Military Personnel Training and Operations

Images of military personnel in various scenarios, including training exercises and readiness initiatives, showcasing uniforms, equipment, and a sense of camaraderie.

Spc. Martez Brown, 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment, 66th Troop Command, Mississippi Army National Guard, poses for a photo at Thomas Cardozo Middle School in Jackson, Mississippi, Sept. 2, 2022."I serve to protect and support my family," Brown said.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Xavier Shaw, 375th Security Forces Squadron installation entry controller, looks for opposing forces during a simulated fire fight as a part of Ballistic Badger, Oct. 23, 2022, on Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin. BB22 is a training opportunity for Airmen at the Showcase Wing to rehearse the ability to execute rapid global mobility.

As part of military medicine's "Pivot to Readiness", the U.S. Army Medical Command is reorganizing and re-designating its Regional Health Commands to Medical Readiness Commands. During four ceremonies the Regional Health Commands will reflag and become Medical Readiness Commands.We are building the future of Army Medicine. Medical reform and restructuring will enhance the ability to recruit, organize, train, and equip medical Soldiers and leaders capable of supporting the current and future force.

Spc. Martez Brown, 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment, 66th Troop Command, Mississippi Army National Guard, poses for a photo at Thomas Cardozo Middle School in Jackson, Mississippi, Sept. 2, 2022."I serve to protect and support my family," Brown said.

Soldiers and NCOs from the West Virginia and District of Columbia National Guards compete in their annual Best Warrior Competition, held at Camp Dawson, Kingwood, West Virginia, April 22, 2022. Best Warrior is an annual event where participants compete in a series of military tasks including weapons proficiency, endurance, physical fitness, medical skills, communications, and professional development activities. Winners of the local Best Warrior will compete at the regional level in May, also at Camp Dawson.

Chief Master Sgt. Olatokunbo Olopade, the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing command chief, visits the 380th Traffic Management Office as part of a "Leadership on Location" program to emphasize the contributions made to the Air Force mission in every squadron, April 21, 2022, at Al Dhafra Air Bases TMO. The 380th TMO is responsible for the accurate accountability of all inbound and outbound cargo from tires and hazardous materials to a General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper engine. (U.S. Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Grossi)

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tyvon Stenson, 822nd Base Defense Squadron fire team member, reads his notes aloud during exercise Agile Flag 22-2 at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, July 23, 2022. Base Defense Group Airmen, assigned under the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing, provided base and airfield security throughout the exercise. Agile Flag 22-2 is Air Combat Commands first lead-wing certification event designed to demonstrate the 23rd Wings capability to generate combat air power while continuing to move, maneuver, and sustain the Wing and subordinate force elements in a dynamic and contested environment.

Members of the Virgin Islands National Guard listen to a welcome speech from Washington, DC National Guardsman Col. Dan Caine. About 6,000 Guardsman from around the United States are scheduled to assist with the 57th presidential inauguration. (Air Force

A Soldier assigned to the Virginia National Guard's 1173rd Transportation Company checks the oil level of a light medium tactical vehicle Sept. 13, 2018, in Onancock, Virginia. Virginia National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force are on state active duty for possible assistance with the states response operations for Hurricane Florence.

U.S. Army Spc. Sheldon Simpson, a motor transport operator with Foxtrot Company, 2-3 Field Artillery, works on his login information for college at the Fort Bliss education center, Feb. 8, 2023. Simpson is a first time college student majoring in business administration and is using the computer lab to login to his classes.

041221-M-4697Y-018. Base: Asadabad State: Kunar Country: Afghanistan (AFG) Scene Major Command Shown: 3RD BN, 3RD MARINES

Georgia Air National Guardsmen from the 165th Security Forces Squadron worked during 165th Airlift Wing Family Day on September 10, 2022, which was hosted to provide unit members and family an opportunity to visit the base, learn about our mission and participate in fun activities. The events included activities for kids, lunch, and static military aircraft and equipment displays. Several veteran organizations and small businesses from the local Pooler and Savannah area sponsored the event.

