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Modern Military Operations

Images depict U.S. military personnel engaged in training, operations, and exercises, showing teamwork, tactical gear, and varied environments.

Spc. Camden Quick, a combat medic with the 7223rd Medical Support Unit out of Mobile, Ala., and a native of Niceville, Fla., participates in Army Reserve Medical Command's Best Warrior Competition held Mar. 29 - April 3 at Fort McCoy, Wis.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Julius Caesar Piga, 355th Security Forces Squadron combat arms training and maintenance instructor and 5/6 Council president, watches over Airmen taking a small are qualifying course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Sept. 12, 2022. DMs 5/6 Council came up with the idea for Airmen to shadow other Airmen in different Air Force specialty codes to give them the opportunity to have a better understanding of how everyone contributes to the mission.

Close-up of a firefighter

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Matthew OrtizHernandez, an assistant radio operator with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, participates in a battle history exchange during KAMANDAG 6 at Marine Base Rodolfo Punsalang, Palawan, Philippines, Oct. 7, 2022. KAMANDAG is an annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences.

DANIELLA KERTESZ in WORLD WAR Z (2013), directed by MARC FORSTER.

SOLDIER STANDING IN FRONT OF U.S.FLAG

MALAYSIA (July 13, 2022) Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class Jerry P. Smart, from Little Rock, Arkansas, stands watch aboard the Emory S. Land-class submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) during sea and anchor detail, July 13, 2022. Frank Cable is currently on patrol conducting expeditionary maintenance and logistics in support a free and open Indo-Pacific in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

Portrait of a firefighter with fire in background

Portrait of a female Marine First Lieutenant, who has served two tours in Iraq flying a Cobra attack helicopter.

A U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the 36th Logistics Readiness Squadron, waits for an aircraft to land on Northwest Field during Exercise GOLDEN BEE to perform a hot refuel and defuel at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Sept. 26, 2022. Exercise GOLDEN BEE is a joint readiness exercise designed to provide training integration and rehearse strategic and operational objectives in support of Agile Combat Employment initiatives in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility.

JOHN CENA in THE MARINE (2006), directed by JOHN BONITO.

020218-F-6911G-001. Base: Incirlik Air Base, Adana Country: Turkey (TUR)

Soldier

Second Lieutenant Nicholas Ryan walks across Clemson University's Military Heritage Plaza to recieve his first salute as a U.S. Army officer during a Silver Dollar Salute ceremony, May 11, 2022. Clemson University's Army and Air Force ROTC units held a joint ceremony to commission 33 second lieutenants into military service. Eighteen students received commissions into the Army, 14 into the Air Force, and one received a commission into the Space Force. (Photo by Ken Scar)

U.S. Air Force Capt. Thomas Griffin, KC-135 Stratotanker pilot assigned to the 50th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, conducts aircraft system pre-flight checks with his copilot at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, May 5, 2022. The 50th EARS, deployed with U.S. Air Forces Central, delivers fuel for U.S. and partner nation forces, enabling war-winning airpower, deterrence, and stability to the region.

Spc. Nathaniel Miska prepares a call for fire during the National Best Warrior Competition, July 26, 2022, Volunteer Training Site Milan, Tennessee. Miska and Sgt. Richard Carlson placed first in both the Minnesota and Region IV Best Warrior Competition, securing their spot in this National Competition. Fourteen National Guard Soldiers are competing in the All-Guard National Best Warrior Competition July 24-29, 2022, primarily at Camp Smyrna, Tennessee.(Minnesota National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Mahsima Alkamooneh)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jonathan Bootenhoff, a fixed-wing aircraft mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312, approaches an F/A-18C Hornet aircraft during exercise Keen Sword 2023 at Japan Air Self-Defense Force Nyutabaru Air Base, Japan, Nov. 16, 2022. Keen Sword is a biennial exercise designed to enhance Japan-U.S. readiness, interoperability, and bilateral relations while demonstrating U.S. resolve to support the security interests of allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

A Soldier assigned to U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) - Army Reserve, poses for a photograph after competing in the 2024 Polyglot Games. The Utah National Guards 300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguist) hosted the 6th annual Best Linguist Competition (Polyglot Games) Feb. 3, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah that brought together over 200 linguists from nearly 80 different units. Army Reserve

Man wearing a camouflage helmet and headset in San Diego, California.

