Air Force Exercises and Operations

U.S. Air Force personnel engaged in various exercises and operations, showcasing teamwork and military readiness in diverse environments.

Soldiers of the Alaska Army National Guard transfer their luggage prior to boarding a HC-130 Combat King II for transport to Bethel, Alaska, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

U.S. Air Force C-130 Js from the 317th Airlift Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, transport Airmen and cargo from the 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, to Hill Air Force Base Utah, May 17, 2022 to participate in the Raging Gunfighter exercise. Raging Gunfighter is an Air Combat Command exercise designed to simulate operating a Lead Wing from an Austere Environment. The purpose of this exercise is to prepare the 366th Fighter Wing for potential Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operations around the world.

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Dale Shetler, the senior enlisted leader for the Indiana National Guard, inspects an A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft at the 122nd Fighter Wing, Fort Wayne, Indiana February 4, 2023. Shetler visited the 122FW in order to get feedback from airmen and increase knowledge and experience to further understand Air National Guard operations.

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 525th and 90th Aircraft Maintenance Units participate in the 3rd Wing load competition at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 7, 2022. The load competition is held quarterly, and participants are rated based on quality and timeliness of their work.

Maj. Gen. Win Burkett, the commander of the 36th Infantry Division, Texas Army National Guard talking with Col. Jim Perrin, commander, 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team and soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment at the Yakima Training Center on Oct. 15, 2022. In September, Washington Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty signed a memorandum of agreement to facilitate unity of effort with the Adjutants General of Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee and New Mexico and the Commanding General, 36th Infantry Division. Under the MOA, which went into effect on Sept. 30, 2022, the 36th Infantry Division, Texas National Guard has coordinating authority with the Washington Army National Guards 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Maj. Gen. Michael Lutton, 20th Air Force commander, engages in conversation with Lt. Col. Jared Hann, 54th Helicopter Squadron commander, while approaching a UH-1N Huey helicopter at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, Nov. 3, 2022. Hann coordinated logistics to prepare the 20 AF command team for their helicopter flight.

Airmen from the 442nd Fighter Wing, 20th Attack Squadron, and 358th Fighter Squadron learn about a B-2 Spirit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, Aug. 1, 2022. The Airmen visited the B-2 hangar for a squadron swap tour, learning about the B-2 mission and seeing the aircraft first hand. (U.S. Air Force photos by Airman 1st Class Joseph Garcia)

Soldiers of the Alaska Army National Guard transfer their luggage prior to boarding a HC-130 Combat King II for transport to Bethel, Alaska, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, load equipment their area of operation into a military vehicle as they prepare to relocate to a new training site during a major training exercise on Fort Drum, NY, April 5, 2022. The training exercise, also known as CPX III, is a major training event that happens nearly every year at Fort Drum.

U.S Air Force Staff Sgt. Ty Lerum, a munitions systems technician assigned to the 3rd Munitions Squadron, guides a tail kit onto a GBU-24 Paveway III during exercise SAVAGE YETI 22-1, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, August 16, 2022. The five-day exercise was conducted to simulate a deployment in which the 3rd MUNS squadron would generate munitions with minimal resources.

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Aaron L. Stephenson, command sergeant major of Task Force No Mercy (1-101st Attack Helicopter Battalion), attached to Task Force Mustang - 36th Combat Aviation Brigade (left), welcomes Command Sgt. Maj. Robert W. Hartzog (right), command sergeant major of Task Force Mustang (36th CAB), at Erbil International Airport in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, on Sept. 14, 2022. The command team of Task Force Mustang conducted an office visit with Task Force No Mercy to align leadership intent and values required as an aviation task force supporting Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Johnathan Ferguson, 305th Air Mobility Wing quality assurance inspector (Right), and U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chase Staron, 305th Air Mobility Wing crew chief (Left), perform a quality assurance inspection at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. on Nov. 22, 2022. Ferguson is one of over one million registered bone marrow donors through the Department of Defenses Salute to Life program. This year he met with the recipient of a donation he made in 2012 that allowed the patient to achieve remission of leukemia.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Corey Thobe takes command of the 121st Air Refueling Wing Civil Engineering Squadron from Lt. Col. Daryl Brezina at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, June 4, 2022. Thobe and Brezina were joined by their families for a Change of Command ceremony to commemorate the event.