Senior Airman Malik Dawson, 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron assistant dedicated crew chief, sits atop an F-15E at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Sept. 19, 2022. Positioning and charging a halon 1211 fire extinguisher, Dawson made it possible to quickly and effectively put out the compartment fire on the F-15E, which resulted in an Air Combat Command safety award.

A Soldier attending the annual Butterfly Release Ceremony at Fort Lee, Va., salutes the U.S. flag as the inspirational notes of national anthem waft over the installations Memorial Garden, adorned with photos of fallen service members. The Butterfly Release is a pre-Memorial Day celebration of life and afterlife, honoring those who died while serving in the U.S. military.

Staff Sgt. Savon Hollimon, a Cavalry Scout from the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division poses for a photograph on Fort Carson, Colo., February 7, 2023. Hollimon was inducted into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club in April, 2022.

030829-M-5578G-014. Base: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: 1ST MARDIV

Command Sgt. Maj. James R. Holmes III adresses graduates of class 09-22 of the 7th Army Training Comand (7ATC) Non-Commissioned Officer Academy's (NCOA) Basic Leadership Course in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Aug. 30, 2022. The 7ATC NCOA mission is to train and develop future leaders who are adaptive, disciplined, and ready to lead effectively at the squad and team levels.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Anthony Lopez, a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) defense responder with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, teaches a CBRN terminology class during the annual Individual Protective Equipment Confidence Exercise (IPECE) qualification on Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 5, 2023. IPECE is an annual requirement for Marines to familiarize themselves with the protective equipment used against a CBRN attack.

Fort McCoy Garrison Chaplain (Maj.) Robert Rand speaks to event-goers June 14, 2022, during the installation celebration of the Army's 247th birthday at McCoy's Community Center at Fort McCoy, Wis. Fort McCoy held a wide variety of events to celebrate the day.

U.S. Maj. Gen. Ronald Ragin, commanding general, 21st Theater Sustainment, gives remarks after being promoted from Brig. Gen. to Maj. Gen. at his promotion ceremony at Daenner Chapel, Kaiserslautern Germany, on Jan. 5, 2024.

030411-M-1852W-059. Base: Marine Corps Air Station, Futema State: Okinawa Country: Japan (JPN) Scene Major Command Shown: MAG-36

Recruits with India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, complete Basic Warrior Training (BWT) aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., May 12, 2022.During BWT recruits complete a practical application exam where they must demonstrate correct hand and arm signals, fireteam formations, and other field skills they were taught over the week long event.

061009-A-5168K-011. Base: Lsa Anaconda Country: Iraq (IRQ)

030129-M-5972A-008. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Al Jaber Air Base Country: Kuwait (KWT)

Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony Whitehead, the SEA to Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, recently attended a conference in Columbus, Ohio, featuring keynote speakers such as Hokanson, Gen. James McConville, chief of staff of the Army, and Gen. Charles Q. Brown, chief of the staff of the Air Force. For Whitehead, representing Guard enlisted at the conference, which was attended mostly by commissioned officers, was an inherent responsibility.

SAN DIEGO (Sept. 14, 2012) Newly frocked Chief Yeoman Kenneth Bradley assigned to the amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans (LPD 18) receives his cover from Senior Chief Electronic Warfare Technician Suzanne Whitman during a pinning ceremony.

Maj. Macharia Davis assumes command of the District of Columbia National Guard Joint Force Headquarters - Higher Headquarters Detachment, during a Change of Command Ceremony at the D.C. Armory, Feb. 4, 2023. The ceremony symbolized the transfer of command between outgoing commander Maj. LeJuan Strickland and incoming commander Maj. Davis. Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard, commander, D.C. National Guard Land Component Command (LCC) presided over the ceremony. Air National Guard

African male soldier in front of American flag

220411-N-TH560-0257 YOKOSUKA, Japan (April 11, 2022) Airman Philip Wells, from St. Louis, poses for a photo during a Navy Personnel Command (NPC) Fleet Engagement Team event aboard the Navys only forward-deployed nuclear aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Wells enlisted in the Navy as part of the Professional Apprenticeship Career Tracks (PACT) program and earned the Yeoman rating at the event, April 11, 2022. The Fleet Engagement Team, consisting of enlisted community managers, rating specialists and detailers from NPC, worked one-on-one with PACT Sailors in Japan to provide career counseling, designate ratings and negotiate orders on site.

