. Sept. 11, 2022. The ceremony was in remembrance and honor of first responders and victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and our nation.

U.S. Air Force Academy - Cadets recite the Oath of Office during the Class of 2022 Graduation Ceremony at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 25, 2022. Nine-hundred-seventy cadets crossed the stage to become the Air Force/Space Forces newest second lieutenants. (U.S. Air Force photo/Trevor Cokley)

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Washington D.C. (July 5, 2022) F-35 partner country flags are posted at the start of the semi-virtual Change of Leadership ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., where Lt. Gen. Eric Fick transferred authorities and duties of the F-35 Joint Program Office via Dr. William A. LaPlante Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt during a on July 5, 2022. The F-35 Joint Program Office is the Department of Defense's focal point for the 5th generation strike aircraft for the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and our allies. The F-35 is the premier multi-mission, 5th generation weapon system. Its ability to collect, analyze and share data is a force multiplier that enhances all assets in the battle-space: with stealth technology, advanced sensors, weapons capacity, and range. The F-35, which has been operational since July of 2015, is the most lethal, survivable, and interoperable fighter aircraft ever built.

Distinguished Flying Cross recipients receive a standing ovation from the audience during a Distinguished Flying Cross ceremony at Travis Air Force Base, California, Dec. 9, 2022. U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Corey Martin, 18th Air Force commander, 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.

The Wyoming National Guard partnered with the Veterans Commission to support Task Force Tribute in Cheyenne, Wyo., on Aug. 26, 2022. Task Force Tribute is a veteran-inspired journey across the U.S. honoring the 7,054 fallen service members during combat operations since 9/11. One mile is traveled for each service member lost.

The Illinois National Guard Lincoln's ChalleNGe Academy color guard team conducts the presentation of colors during a Gold Star Mothers and Family Day event Sept. 25 at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield, Illinois. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton presented flowers to family members of fallen heroes in attendance. Gov. Pritzker proclaimed September 25 as Gold Star Mothers Day in Illinois to recognize the mothers who suffered the supreme tragedy in the loss of their sons and daughters in wars and remember the sacrifice they have made. Since 1936, Gold Star Mothers and Family Day has taken place to recognize the loved ones of those who have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty. (Illinois National Guard photo by Army Sgt. Trenton Fouche)

Czech Republic, Bohemia, Prague, Sentry Beside Guardbox At Prague Castle

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Natalie Angst, USAF Band of the Golden West vocalist, sings a rendition of J.G. Magees High Flight at the Presidio Tunnel Tops, San Francisco, California, Oct. 6, 2022. The performance was part of the U.S. Navys Fleet Week air show activities and was the first time the BOTGW played at the Presidio Tunnel Tops.

Aviation Ordnance 1st Class Joslin Downey, a Recruit Division Commander at Recruit Training Command (RTC), volunteered at the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) Chicagoland Drill Meet on February 3rd at Wheeling High School. RTC staff volunteers served as judges for the events in the drill meet. These events included personnel and uniform inspection, marching inspection, color guard inspection, and exhibition drill inspections. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy's only boot camp. Navy

Goldsboro Civil Air Patrol cadets watch the 4th Fighter Wing Honor Guard perform a flag folding ceremony at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, Dec. 7, 2022. The event boosted community relationships, promoted Air Force heritage and helped develop leaders.

011206-F-2753C-002. Base: Hickam Air Force Base State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A service member looks at the National POW/MIA Recognition Day program during the reading of the Individuals Returned Home during a ceremony for the National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Sept. 16, 2022. The event is held every year on the third Friday of September, honoring prisoners of war and missing-in-action service members. DPAAs mission is to achieve the fullest possible accounting for missing and unaccounted-for U.S. personnel to their families and our nation.

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Alaska Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Cynthia Campbell (right), 176th Medical Group Clinical Services, judges the performance of Junior ROTC cadets during the Feb. 17, 2024, Alaska statewide JROTC drill competition at Anchorage's Service High School. Campbell was a JROTC cadet in high school and credits her service to the program. (Alaska Air National Guard

Members of the Merritt Island High School Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) present the colors during the grand opening of the Heroes and Legends attraction at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The new facility includes the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and looks back to the pioneering efforts of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. It sets the stage by providing the background and context for space exploration and the legendary men and women who pioneered the nation's journey into space.

U.S. Air Force Col. Brian Filler, right, 501st Combat Support Wing commander, and Col. Jon Hannah, left, 422nd Air Base Group commander, pose for a group photo after a Memorial Day ceremony at the Brookwood American Military Cemetery, England, May 29, 2022. Memorial Day provides us a solemn opportunity to remember our fallen brothers and sisters in arms, reflect upon their courageous sacrifice, and show gratitude for the freedom they gave their lives to defend. It also affords us the opportunity to pay homage to those families who lost their loved ones in service to the Nation-and continue to feel the full weight of that sacrifice today.

