Military Maintenance and Operations

Images of personnel conducting maintenance and safety checks on aircraft and vehicles, ensuring operational readiness.

Staff Sgt. Mike Landauer from B Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, NY National Guard prepares to take off from Greater Rochester International Airport, Rochester NY, Sept. 28 2022. Soldiers and crew were called up in support of emergency measures in Florida, brought on by Hurricane Ian. Air National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Jason Carr

041213-F-5388P-069. Base: Kunsan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Zachary Warners, middle, and Staff Sgt. Jordan Spotswood, back, both 192d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft armament systems craftsmen, load a missile into an F-22 Raptor while being observed by an inspector during an exercise at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Oct. 11, 2022. Warners and Spotswood were a part of a base-wide chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear exercise to inspect Airman on their capabilities to perform proper safety CBRN procedures and show proficiency in their respective jobs.

U.S. Army Spc. Antoine Smith, a fuel handler specialist assigned to 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, takes a fuel sample to verify the quality before refueling an AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter at a forward arming and refueling point during an aerial gunnery at Mirosławiec, Poland, April 14, 2022. The 1 ACB 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.

970424-F-3798Y-006. Base: Grand Forks State: North Dakota (ND) Country: United States Of America (USA)

020518-F-7359L-004. Subject Operation/Series: NOBLE EAGLE Base: Duluth International Airport State: Minnesota (MN) Country: United States Of America (USA)

050111-F-6135A-002. Base: Langley Air Force Base State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

010810-F-0558K-005. Subject Operation/Series: LOCAL SALTY NATION Base: Aviano Air Base State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

Staff Sgt. Mike Landauer from B Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, NY National Guard prepares to take off from Greater Rochester International Airport, Rochester NY, Sept. 28 2022. Soldiers and crew were called up in support of emergency measures in Florida, brought on by Hurricane Ian. Air National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Jason Carr

030129-M-4815H-023. Base: Marine Corps Air Station,Miramar State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: Air Mobility Command

011010-F-4406B-038. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Naval Air Station, Sigonella State: Sicily Country: Italy (ITA) Scene Major Command Shown: AMC

030318-F-5281B-001. Base: Spangdahlem Air Base State: Rheinland-Pfalz Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Travis Allen, a MV-22B tiltrotor mechanic with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Rein.), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, secures a propeller onto a MV-22 Osprey, in the Philippine Sea, Sept. 16, 2022. The Marines replaced the propeller of the MV-22 Osprey to ensure flight readiness. The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of Amphibious Assault Ship USS 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.

US Air Force SENIOR AIRMAN Mike Bylica and US Air Force SENIOR AIRMAN David Olmstead, weapons load crew, 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, adjusts and tightens fins on a AIM-120 air-to-air missile loaded on a F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. The men, along with the rest of the 8th Fighter Wing are being evaluated on their wartime capabilities during their Operational Readiness Inspection. Base: Kunsan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

021031-F-4649H-056. Subject Operation/Series: NORTHERN WATCH Base: Incirlik Air Base, Adana Country: Turkey (TUR)

030404-F-4728F-006. Base: Aviano Air Base State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

SPC. Simon Anderson T/Troop, 4th Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR), working on the electrical wiring for an AH-64 Apache. Base: Fort Carson State: Colorado (CO) Country: United States Of America (USA)

041101-F-1740G-002. Base: Yokota Air Base Country: Japan (JPN)

970630-N-2568S-004. Subject Operation/Series: KERNEL BLITZ '97 Base: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: B BATTERY/1ST BATTALION

SENIOR AIRMAN Joshua Taylor, 51st MXS, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea secures a AIM 120 air to air missile that has been detached from an F-16 Fighting Falcon during Exercise BEVERLY MIDNIGHT. The exercise is designed to test people's ability to carry out their wartime tasking, air base ground defense, and ability to recover after attacks. Subject Operation/Series: BEVERLY MIDNIGHT Base: Osan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR) Scene Major Command Shown: PACAF