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Lapresha G. Harrisjoseph, an administrative specialist with Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, Marine Forces Command, Marine Forces Northern Command, gives her remarks during a reenlistment ceremony at Naval Support Activity, Hampton Roads, Virginia, Oct. 7, 2022. Marines who are eligible for reenlistment have demonstrated the highest standards of leadership, professional competence, and personal behavior required to maintain the prestige and quality standards of the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps reenlistment ceremony serves to highlight those who've decided to continue their service, and to re-establish the commitment of Marines to the Corps and to the nation.

FORT HOOD, Texas - U.S. Army Spc. Leviticus Covin, an Army intelligence analyst assigned to III Armored Corps Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, salutes a dedication to the victims of 9/11 during a 9/11 memorial ceremony at Fort Hood, Texas, on Sept. 9, 2022. The dedication contained photos of the tragedy as well as a wreath of flowers.

220518-N-UD000-1071 NAVAL STATION NORFOLK (May 18, 2022) Senior Chief Aviation Boatswains Mate (equipment) Kenneth Flonnoy dons chief cover during a pinning ceremony aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), May 18, 2022. George H.W. Bush provides the national command authority flexible, tailorable warfighting capability as the flagship of a carrier strike group that maintains maritime stability and security in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied and partner interests.

Chaplain (Capt.) Robert A. Henry, 66 Air Base Group chaplain, rehearses the Hanscom Rap in his office at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., Feb. 15. Henry wrote a Hanscom Rap as a fresh way to talk about the many organizations on base, the importance of the installations overall mission and to inspire people and help them build spiritual resilience. Air Force

An Airman from the 423d Security Forces Squadron places a target sheet during a proficiency course at RAF Molesworth, England, Aug. 19, 2022. During the course instructors from the 820th Base Defense Group and 435th Contingency Response Group provided oversight and guidance to help critique and advance the combat arms skills of the defenders from the 423d SFS.

Fort McCoy Garrison Chaplain (Maj.) Robert Rand speaks to event-goers June 14, 2022, during the installation celebration of the Army's 247th birthday at McCoy's Community Center at Fort McCoy, Wis. Fort McCoy held a wide variety of events to celebrate the day.

Spc. Melvin Brown, a petroleum supply specialist assigned to 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, reunites with his family during one of several welcome home ceremonies at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Aug. 13, 2022. The 1st ABCT Soldiers deployed to Germany in support of NATO allies to deter Russian aggression while also supporting a range of other requirements in the area.

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 8th Ordnance Company, 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, sing the Army Song during a guidon casing ceremony at Fort Liberty, N.C., Feb. 27, 2024. The casing of the guidon signifies the units preparation for their upcoming deployment in support of Operation European Assure, Deter and Reinforce. Army

Sgt. 1st Class Dwayne Donegan, a recruiter in Lawton, Oklahoma, says the Army is offering more than just a paycheck. The Army offers competitive pay and benefits that support Soldiers and families now and provide security for their future, he said. Soldiers receive 30 vacation days annually, comprehensive health care, money for education, family services and career support.

U.S. Marines congratulate each other after competing in the grappling event during the Security Battalion Field Meet on Sept. 16, 2022. Field meets are held to test Marines on their physical fitness while also bringing the battalion closer together and boosting unit camaraderie. The meet included an ammo can relay race, tire flip challenge, and grappling. Motor Transport Services finished in first place, followed by Marine Corps Base Quantico Food Services and Installation Personnel Administration Center team two.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., greets Air Force Recruiting Service Airmen at the Classic Tailgate Party Air Force Recruiting Booth in the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium parking area, Sept. 10, 2022, in Memphis, Tennessee.Brown met with Airmen from Air Force Recruiting Service, Detachment 1, 345th Recruiting Squadron, 318th Recruiting Squadron, 116th Operation Support Squadron, United States Air Force Academy, 164th Memphis National Guard Air Airlift Wing, 16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, and 330th Recruiting Squadron. Air Force Recruiting Service, Detachment 1, was established in October 2018 to conceive and implement innovative programs supporting Air Force Total Force recruiting efforts. It is the tactical execution arm of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force's Rated Diversity Improvement initiative. Its mission is to inform, influence, and inspire tomorrow's leaders through innovative outreach opportunities.