1st Lieutenant Daniel Hall assigned to the 52nd Ordinance Group traverses an obstacle during 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command's Best Warrior and Best Squad Competition held July 10-14, 2022 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. The 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) Commands Best Squad Competition and Best Warrior Competition is a single event used to select the best Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Soldier of the Year from Soldiers within the command and its major subordinate commands.

021517-F-0352L-003. Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A U.S. Reconnaissance Marine with Maritime Raid Force (MRF), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), observes environment during a jungle sustainment training exercise at Jungle Warfare Training Center, Okinawa, Japan, May 12, 2022. The Marines conducted reconnaissance and patrols, validating Expeditionary Advanced Based Operations (EABO) concepts. 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.

Airman 1st Class Israel Ortiz, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution operator, listens to communications during a hot pit refueling of a KC-46A Pegasus at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Oct. 13, 2022. Airmen from the 18th Wing conducted the first hot-pit refuel of a KC-46 at Kadena while also gaining familiarization with the aircraft, increasing Kadenas ability to support the Indo-Pacific region.

Electronics Warfare Technician Second Class Dave Kronebusch reads the news during an intermission between broadcasts at the Radio Mir transmitter site. The site is located 906 meters above sea level on Grdonj Hill, and supports the Stabilization Force Information Command Center in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Found at 106.2 MHZ on the dial, Radio Mir (which translated means Radio Peace) broadcasts service information, spotlights political developments, and plays music for the local Bosnian population. The site is currently maintained by a six-person Reserve unit from Virginia. It is their responsibilty to broadcast the pre-recorded tapes daily from 6 am to 12 pm. Being a self sustained unit, the.... Electronics Warfare Technician Second Class Dave Kronebusch reads the news during an intermission between broadcasts at the Radio Mir transmitter site. The site is located 906 meters above sea level on Grdonj Hill, and supports the Stabilization Force Information Command Center in Sarajevo, Bosnia. F

220408-N-VJ326-1106 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 8, 2022) - Lt. Eric Collins, a warfare tactics instructor, oversees crew-served weapons misfire training aboard amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7), April 8. Tripoli is underway conducting routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Anthony Cruz, 103rd Airlift Wing material management, listens as an instructor explains team movements during Fieldcraft Hostile (FCH) on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Aug. 2, 2022. FCH is a pre-deployment course provided by the 421 Combat Training Squadron comprised of members across 43 different Air Force Specialty Codes dedicated to its Chief of Staff of the Air Force chartered mission to deliver expeditionary combat support training.

Staff Sgt. Andrew Raymond, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team member, responds to a simulated small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) threat during routine training at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 21, 2022. Emergency responders, to include 8th Security Forces Squadron defenders and the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters and EOD technicians, tested their response time and capabilities to locate and destroy the foreign sUAS.

060927-N-0553R-002. Base: USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49)

040610-F-2267W-002. Base: Vandenberg Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AFSPC

A Navy EOD (explosive ordnance disposal)member takes compass sightings during field training. Base: Naval Air Station, Lemoore State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Austin Meixner, a bulk fuel specialist with Bulk Fuel Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, poses for a portrait during tactical bulk fuel operations aboard the Ocean Valor on May 3, 2022. Demonstrations of both existing and new bulk liquid distribution systems were utilized to aid development of fuel distribution in contested littoral environments.

A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, prepares jump packs for an airborne operation at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. on Sept. 10, 2022. The unit conducted non-tactical airborne operations at the Army Aviation Facility in order to maintain mission readiness and proficiency among their paratroopers with the assistance of two CH-47s out of Virginia.The Army Aviation Facility was created through a MILCON effort valued at 11.7 million dollars and made possible by the joint effort of ASA Fort Dix and the U.S. Marine Corps Marine Aircraft Group 49. The 2100 square foot building is host to an Army Ramp Management Area which provides a wide range of capabilities for both fixed and rotary wing aircraft such as the C-130, CH-47S, and UH-60S.

ROBERT MITCHUM in ANZIO (1968), directed by EDWARD DMYTRYK.

The face of flight engineer SSGT Silas R. Still, from the 8th Airlift Squadron (AS), McChord Air Force Base, Washington, is surrounded with a fur lined parka hood to protect him against the harsh Antarctic weather after his C-141B arrived at the base. The 8th AS men and equipment are participating in the joint, U.S. Armed Forces and New Zealand Defense Force, military operation which provides logistic support to the U.S. National Science Foundation's Program on Antarctica. Subject Operation/Series: DEEP FREEZE Base: Christchurch State: Canterbury Country: New Zealand (NZL)

4493-V111134419

Pvt. Russell L. Towle with Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, sits for a portrait on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Oct. 8, 2022. The EGA is the official emblem and insignia of the Marine Corps.