040921-F-0629H-008. Base: Shaw Air Force Base State: South Carolina (SC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

030123-M-5266H-014. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base State: Al Ahmadi Country: Kuwait (KWT)

041005-F-3488S-029. Base: Eielson Air Force Base State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Tech. Sgt. Josh Moracco, 204th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, secures U.S. Army vehicles onto a C-17 Globemaster III May 12, 2022, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Cargo and passengers were transported to Hilo on the island of Hawaii. The payload consisted of approximately 35 tons of vehicles, equipment and passengers, enabling Soldiers to prepare for an air missile exercise called Tenacious Archer.

Sgt. Richard Carlson of Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, a Health Care Specialist with the Minnesota National Guards Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Battalion, 94th Cavalry Regiment, fires a M240B machine gun during the Region IV Best Warrior Competition May 11-15, 2022 at Camp Ripley, Minnesota. The annual competition tests the military skills, physical strength and endurance of the top Soldiers and noncommissioned officers from the Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio National Guards. The winners will move on to compete in the National Guards competition on July 20-30, 2022, at Camp Smyrna, Tennessee. (Minnesota National Guard photo by Sgt. Mahsima Alkamooneh)

980623-F-2171A-020. Base: Mcchord Air Force Base State: Washington (WA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

AIRMAN of the Mobility Unit at Tuzla push cargo pallets off the 40th Airlift Squadron (AS), C-130H Hercules aircraft after it's arrival at the former Yugoslavian air base. The 40th AS is assigned to the 7th Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas and is deployed to Ramstein for a 45 day Temporary Duty (TDY) tour to support Operations Joint Endeavor. Subject Operation/Series: JOINT ENDEAVOR Base: Ramstein Air Base State: Rheinland-Pfalz Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

US Marines from 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3D Marine Division, make ready to ram a High Explosive M107 Round into the M198 155mm Medium Towed Howitzer at Gun Position 10, East Camp Fuji, Japan. This training area is part of the units nine firing day relocation shoot, designed to enhance military occupational specialty proficiency within the artillery field. Subject Operation/Series: FOAL EAGLE 2000 Base: Marine Corps Base, Camp Fuji State: Honshu Country: Japan (JPN)

041014-M-3988H-014. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Al Asad State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

US Air Force SENIOR AIRMAN Grant Jacobs participates in the 51st Operations Group weapons-load-crew-of-the-quarter contest at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Base: Osan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

Spc. Dwight Heath, a Soldier assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, unloads ammunition for aerial gunnery at Fort Stewart, Georgia, July 6, 2022. Air crews qualify on their weapon systems every six months in their aircraft and on the ground.

040414-F-5098W-010. Base: RAF Fairford State: Suffolk Country: United Kingdom (GBR)

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Dawson Moore, 22nd Airlift Squadron loadmaster, closes the front of a C-5C Super Galaxy during an offloading of space equipment at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, Oct. 16, 2022. The offload was in support of the international satellite as part of the Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission.

Members of the 37th Airlift Squadron down load their luggage from a C-130 aircraft that just returned from Liberia. Members of the 37th Airlift Squadron down load their luggage from a C-130 aircraft that just returned from Liberia.

050114-F-5508G-004. Base: Aviano Air Base State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA)

US Army Soldiers change the Implementation Force (IFOR) acronym on the side of a M998 High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) to theStabilization Force (SFOR) acronym. 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)

US Air Force STAFF Sergeant Thomas Childress, a munitions Program Crewchief from the 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, gives Major General Kenneth Hess, Third Air Force Commander, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom, a briefing on the GBU-15 guided air-to-ground bomb during his visit to the base. MGEN Hess was visiting R.A.F. Lakenheath for a familiarization of the bases' mission. Base: Raf Lakenheath State: East Anglia Country: England / Great Britain (ENG)

980622-F-2171A-015. Base: Mcchord Air Force Base State: Washington (WA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A U. S. Air Force Airman from the 182nd Airlift Wing, Air National Guard Base, Peoria, Illinois, perform Agile Combat Employment (ACE) training while securing a transport cart onto a C-130 Hercules from the 182nd AW, during an Integrated Combat Turn (ICT) during Agile Rage 22, Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Mich., June 9, 2022. ACE is not a specific mission, but a universal application to all combat air force operations. ACE is the ability to project combat power anytime, anywhere, while remaining operationally unpredictable to complicate an adversary's decision making process.