SCHRIEVER SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- United States Air Force Airmen and Space Force Gaurdians load a Mobile Constellation Control Station aboard a C-17 at Peterson Space Force Base on Wednesday, Sept 14 2022. The unit is being transported to an operating location as part of the 4th Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Space Force Base's multi-day operation to provide proof of concept for missions outside of the United States returning the MCCS to Schriever Space Force Base. 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 communication during peacetime and throughout the full spectrum of conflict. ( U.S. Space Force Photo By: Tiana Williams)

A U.S. Air Force Airman from the 55th Rescue Squadron, assigned to the 355th Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, prepares for a flight aboard an HH-60G Pavehawk at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, Idaho, Sept. 15, 2022. Gowen provides a location for the 55th RQS to train on aerial gunnery.

A U.S. Air Force Airman from the 55th Rescue Squadron, assigned to the 355th Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, prepares for a flight aboard an HH-60G Pavehawk at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, Idaho, Sept. 15, 2022. Gowen provides a location for the 55th RQS to train on aerial gunnery.

Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, exit an aircraft after a successful redeployment at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, Aug. 16, 2022. During their deployment, the 1ABCT trained at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, and completed Combined Resolve XVII at Joint Multinational Readiness Center with 11 other NATO allies and partners to enhance interoperability and readiness.

Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 433rd Airlift Wing arrive at a simulated forwarddeployment location during Exercise Dragons Den at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas on Feb. 5, 2024. Exercise Dragons Den players simulatedeployment to establish aerial port and delivery support operations. AirForce

U.S. Air Force officers and enlisted personnel applaud during the ribbon cutting of the small aircraft weather shelter at Ali Al Salem Air Base, May 29, 2022. The shelter will house aircraft and prevent wear and tear from the harsh conditions of a deployed environment.

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. David Mineau, 15th Air Force vice commander, reacts to an Airman while touring an HH-60W Jolly Green IIs cockpit on the flight line during his visit to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, April 21, 2022. Airmen from the 41st Rescue Squadron presented their combat-capable assets and explained their mission to Mineau. Mineau visited Team Moody to learn about the mission assets of the 23rd Wing and 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing.

Cpt. Zack Brittingham, an artillery officer and commander of B Battery, 3-29 Field Artillery, 3 Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, briefs non-artillery soldiers on the capabilities and operation of an M109 Paladin Self-Propelled Howitzer during Eurosatory 2022, June 14 in Paris, France. Cross-training is key for the future of the Army,” said Brittingham. As the Army moves into the future, creating different task forces or multi-domain cells, having teams that understand more than their MOS will make us more effective and lethal.” Articulate subject matter experts are integral in effectively communicating U.S. battlefield capabilities, building trust with our NATO allies and furthering our efforts for interoperability - the ability of our Soldiers and systems to operate effectively in conjunction with those of our partner nations. The Army is dedicated to its modernization strategy, making units more lethal, to win our nation’s wars and return home safely.

U.S. Air Force Airmen execute an aircraft-to-aircraft refueling during Exercise Bamboo Eagle 24-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Feb. 2, 2024. Airmen from Yokota Air Base, Japan; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; and Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, aligned various skillsets to complete the first-ever Air Mobility Command-to-F-22 Raptor refueling from a Charleston C-17 Globemaster III to a JBER F-22 Raptor. BE 24-1 was a first-of-its-kind exercise directed by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and is composed of approximately 3,000 U.S. joint service members, allies and partners from the Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force, and more than 150 aircraft from 24 units dispersed across more than 10 locations in the western U.S. Through the use of designated air space, BE 24-1 provided Airmen, allies and partners a flexible, combat-representative, multidimensional battlespace to conduct testing tactics development and advanced

Members from the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment HHT CR S6 unit discuss equipment challenges with Lt. Col. Michael A. Duval, Commander, 39th Strategic Signal Battalion, and Lt. Col. Daniel N. Zisa, Commander, 509th Strategic Signal Battalion, during the 2022 Regimental Week Tech Demo July 27, 2022 at USAG Wiesbaden, Germany.

Members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force observe U.S. Marines with 3d Battalion, 12th Marines and Marine Air Control Squadron 4 off-load ammunition from a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft during Resolute Dragon 22 on Camp Betsukai, Hokkaido, Japan, Oct. 13, 2022. Resolute Dragon 22 is an annual bilateral exercise designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms, and maneuver across multiple domains.

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Curt Taylor, the Commander of the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California, visits the Regimental Tactical Operations Center of the 3d Cavalry Regiment during a training rotation May 15, 2022. Taylor observed operations and gave tips and guidance to the Troopers to help them succeed.

U.S. Army Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guards 56th Striker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, prepare to board a plane at Harrisburg International Airport on Jan. 1, 2024. The Soldiers are leaving their homes and families for about a year to deploy to Africa to support U.S. Africa Command and partner forces with security objectives in the region. Maj. Gen. Mark McCormack, the commanding general of the 28th Infantry Division, Brig. Gen. Laura McHugh, the Deputy Adjutant General-Army, Command Sgt. Maj. Shawn Phillips, the State Command Sergeant Major, and other officials greeted Soldiers as they boarded their planes to leave Pennsylvania.