August is the Medal of Honor history month and we asked Soldiers what the award means to them."The Medal of Honor is the highest honor someone can be recognized with. Soldiers that have earned this award have committed great acts of courage to keep those to the left and right of them safe," said Spc. Lashawn Fomby, 91B Wheeled Mechanic, Headquarters Support Company, 602nd Aviation Support Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division ROK/U.S. Combined Division.

U.S. Army Sgt. Nathaniel Hendrix, left, shakes hands with Staff Sgt. Lionel Hunter during his promotion ceremony on Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Sept. 14, 2022. Hendrix is the Team Leader for D Company 3rd Psychological Operations Battalions (Airborne) (Dissemination) A/V team.

Senior Airman Keegan Jones, 319th Medical Group aerospace medical technician, sorts through triage tags during a medical training exercise Aug. 26, 2022, at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. During the exercise, Airmen walked through a simulated plane crash determining which level of triage each victim should receive

The petty officer of the watch salutes visitors boarding the amphibious transport dock USS DULUTH (LPD-6). The DULUTH is making a port call during the joint U.S.-Canadian fleet exercise MARCOT '93. Subject Operation/Series: MARCOT '93 Base: Victoria State: British Columbia (BC) Country: Canada (CAN)

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jonathan Powell, Naval Branch Clinic San Clemente independent duty corpsman, awaits notification of the Fiscal Year 2023 active duty Navy E7 advancement selection board results. The command auditorium at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) San Diego was filled with 1st. class petty officers eagerly standing by to hear the results of the 2022 CPO advancement cycle, Sep. 6, 2022. NMRTC San Diego's mission is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high quality healthcare services and shape the future of military medicine through education, training and research. NMRTC San Diego employs more than 6,000 active duty military personnel, civilians and contractors in Southern California to provide patients with world-class care anytime, anywhere.

220901-N-VD165-001 FORT WORTH (September 1, 2022) Aviation Support Equipment Technician 2nd Class Rudis Aragon Jr. assigned to Naval Air Station (NAS) Joint Reserve Base (JRB) Fort Worth, takes the E-6 Navy-wide advancement exam. NAS JRB Fort Worth provides joint training capabilities and resources to enable War Fighter readiness while sustaining personnel and families needs, future compatibility and inculcating a culture of safety.

U.S. Army Sgt. Joshua Sanders, an animal care specialist for Fort Wainwright and Fort Richardson from Joint Base Lewis-McChord Public Health, prepares military working dog distress scenarios for medical responders at the medical training facility on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Sept. 1, 2022. The 673d Medical Group held its first-ever Joint Tactical Combat Casualty Care-K-9 course geared toward exposing military emergency providers, doctors, and independent medical technicians to basic emergency medical care for MWDs. The hands-on course touched on shock treatment; respiratory distress; blast, burn and crush injuries and many more.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Dwayne Calvon, 224th Sustainment Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company, California National Guard, holds a folded American flag in a studio at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, Calif., July 26, 2022.

030304-M-4547R-005. Country: Japan (JPN) Scene Major Command Shown: MCB

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Adonis Dotson, a communications officer with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, debriefs Marines and U.S. Navy Sailors following a mass casualty rehearsal aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in the Philippine Sea, Jan. 30, 2024. The rehearsal reinforces the Navy and Marine Corps abilities, while working together, to effectively respond to scenarios with numerous casualties throughout the 31st MEUs area of responsibility. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. Dotson is a native of Nebraska.