040510-F-0697K-014. Base: Fort Benning State: Georgia (GA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AFRC

Army aviation mechanic, SPECIALIST Jeffrey Bakman of Brookings, Oregon (left) and SPECIALIST Mack Soto of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, both members of B Company 7/159, Gibelstadt, Germany, prepare to do maintenance on a servo mount of a T-700 engine from a Blackhawk helicopter, while deployed to Albania in Support of Task Force Hawk. This mission also is in direct support of Operation Allied Force. Subject Operation/Series: ALLIED FORCE Base: Rinas State: Tirana Country: Albania (ALB)

020123-F-6565E-002. Base: Duluth International Airport State: Minnesota (MN) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

Members of the 2nd Munitions Maintenance Squadron use an MJ-1B bomb loader to load a BDU-50 low-drag practice bomb onto the wing pylon of a 596th Bombardment Wing B-52G Stratofortress aircraft. They are participating in Proud Shield'92, a Strategic Air Command bombing and navigation competition. Base: Barksdale Air Force Base State: Louisiana (LA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

030123-M-5266H-010. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base State: Al Ahmadi Country: Kuwait (KWT)

050910-A-0575B-040. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Bagram Airfield State: Parwan Country: Afghanistan (AFG) Scene Major Command Shown: CJTF76

A U.S. Army Green Beret with the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) drives his snow machine off of a KC-130J Hercules assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Squadron (VMGR) 234, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, in Kotzebue, Alaska, Feb. 27, 2024. The VMGR transported the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Green Berets to Koztebue for training in extreme weather conditions as part of Arctic Edge 24 (AE24). Special Operations Command North deployed more than 400 joint and allied Special Operations Forces across the pan-Arctic region, stretching from Alaska to Greenland, during AE24 to advance SOF capabilities and readiness in extreme cold weather and high latitude environments. Army

Senior Airman William Oskay, 96th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew member, uses a power drill to test the capabilities of an ADU-468 as a part of the Project Arc program at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Sept. 16, 2022. Project Arc is a program that consists of scientists and engineers from across the Air Force working with units to tackle problems and challenges using their knowledge to design new tools, widgets or rework a workflow.

SSgt John Walters and SSgt Chris Reando of the 23rd Communications Squadron dismantle an eight foot satellite dish used to send and receive communications during Operation Uphold Democracy at Pope AFB, NC. Subject Operation/Series: UPHOLD DEMOCRACY Base: Pope Air Force Base State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Aeromedical evacuation technicianswith the 137th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, treats a simulated patientduring a casualty transportation scenario on a 507th Air Refueling WingKC-135 Stratotanker from the 507th Air Refueling Wing, Tinker Air ForceBase, Okla., June 9, 2022.

020105-A-7315T-012. Base: Fort Polk State: Louisiana (LA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: FORSCOM

AIRMAN 1ST Class Preston Bryant of the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La. performs a soap test on an engine of a B-52H after a nine hour flight from Barksdale AFB, La. to RAF Fairford in support of CENTRAL ENTERPRISE '95. Subject Operation/Series: CENTRAL ENTERPRISE '95 Base: Barksdale Air Force Base State: Louisiana (LA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

030116-F-3677M-003. Base: RAF Mildenhall Country: Great Britain / England (GBR) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