Modern warfare combatant talking into tactical radio headset during a mission.

DN-ST-88-00597. Country: Unknown

Senior Airman Darrius Stevens, 822nd Base Defense Squadron member, poses for a portrait while manning a defensive fighting position at Avon Park Auxiliary Airfield, Florida, July 23, 2022. Karr and the 822nd were participating in Agile Flag 22-2, marking a significant milestone in standardizing the way Air Combat Command organizes, trains, and equips for Agile Combat Employment after a period of experimentation.

A U.S. Air Force pilot assigned to the 67th Fighter Squadron reviews flight plans for RED FLAG-Alaska at Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 15, 2022. RED FLAG-Alaska is a Pacific Air Forces directed field training exercise for U.S. and international forces flown under simulated air combat conditions primarily out of Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

Captain kite J.W. Westerbeek, born in 1963.298 Squadron.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michael Rogge, a pavements and heavy equipment journeyman, assigned to the 378th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, spreads concrete at Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, June 13, 2022. The concrete pad will be the site of a new fitness facility.

030625-F-02034C-003. Base: Naval Weapons Station (NWS) State: South Carolina (SC) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AMC

Portrait of a firefighter wearing a helmet

DF-ST-87-08507. Subject Operation/Series: BRIM FROST Base: Fort Greely State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

British soldiers fighting against boer forces at the reenactment of the Battle of Talana. Dundee. KwaZulu Natal. South Africa

CAPT Isaac Richardson III Commanding Officer of USS NIMITZ (CVN 68), address the ships crew via the ships intercom. Nimitz is operating in the Gulf to enforce UN sanctions against Iraq, by patrolling the no-fly zone under Operation Southern Watch. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH Base: USS Nimitz (CVN 68)

Young handsome soldier with arms folded

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Tristian Craft, a machinery technician aboard USCGC Bear (WMEC 901), relays an update via radio to damage control center during a simulated fire on board, North Atlantic Ocean, Aug. 18, 2022. The Bear is on the second half of its North Atlantic patrol and is working in tandem with the Northern Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO).

Original Film Title: FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS. English Title: FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS. Film Director: CLINT EASTWOOD. Year: 2006.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Austin Sondergard, 605th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, performs pre-flight checks on a KC-10 extender at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. on Oct. 10, 2022. Sondergard received brain surgery to remove an arteriovenous malformation, and later suffered losses to both memory, speech, and motor skills due to a stroke. Recovered, Sondergard returned to his duties as a Crew Chief and hobby as an avid powerlifter.

AIR BASE 201, Niger - U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Sage Golden is a 724th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron Fire and Emergency Services Flight firefighter at Air Base 201 in Niger, Oct. 4, 2022. Golden is responsible for leading a firefighting and rescue team of three firefighters, providing crash, fire and rescue protection for over 160 facilities and over 550 personnel. Golden is an Alabama Air National Guardsmen with the 187th Fighter Wing.

U.S. Air Force Airman Senior Airman Jack Nagy, a munitions systems technician assigned to the 3rd Munitions Squadron, poses for a portrait during Exercise Arctic Warrior at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Nov. 16, 2022. During the Arctic Warrior exercise, the 3rd MUNS developed effective practices to establish a method of building and transporting munitions in support of Agile Combat Employment.

TIG NOTARO in ARMY OF THE DEAD (2021), directed by ZACK SNYDER.

COL. Vladimir Sobichevsky, a U.S. special forces officer, poses for a photograph during the joint Thai-U.S. training exercise Cobra Gold '92. Subject Operation/Series: COBRA GOLD '92 Base: Korat Country: Thailand (THA)

Lt. Jacobs and Lt. Sullivan, Chaos troop, 1st Battalion, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division, pose for a photo before air assaulting into Yukon Training Area during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center - Alaska 23-02, April 3rd, 2023. The Arctic is unforgiving and requires deliberate, purposeful leaders who are meticulous in their planning and approach to their warfighting, and JPMRC-AK 23-02 is key to testing the divisions leaders and soldiers.

Mountain hunting Karwendel Mountains, Tyrol, Austria, Europe

Tom Hanks , Saving Private Ryan , 1998 directed by Steven Spielberg Dreamworks LLC ,Paramount Pictures

U.S. Army Spc. Rolando Soto, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat team, 11th Airborne Division, maintains watch at a remote fighting position during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center-Alaska 23-02 at Yukon Training Area, Alaska, April 3, 2023. JPMRC-AK 23-02, executed in Alaska with its world-class training facilities and its harsh Arctic environment, builds Soldiers and leaders into a cohesive team of skilled, tough, alert, and adaptive warriors capable of fighting and winning anywhere.