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, U.S. Army Surgeon General and Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command, left, greets Pfc. Corine Hamilton after field practice for Team Army at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando, Florida, during the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games, Aug. 19, 2022. The DoD Warrior Games will be conducted on Aug. 19 - 28, hosted by the U.S. Army at Walt Disney World Resort. Men and women from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and U.S. Special Operations Command are joined in competition by athletes with the Canadian Soldier On organization for a variety of adaptive sports ranging from archery to wheelchair rugby.

FORT LEE, Va. (June 23, 2021) -- Pvt. Kelice Hines, a U.S. Army Quartermaster School advanced individual training student, belts out the national anthem during a 23rd QM Brigade change of command ceremony June 23rd at the Lee Theater. Hines, Brooklyn native, is among the 23,000 Soldiers who attend the QM School on a yearly basis.

Lt. Col. Xeon Simpson, the commander of the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, looks at the formation of troops at his change of command ceremony on Fort Hood, Texas, June 10, 2022. The change of command ceremony is where the incoming commander officially takes command of their unit.

Second Lieutenant Rhecia Llewellyn, center, poses for a photo with those who pinned her new rank on her uniform during a commissioning ceremony following the graduation of the Connecticut National Guard's Officer Candidate School, class 67, at Camp Nett, Niantic, Connecticut, Aug. 20, 2022.

Army Sgt. Charles Mills Jr. sings the national anthem to begin the Juneteenth celebration at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on June 16.

Army Cpl. XaViera Masline is promoted to the rank of sergeant during a ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., Jan. 13, 2023. Sgt. Maslines fellow noncommissioned officers from the Army Multimedia and Visual Information Division were present to congratulate her.

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Akeel M. Gaines, 250th Brigade Support Battalion, New Jersey National Guard, is congratulated by a guest at his appointment ceremony at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Oct. 24, 2022. Command Sgt. Maj. Gaines assumed the command of the 250th BSB located in Teaneck, October 1st.

U.S. Army veteran David Snypes Jr., left, meets Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, U.S. Army Surgeon General and Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command, after field practice for Team Army at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando, Florida, during the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games, Aug. 19, 2022. The DoD Warrior Games will be conducted on Aug. 19 - 28, hosted by the U.S. Army at Walt Disney World Resort. Men and women from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and U.S. Special Operations Command are joined in competition by athletes with the Canadian Soldier On organization for a variety of adaptive sports ranging from archery to wheelchair rugby.

VING Ms. Williana Doctrine, the sexual assault response coordinator, greets personnel and pins on teal ribbons to incoming travelers kicking off SAAPM 2022, April 1.The month of April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM). The Virgin Islands National Guard has zero tolerance for any acts of sexual assault or violence and takes every opportunity to make awareness of this terrible crime.

041213-M-9529D-003. Base: Al Asad State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ)

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Devon Foster, right, chaplain, Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG-13), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, has his cover placed by family during his promotion ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, June 29, 2022. Foster is responsible for the moral, ethical, and spiritual readiness of Marines and Sailors of MAG-13.

Sgt. Judah Sibetang, 331st Transportation Company, 11th Transportation Battalion, 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), coxswain, stands along the starboard-side railing of a Class B warping tug vessel at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, September 21, 2022. Sibetang is from the pacific island nation of Palau, where he first began sailing ocean waters when he was six years old.

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, U.S. Army Surgeon General and Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command, left, greets Pfc. Corine Hamilton after field practice for Team Army at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando, Florida, during the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games, Aug. 19, 2022. The DoD Warrior Games will be conducted on Aug. 19 - 28, hosted by the U.S. Army at Walt Disney World Resort. Men and women from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and U.S. Special Operations Command are joined in competition by athletes with the Canadian Soldier On organization for a variety of adaptive sports ranging from archery to wheelchair rugby.