(from the left to right) US Navy Aviation Ordnanceman AIRMAN Denver Foster, US Navy Aviation Ordnanceman AIRMAN Antoni Daniels and US Navy Aviation Ordnanceman Third Class Martin Gutierrez man a fifty caliber gun mount on a Close-In Weapons System (CWIS) on board USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75) during the aircraft carrier's transit through the Suez Canal. Truman is on its maiden deployment and is scheduled to return to its homeport of Norfolk, Virginia. Base: USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)

DF-ST-87-09626. Subject Operation/Series: TEAM SPIRIT Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

Personnel from the 173rd Maintenance Squadron, harness a cable in preparation for lifting an F-16 aircraft to its final resting place atop a display pedestal at the Air National Guard Field. Base: Kingsley Field State: Oregon (OR) Country: United States Of America (USA)

SENIOR AIRMAN Jay Evans (right), a 92d Aircraft Generation Squadron crewchief, signs out his tools from Technical Sergeant Christopher Johnson. The tool in yellow is used to collect fuel samples from an aircraft's wing. The 92d Air Refueling Wing has relocated flightline operations to March Air Reserve Base, California due to flightline repairs on Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. Base: March Air Reserve Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AMC

011005-F-6187R-003. Base: Spangdahlem Air Base State: Rheinland-Pfalz Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

040206-F-9105A-002. Country: Unknown Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Matthew Polen, 178th Operations Support Squadron intelligence superintendent, left and Tech. Sgt. Matthew Choiniere, 178 OSS noncommissioned officer in charge of intel training, participate in Spartan Warrior 22-9 at Einsiedlerhof Air Station Sept. 28, 2022. Ten NATO Allies took part in the advanced integration of rehearsals for large-scale combat operations.

Members of the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference get an up-close tour of the MQ-9 Reaper during the programs 93rd iteration tour at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, Oct. 26, 2022. Participants were able to sit in the pilot and sensor operator seats while members from the 11th Attack Squadron explained flying techniques and tracking a target with the aircraft.

030128-F-4728F-003. Base: Aviano Air Base State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

Sgt. Micah Parkhurst, wheeled vehicle mechanic, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, checks the oil on a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV) during BlackJack Training Time at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Jan. 27, 2022. Soldiers received training on vehicle recovery and risk management. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jimmie Baker)

040920-F-0201C-001. Base: Aviano Air Base State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA)

US Air Force Technical Sergeant Steve Burt, Crew CHIEF, 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard (CANG), works to repair the rescue winch/hoist on an HH-60G Pavehawk helicopter at Moffett Federal Airfield, California. The 129th is one of only three rescue units in the ANG and is assigned to provide combat rescue and civilian search and rescue while at home station. US Air Force Technical Sergeant Steve Burt, Crew Chief, 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard (CANG), works to repair the rescue winch/hoist on an HH-60G Pavehawk helicopter at Moffett Federal Airfield, California. The 129th is one of only three rescue units in the ANG and is assigned to provide combat rescue and civilian search and rescue while at home station.

020221-F-0558K-014. Subject Operation/Series: BLUE FLAG 02-4 Base: Barksdale Air Force Base State: Louisiana (LA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

Senior Master Sgt. Jay Latham, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron loadmaster, places a dropsonde in the tube for release during a mission Sept. 28, 2022 into Hurricane Ian as it made landfall in Florida. The Hurricane Hunters gather weather data using the dropsonde by 'dropping' it from the WC-130J Super Hercules and it collects dew point, pressure, temperature, wind speed and direction and send that information back to the aircraft, which is then sent to the National Hurricane Center to be used for improvement in updating the forecast models of storm tracks.

U.S. Air Force 5th Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Metals Technology Journeyman Senior Airman Nicholas Oestmann places a drogue parachute back into a U.S. Air Force 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron B-52H Stratofortress after it was deployed during landing at RAF Fairford, United Kingdom, Aug. 31, 2022. B-52H Stratofortresses, Airmen and equipment are deployed to RAF Fairford to support a Bomber Task Force mission across Europe to improve capabilities and interoperability with NATO partners and allies.