Inter-American Defense College Staff, Faculty and Students tour Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pa., Sept. 23, 2022. The Park protects and interprets the landscape of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. There are 43,000 American Civil War artifacts that are displayed in the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center. The Visit It is an academic field study that is part of the master's program offered by the college.

020524-F-0007M-010. Base: Mcguire Air Force Base State: New Jersey (NJ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

William Lagasse, Deputy Chief of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, speaks during the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., Sept. 9, 2022. The annual event is held in honor of those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, and in remembrance of those who responded.

030110-F-2021H-003. Base: Ellsworth Air Force Base State: South Dakota (SD) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

U.S. Air Force Col. Brian Filler, center, 501st Combat Support Wing commander, and Col. Richard Martin, left, 423rd Air Base Group commander, attend the Cambridgeshire County Day at the Newmarket July Course, England, June 23, 2022. The County Day was an opportunity to celebrate Cambridgeshire and Her Majesty The Queens Platinum Jubilee.

Educators from Recruiting Stations Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, and Twin Cities observe the India Company graduation ceremony as part of the 2024 Educators Workshop at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, Feb. 23, 2024. Participants of the workshop visit MCRD San Diego to observe recruit training and gain a better understanding about the transformation from recruits to United States Marines. Marine Corps

DF-ST-88-01604. Base: Seattle State: Washington (WA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Navys Nuclear Power Training Unit - Charleston students prepare to graduate during a ceremony aboard USS Yorktown (CV 10) at the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, Jan. 12, 2024. The Nuclear Power Training Unit is a technical school that trains officers, enlisted Sailors and civilians for shipboard nuclear power plant operation and maintenance of surface ships and submarines.

Barracks Marines march onto the parade deck during the Rifle Ceremonial Drill School evaluation at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., Jan. 26, 2024. During the three week course, Marines spend countless hours perfecting the fundamentals of marching, manual of arms, and uniform preparation to ensure that every Tuesday Sunset Parade and Friday Evening Parade is flawless.

Airman 1st Class Pierce Batista, Travis Air Force Base Honor Guard member, holds the flag during a Hispanic Heritage Month campaign at Travis AFB, California, Aug. 12. 2022. National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed annually from September 15 to October 15. The month pays tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have influenced and enriched our nation and society.

The 2022 Praetorian Order inductees stand for a group photo prior to the induction ceremony on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., June 24, 2022. From left to right, Staff Sgt. Robert Day, Senior Airman Brooke Sanchez, Tech. Sgt. Casey Randolph, Staff Sgt. Jeffery Herron, Tech. Sgt. Charles Schlichtmann, and Tech. Sgt. Brandon Jones. Praetorians are recognized for their long-lasting contributions to the legacy of the United States Air Force Honor Guard.

While in Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII the Joint Armed Forces Color Guard and drummers from The U.S. Navy Band visited with over 200 JROTC students from Sierra Vista High School and Bonanza High School. The color guard shared their experiences in the military and why they continue to choose to serve. Students also had the chance to ask the service members questions and get some tips and tricks about presenting the colors.

A Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Honor Guard member waits for the Nov. 12 Veterans Day parade to begin at the Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center campus in Dayton, Ohio. The parade honored all who served in the U.S. military. The Wright-Patterson Honor Guard is the most heavily tasked in the Air Force, covering 210,000 square miles in more than 200 countries.

Every year service members, family and friends come together at the Gowen Field Memorial Park to honor the men and women who have given their lives for our country. On May 19, 2022, the Idaho Military Division honored and celebrated those men and women as part of its Memorial Day traditions during a ceremony at Gowen Field.

A POW/MIA table is on display 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.

Coast Guard boot camp recruits shout a response to their company commander at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, New Jersey, May 18, 2022.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) hosts a ceremony for National POW/MIA Recognition Day at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Sept. 16, 2022. The event is held every year on the third Friday of September, honoring prisoners of war and missing-in-action service members. DPAAs mission is to achieve the fullest possible accounting for missing and unaccounted-for U.S. personnel to their families and our nation.

U.S. Air Force Col. Laura King, 81st Training Group commander, delivers remarks 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.

Inter-American Defense College Leadership Welcomes the Honduran Colegio de Defensa Nacional Leadership, Students and Staff to the IADC on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., Oct. 4, 2022. During the visit, the students were briefed by leadership and received an institutional brief by a college faculty member.

Scenes from the campus of Virginia Tech, sight of a shooting masacre that left 33 people dead

220918-N-LK647-0227 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Sept. 18, 2022) Sailors aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) give slack on the phone-and-distance line to give a visual indicator of the space between ships as part of a replenishment-at-sea with the Henry J. Kaiser-class oiler USNS John Lenthall (T-AO-189) during Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT). Normandy is underway as part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group conducting SWATT exercises to increase lethality, ensure combat readiness, and promote tactical innovation. SWATT is led by the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center, whose mission is to increase the tactical proficiency and lethality of the surface force.

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