Tech. Sgt. Ashley Majewski, left, 436th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron dental facility manager and logistics noncommissioned officer in charge, and Zarafshan Zaro” Mirzaie, an Afghan evacuee, reflect back on Operation Allies Refuge and Operation Allies Welcome during the OAR one year anniversary at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Aug. 8, 2022. After flying out of Afghanistan during OAR, Zaro met and began working with Majewski at a hair salon during OAW on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.

030421-F-9528H-019. Country: Unknown

DOLPH LUNDGREN in THE EXPENDABLES 3 (2014), directed by PATRICK HUGHES.

111217-N-TZ605-062 PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 17, 2011) Lt. Robert Blackwood, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113, poses for a portrait after donning his flight suit in the squadronÕs paraloft aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are underway on a western Pacific deployment.

U.S. Army Sgt. Richard Carlson plots a point during a Call to Fire exercise at the National Best Warrior Competition July 26, 2022 in Milan, Tennessee. This competition tests top Guardsmen from across the country on their physical and mental fortitude.

A Trooper, assigned to 1st Cavalry Division, participates in a ruck march relay competition on Fort Hood, Sept. 14, 2022. This competition was a part of the 1st Cavalry Division's 101st birthday celebration.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dennis O. EspinozaRosales, a Long Beach, California, native and combat engineer with 2d Combat Engineer Battalion, 2d Marine Division, puts his hands through the ski pole straps before executing an arctic plunge during the NATO Cold Weather Instructor Course in Setermoen, Norway, Nov. 25, 2022. NCWIC is a course designed to develop Marines and other service members to be instructors of cold weather survival training in preparation for future deployments.

A German soldier with the 6th Battery, 345th Artillery Battalion, discusses the close-air support training schedule with U.S. Air Force tactical air control party specialists with 15th Air Support Operation Squadron, supporting the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division, at Townsend Bombing Range, Georgia, Feb. 21, 2024. Joint branch training with NATO allies ensures personnel utilize similar procedures and can operate together. Marine Corps

Israeli Defense Forces Sgt. Roi Albik and Sgt. Lee Hershkovitz, assigned to the Israel Defense Forces Combat Camera Unit, stand for a photo before competing in the 2022 Spc. Hilda I. Clayton Best Combat Camera Competition at Fort A.P Hill, Virginia, May 17, 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.

Steelworker 3rd Class Nancy Atkins participates in a causeway-building exercise with Amphibious Construction Battalion 1 (ACB-1). Base: Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

980620-F-2907C-003. Base: Mcchord Air Force Base State: Washington (WA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Firefighter

Portrait of Iraqi Freedom veteran

980623-F-9580Z-005. Base: Mcchord Air Force Base State: Washington (WA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Ryan Gallagher, an MV-22 Osprey pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, coordinates with Marines from Combat Logistics Battalion 4 at Kin Blue, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 25, 2022. The purpose of the training was to increase Helicopter Support Team proficiency and to practice expeditionary advanced base concepts in preparation for future operations.

U.S. Air Force Col. Eric Phillips, 366th Medical Group commander, speaks with an Honorary Gunfighter during Hawgsmoke 2022 at Saylor Creek Bombing Range, Idaho, Sep. 8, 2022. The Honorary Gunfighter program shares the mission of the 366th Fighter Wing with key community leaders.

020505-F-4328T-001. Subject Operation/Series: GURRDIAN CHALLENGE 2002 Base: Vandenberg Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

050702-A-1888A-069. Subject Operation/Series: SWARMER Base: Samarra State: Salah Ad Din Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION

U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Jeremy Mena, an administrative clerk assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Task Force Los Angeles, poses for a photo after completing the Rick Crocker memorial 5k at Santa Monica, California, during Los Angeles Fleet Week, May 26, 2022. Ricardo Crocker was a 10 year veteran of the Santa Monica Police Department and a Marine Corps Reserve Major who was killed in action in Iraq, 2005. The purpose of Fleet Week is to showcase the capabilities of the Navy-Marine Corps team and give back to the community with events, static displays, and personal interactions between service members and the public.

Pictured the "Ersatz Guard House" looking towards the Russian sector, with an image of a Soviet soldier at US Army Checkpoint Charlie (former crossing point of the Allied forces),

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