030418-F-1389C-006. Country: Unknown Scene Major Command Shown: 398th AEG

U.S. Air Force Major Godfrey Brackney and Major Phillip Zizzi, both pilots with the 328th Air Refueling Squadron, New York, plot map coordinates in a KC-135 Stratotanker prior to takeoff August 25, 2022 on Oahu, Hawaii. The Stratotanker and crew stopped in Oahu to refuel before heading to the United States Indo-Pacific Command Area of Responsibility.

040716-M-3717S-022. Subject Operation/Series: FUJI INCREMENTAL TRAINING PROGRAM (FITP) 2004 Base: Marine Corps Base, Camp Fuji State: Honshu Country: Japan (JPN)

U.S. Army Spcs. Lee Gaskell, right, and Luis Velez-Casianoa, middle, both small-arms artillery repairmen in the armament shop of Bravo Company, 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, show Afghan National Army mechanics how to load an M-249 semi-automatic weapon during a weapons maintenance class on Forward Operating Base Fenty, Afghanistan, March 3, 2008.

030420-M-5607A-024. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Al Nu'Maniyah Country: Iraq (IRQ)

A U.S. Army Soldier from the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group from Stuttgart, Germany, rests before jumping out of a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft over Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 25, 2022. Multiple Soldiers from Stuttgart, Rhine Ordnance Barracks, Panzer Kaserne and Fort Bragg, N.C., jumped during a large formation training mission to celebrate the 37 ASs 80th anniversary. The 37 AS hosted multiple events to celebrate its 80th anniversary including a mass airdrop and C-130J Super Hercules and a Douglas C-47 static displays.

120130-N-YX920-187CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Jan. 30, 2012) Sailors assigned to Riverine Squadron 2, Detachment 3, man their weapons while on a reconnaissance mission during Exercise Bold Alligator 2012, the largest amphibious exercise in the past 10 years. Bold Alligator represents the Navy and Marine Corps' revitalization of the full range of amphibious operations. #BA12

030404-F-4728F-003. Base: Aviano Air Base State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

Spc. Lianette Gonzalez, 71st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade, Texas Army National Guard, adjusts her sights at the Range event at this year's Texas Military Department Best Warrior Competition at Camp Swift, Texas, May 5, 2022. The three day event challenges service members from the Texas Army and Air National Guards on their readiness combat readiness skills.

US Air Force SENIOR AIRMAN Shawn Riley, 25th Fighter Squadron finishes loading a missile on an A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft during an Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) on Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Base: Osan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

220415-N-VH871-0116 U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (April 15, 2022) Master-at-arms 2nd Class Javier Cruz and his military working dog Kamikaze, assigned to Naval Support Activity Bahrain, conduct explosive material detection training April 15.

Sgt. Kasey Jones, a soldier from the Florida National Guards 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, assesses equipment vital to communication in the fight against Hurricane Ian. The threat of structural downage across the state prompted the Florida National Guard to act fast, drawing upon its resources in the event that infrastructure required swift support. (U.S Army Photo by Pfc. Alexander Helman)

Members of the 116th Air Support Operations Squadron practice static line parachute descent with a virtual reality headset at Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane, Wash., Feb. 5, 2024. Airmen from the 116th practice static line manuevers before taking flight to help address malfunctions during descent. (Washington Air National Guard

US Air Force STAFF Sergeant Frank Decosta a member of "Panton Loadcrew 11" stationed at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, inspects a loaded MK 84 bomb on a 35th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft during Kunsan's Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI). The 8th Fighter Wing personnel are being evaluated on their wartime capabilities as well as their ability to survive and operate during their ORI. Base: Kunsan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

020509-F-0362B-014. Subject Operation/Series: COMBINED ENDEAVOR 2002 Base: Lager Aulenbach State: Rheinland-Pfalz Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

U.S. Air Force Loadmasters and Aerial Porters assigned to the 115th Airlift Squadron load a U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS) inside a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Port Hueneme, California, Sept. 7, 2022. MAFFS is a portable fire retardant delivery system inserted into an aircraft, temporarily converting it into a fire fighting airtanker that provides a critical surge” capability to bolster wildfire suppression efforts when commercial airtankers are fully committed or not readily available.