SCHRIEVER SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- U.S. Space Force SPC 4 Eddie Waller Jr, Mobile Operator for the 4th Space Operations Squadron, Mobile Operations Flight (DOM) reverses the mobile semi during a routine training exercise at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, April 8, 2022. 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 communications during peacetime and throughout the full spectrum of conflict. The squadron is responsible for command and control of the Milstar/Advanced Extremely High Frequency Defense Satellite Communications System Phase III, and Wideband Global Satellite Comunications satellite constellations through dedicated Extremely High Frequency antennas and the Air Force Satellite Control Network. The squadron also operates three mobile constellation control stations at various locations in conjunction with host par

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, U.S. Army Surgeon General and Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command, left, shakes hand with Pfc. Darnell Boynton after field practice for Team Army at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando, Florida, during the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games, Aug. 19, 2022. The DoD Warrior Games will be conducted on Aug. 19 - 28, hosted by the U.S. Army at Walt Disney World Resort. Men and women from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and U.S. Special Operations Command are joined in competition by athletes with the Canadian Soldier On organization for a variety of adaptive sports ranging from archery to wheelchair rugby.

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Tech. Sgt. Walter L. Lightburn, 58th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, reads flight plans on a C-17 Globemaster III before departing in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn March 22. Two Altus C-17s left March 22 in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn as part of ongoing operations in Libya.

Caleb Smith, a Charles H. Flowers High School student, smiles after an orientation flight flown by the 1st Helicopter Squadron assigned to Joint Base Andrews, Md., June 7, 2022.The Air Force District of Washington Commander, Maj. Gen. Joel Jackson, recognized Smith for his academic and aviation achievements. Smith is the nations youngest pilot to earn a private glider pilot license, and is continuing to pursue his private pilot license.U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Matthew Braman

Chief Master Sgt. Quincey Hester, Mr. Anthony "Todd" Taylor and Senior Airmen Bryce Mayer, members of the 908th Program Integration Office, provide an update to the attendees of the weekly PIO planning meeting May 19, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. The PIO is one of the organizations responsible for the 908th Airlift Wings transition from the C-130H Hercules to the MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter. Their weekly team meetings brought together members from Air Education and Training Command, Air Force Reserve Command and the 22nd Air Force.

Staff Sgt. Taquesha Abson Re-enlistment & Farewell

050901-A-0000H-014. Base: New Orleans State: Louisiana (LA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

NAPLES, ITALY -- Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) 1st Class Oladunni Ahmed, attached to Naval Air Station Sigonella, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, poses for a photo onboard Naval Support Activity, Naples, April 12, 2021. Navy Region EURAFCENT oversees nine installations in seven countries, enabling U.S., allied and partner nation forces to be where they are needed, when they are needed, in order to ensure security and stability in the European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Deandra Price-Newby, 628th Healthcare Operations Squadron commander, delivers a speech during the 628th HCOS Change of Command ceremony at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, June 23, 2022. The 628th HCOS mission is to develop ready medics, deploy healthy forces, and deliver ready reliable care.

Paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division face off in a Football match in Normandy, France, June 6, 2022. The 101st Abn. Div. took the lead in the first half, but the 82nd Abn. Div. pushed through in the 4th quarter for a final score of 40 to 32.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Clarence Odums, 354th Operations Support Systems aircrew flight equipment journeyman, updates the inventory of survival components for the Advanced Concept Ejection Seat II (ACES) at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 14, 2022. The ACES II is a seat that is capable of ejecting a pilot from a jet in case of an emergency.

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Shakela Matthews, left, 349th Force Support Squadron sustainment superintendent, speaks of her experience at a panel during a Juneteenth celebration hosted by the African American Heritage Association at Travis Air Force Base, California, June 16, 2022. On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day act into law making June 19, otherwise known as Juneteenth, a federal holiday. The celebration commemorates June 19, 1865 when union soldiers led by General Gordon Granger enforced General Order No. 3 which marked the official end to slavery in the United States.

U.S. Air Force Technical Sgt. Vashard Armand, 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron NCOIC of installation area access, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ashley Armand, 386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron readiness manager, are stationed together at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, September 5, 2022. The Armands' first met on a deployment to Al Dhafra Air Base in 2016.

8th Theater Sustainment Commands outgoing commander Maj. Gen. David Wilson relinquishes command to Brig. Gen. Jered Helwig during a change of command ceremony at Hamilton Field, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii on June 14, 2022. The passing of colors ensured that the 8th TSC and its soldiers is never without official leadership, a continuation of trust, and also signifies an allegiance of the soldiers to their unit's commander.

Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Thompson Jr., 15th Wing command chief, gives an opening speech to Airmen assigned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam before a Martin Luther King Jr. Day peace walk at the Missing Man Memorial on JBPHH, Hawaii, Jan. 11, 2024. The two-mile walk was held in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day to replicate Dr. MLK Jr.s historic march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma.

The 82nd Airborne Division Paratroopers, along with an infantry squad vehicle, participated in the Fayetteville Woodpeckers game at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville, N.C. on May 13, 2022. Several Paratroopers took part in and attended the game, as it honored Military Appreciation Month.

DF-ST-89-00850. Subject Operation/Series: SHADOW HAWK Base: Azarq Air Base Country: Jordan (JOR)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Oranjel Leavy, the outgoing sergeant major of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, sits beside his wife, Sgt. Maj. Tricia Smith-Leavy, sergeant major of Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, during a relief and appointment ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, April 6, 2023. During the ceremony, Sgt. Maj. Oranjel Leavy relinquished his post to Sgt. Maj. John Schlaud, after serving as the 15th MEU sergeant major since June 2021.

Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate - Handler (ABHCS) Derrick Williams, USS Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) air department, hugs ABHCS Richard Haugh during Fords Master Chief and Senior Chief Petty Officer pinning ceremony, May 20, 2022. Six Master Chiefs and 16 Senior Chiefs were pinned during the ceremony. Ford is in port Naval Station Norfolk preparing for its next underway period.

U.S. Army Sgt. Tarako Braswell and Sgt. Torrance Saunders, assigned to 982nd Signal Company (Airborne) stand for a photo before competing in the 2022 Spc. Hilda I. Clayton Best Combat Camera Competition at Fort A.P Hill, Virginia, May 18, 2022. The annual multi-day competition tests the physical, tactical and technical proficiency of visual information and public affairs specialists across the DOD and participating international competitors.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Campbell Danavan, a motor vehicle operator assigned to Marine Air-Ground Task Force 23, poses for a portrait during Integrated Training Exercise (ITX) 4-22, at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 19, 2022. Danavan, from Houma, Louisiana, repairs and maintains offshore equipment as a civilian and serves with Truck Company, 23rd Marine Regiment."I get a feeling of accomplishment. I can provide Marines with chow, their water bulls, everything they need for their training; I bring them to where they need to be. To be honest it just feels nice to be able to know that they're counting on you."Marines and Sailors with MAGTF-23 maintain various civilian careers while continuing to answer the irrational call to service in the Marine Corps Reserve.

021213-F-1472B-047. Base: Lackland Air Force Base State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AMC

U.S. Army Spc. Daniel Wooden, a military police specialist with 59th Military Police Company, 759th Military Police Battalion, gets ready to answer any calls that come his way, on Fort Carson, Colorado, Feb. 5, 2024. Wooden strives to carry himself with professionalism and empathy towards the community to better serve them. Army

050112-F-0523M-037. Base: Kadena Air Base State: Okinawa Country: Japan (JPN)

U.S. Army Spc. Passeba Kabore, assigned to the 3rd Division Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, earns the title of the brigades Soldier of the Quarter Board, after winning a board and Army Combat Fitness Test, on Fort Stewart, Georgia, Feb. 10, 2023. The Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter board, chaired by the brigade command sergeant major with the units senior-most NCOs as voting members, tested the Soldiers military knowledge, customs and courtesies, and composure under pressure. Competition events are a test of grit and toughness, foster readiness and esprit de corps, and are a fundamental part of the brigades strategy to build lethal, cohesive teams with expert leaders.

U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Anthony Mills, a food services force manager, is pinned with a new rank by his wife Paula Mills, during a promotional recognition ceremony at Camp Smith Training Site, N.Y., Sept. 16, 2022. First Sergeant Mills was promoted from the rank of Sergeant First Class. His leadership and actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and he will serve as the senior enlisted advisor to the commander at the emerging 1501st Quartermaster company.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brendon Parks, 31st Rescue Squadron radio frequency transmissions technician from Houston, Texas was selected as the 18th Wings Airman of the Week at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The Airman of the Week program is an opportunity for outstanding Airmen to be recognized by KAB leadership as well as showcase these young leaders to their peers.