U.S. soldiers with E Company, 2-159th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, refuel an AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter July 31, 2013, at the Oberdachstetten Local Training Area forward arming and refueling pad. These petroleum supply specialists practiced setting up their M978 HEMTT fuel tanker and properly prepared the area for aircraft refueling operations. The Oberdachstetten LTA is just one of the many LTAs operated by the Training Support Activity Europe to provide U.S. Army Europe Soldiers with the ability to perform rigorous, realistic and relevant home-station training that enhances their combat readiness.

US Air Force SENIOR AIRMAN Percy Lunsford, 36th Fighter Squadron (FS) loads a Laser Guided bomb onto a F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft during the Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) on Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Base: Osan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

021016-M-5607A-012. Base: Mcas, Cherry Point State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

010810-F-7372C-004. Subject Operation/Series: LOCAL SALTY NATION Base: Aviano Air Base State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

041108-F-3715H-204. Base: Tyndall Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

010718-A-3438S-001. Subject Operation/Series: GOLDEN MEDIC '01 Base: Fort Mccoy State: Wisconsin (WI) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: MACOMS

030125-F-1644L-001. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Country: Unknown Scene Major Command Shown: 410th Air Expeditionary Wing

CB_TB_Board_31 ñ- Staff Sgt. Christopher Barber of the Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command function checks a machine gun Sept. 30. Barber is one of 24 Soldiers who is competing in the 2008 Department of the Army Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year ìBest Warriorî Competition held Sept. 28-Oct.6 at Fort Lee, Va.

040421-F-7194F-050. Base: Kadena Air Base State: Okinawa Country: Japan (JPN)

MAJ. GEN. Lawson W. Magruder III, Commanding General US Army South, accompanies MAJ. GEN. Valencia, Venezuelan general officer, to a briefing at the 1/28th Aviation Maintenance Facility. MAJ. GEN. Valencia and his staff are visiting Panama as part of the USARSO Distinguished Visitors Program. Country: Panama (PAN)

030723-M-5578G-008. Base: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: 1ST Marine Division

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jonathan Clarke, a signals intelligence and electronic warfare operator with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, assembles communications equipment during Stand-in Force Exercise on Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 9, 2022. SiF-EX is a Division-level exercise involving all elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force focused on strengthening multi-domain awareness, maneuver, and fires across a distributed maritime environment. This exercise serves as a rehearsal for rapidly projecting combat power in defense of allies and partners in the region. Clarke is a native of Belton, SC.

070419-A-2394G-021. Base: Forward Operating Base Salerno State: Khowst Country: Afghanistan (AFG) Scene Major Command Shown: SOUTHEAST

050119-N-6074Y-272. Base: Banda Aceh State: Sumatra Country: Indonesia (IDN) Scene Major Command Shown: HC-11

U.S. Army Pvt. 1st Class Haley Chandler (left) and Pvt. 1st Class Dennis Kaydanov, both aviation maintainers from Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment, Assault Helicopter Battalion, attached to the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, remove parts from a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter during a blade folding exercise held at Ali al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, Nov. 27, 2022. Blade folding operations allow 3-142nd AHB the ability to easily transport Army helicopters. The 3-142nd AHB, attached to the 36th CAB, provides Army aviation operations and support to the Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve mission, which is to advise, assist, and enable partnered forces in the enduring defeat of ISIS.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Ramon Garcia, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, services engine oil on a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing during an Agile Combat Employment capstone exercise at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, Aug. 25, 2022. The ACE concept underpins the Air Forces ability to mitigate the risks of adversarial technological advances through maneuverability and speed to prevail in conflict. The capstone exercise included 72-hours of continuous air refueling operations and a historic 56-hour KC-135 flight in a simulated contested environment focused on a notional theater of operations.

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