African soldier returning home

U.S. Navy Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Archie Griffin, from Pearl City, Hawaii, assigned to the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), has his cover placed by his family and fellow chiefs during a chief petty officer pinning ceremony at the Coastal Virginia Church, in Norfolk, Virginia, Oct. 21, 2022. John C. Stennis is in Newport News Shipyard working alongside NNS, NAVSEA and contractors conducting Refueling and Complex Overhaul as part of the mission to deliver the warship back in the fight, on time and on budget, to resume its duty of defending the United States.

Karen Durham-Aguilera (center), executive director, Army National Military Cemeteries and U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Patrick Thomas (right), senior enlisted advisor, Arlington National Cemetery and Office of Army Cemeteries, greet U.S. Army Col. Shannon-Mikal Lucas (left), deputy provost marshal general, Office of the Provost Marshal General, upon his arrival to Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Sept. 27, 2022. Lucas was at ANC to participate in a Public Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Brig. Gen. Jason E. Kelly, Fort Jackson commander, and Post Command Sgt. Maj. Philson Tavernier push the button to light the post's holiday tree during a ceremony, Dec. 2.

Soldiers and NCOs from the West Virginia and District of Columbia National Guards compete in their annual Best Warrior Competition, held at Camp Dawson, Kingwood, West Virginia, April 22, 2022. Best Warrior is an annual event where participants compete in a series of military tasks including weapons proficiency, endurance, physical fitness, medical skills, communications, and professional development activities. Winners of the local Best Warrior will compete at the regional level in May, also at Camp Dawson.

CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Logan Shepherd presents her dad his general officer's belt. Leland Tony Shepherd was promoted to brigadier general and assumed command of the Arkansas Army National Guard in back-to-back ceremonies here June 12, 2022.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III thanks Rear Adm. Steve Barnett, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii/Commander, Naval Surface Group, MIDPAC after a tour of Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, Sept. 30, 2022. (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley)

HANSCOM, AFB, Mass - Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry Division, return home from deployment after nine months of service throughout the middle east. Leaders from the Massachusetts National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters and 51st Troop Command leadership greeted soldiers on the flight line of Hanscom Air Force Base. The Soldiers were then before then transported to Camp Curtis Guild where they were reunited with family and friends. Since its inception in 1636, the Massachusetts National Guard has participated in each of our nations conflicts, steadfastly serving the country and the citizens of the Commonwealth. More than 20,000 Massachusetts National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have deployed since September 11, 2001

Master Sgt. Clifford Jackson III (rear left), and his family celebrate Airman 1st Class Clifford Jackson IVs graduation from Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas, in April 2019. The two Airmen continue a family tradition of military service that dates back to WWII. Sergeant Jackson currently serves as the 39th Air Base Wing command section superintendent, and Airman Jackson is a materiel management technician assigned to the 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron. The father-son team provide each other with a sense of home while serving their short tours together at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. They meet at least once a week to share a meal and discuss a variety of issues related to personal and professional growth. Also pictured are Sergeant Jacksons wife Tierra N. Jackson and their sons: Cuinncey (left), Ciddney (center left) and Cammden.

Antonio J. Amos (left) speaks with Maj. Gen. Daryl O. Hood (right), the commanding general of the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command, on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, Feb. 28. Hood welcomed Amos, a retired U.S. Army Chemical Corps lieutenant colonel and senior Army civilian, into the Chemical Corps Regimental Associations Order of the Dragon. U.S. Army

220823-N-AS200-0201 POINT MUGU, Calif. (Aug. 23, 2022) - Lt. Casanova Love, a native of Alexandria, Louisiana, relieved Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michelle Hamilton as Security Officer (SECO) of Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), Aug 23, 2022. NBVC is a strategically located Naval installation composed of three operating facilities: Point Mugu, Port Hueneme and San Nicolas Island. NBVC is the home of the Pacific Seabees, West Coast E-2D Hawkeyes, 3 warfare centers and 80 tenants.

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