Lt. Col. Robert Davidson, 58th Training Squadron director of operations, and Master Sgt. Dane Kirkendall, 58th TRS student operations superintendent, briefed Maj. Gen. Michele C. Edmondson, Second Air Force commander, on the different functions of their training equipment, at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., April 29, 2022. Edmondson listened to innovation techniques and how decommissioned air frames are turned into training opportunities.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Cole Barkley, left, 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion apprentice, and Staff Sgt. Guy Mobley, right, 100th AMXS aerospace propulsion craftsman, discuss KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft idle engine run procedures, Jan. 9, 2023, at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. Barkley and Mobley completed a fuel filter change on one of the KC-135s engines after discovering a problem with the high-pressure fuel system.

A Paratrooper assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, jumps from a C-17 aircraft during an airborne operation Aug. 12, 2022, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The 82nd Airborne Division is constantly training and ensuring the ability to provide the Nations ground forces who can deploy, fight, and win anywhere within 18 hours of notification.

OPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA , FLORIDA (2 September 2019) -- Florida National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, from the CBRN Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP), load equipment and prepare for potential missions responding to Hurricane Dorian.

OPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA , FLORIDA (2 September 2019) -- Florida National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, from the CBRN Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP), load equipment and prepare for potential missions responding to Hurricane Dorian.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. David Nahom, commander of Alaskan NORAD Region, Alaskan Command and 11th Air Force, listens to Airmens accomplishments during a base visit at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Sept. 30, 2022. Nahom recognized four Airmen and their hard work with a coining.

U.S. Air Force Airmen follow technical orders to execute an aircraft-to-aircraft refueling during Exercise Bamboo Eagle 24-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Feb. 2, 2024. Airmen from Yokota Air Base, Japan; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; and Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, aligned various skillsets to complete the first-ever Air Mobility Command-to-F-22 Raptor refueling from a Charleston C-17 Globemaster III to a JBER F-22 Raptor. BE 24-1 was a first-of-its-kind exercise directed by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and is composed of approximately 3,000 U.S. joint service members, allies and partners from the Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force, and more than 150 aircraft from 24 units dispersed across more than 10 locations in the western U.S. Through the use of designated air space, BE 24-1 provided Airmen, allies and partners a flexible, combat-representative, multidimensional battlespace to conduct testing tacti

U.S. Army Pfc. Anthony Haines, Armament Electrical and Avionics Repairer, assigned to Bravo Company, 1-3rd Attack Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade conduct a biweekly 14-day inspection on the M230 automatic gun of an AH-64D Apache helicopter at Lielvarde Air Base, Latvia, April 3, 2022. The M230 is a single barrel, externally powered, electrically fired, chain-driven weapon. 12 CAB is among other units assigned to V Corps, America's Forward Deployed Corps in Europe that works alongside NATO Allies and regional security partners to provide combat-ready forces, execute joint and multinational training exercises, and retains command and control for all rotational and assigned units in the European Theater.

KFOR multinational partners participate in Medical Evacuation training conducted by Task Force Pegasus Soldiers, at Camp Novo Selo July 13, 2022. Training like this builds interoperability between the Army and its multinational partners.

The 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, Utah National Guard, load four AH-64D Apache helicopters onboard a C-5 Galaxy, to be transported to Morocco in support of African Lion 22, a U.S. Africa Command annual exercise on Saturday, June 18, 2022.The 1-211th ARB aircraft maintaniners prepped the aircraft for loading onto the C-5 by folding the blades and then members of the 151st Air Refueling Wing, Utah Air National Guard, assisted in loading and securing the helicopters on the C-5 from Travis Air Force Base, California, for transportation to Morocco.

U.S. Air Force Airmen attending a Aeromedical Evacuation Initial Qualification course are trained on a 108th Wing KC-135R Stratotanker on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, March 21, 2022. The course, hosted by the Air Force Reserve's 514th Air Mobility Wing, is a formal training course qualifying Flight Nurses and Aeromedical Evacuation Technicians.

U.S. Army Spc. Cody Bulk and U.S. Army Pfc. Nicholas Kennerson, both assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Infantry Division Artillery, load vehicles before a convoy as part of exercise Knight Swift at Forward Operating Site Adazi, Latvia, June 9, 2022. The 1st Infantry Division is among other units assigned to V Corps, Americas forward-deployed corps in Europe that works alongside NATO allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces.

Soldiers assigned to Apex Company, 63rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 35th Signal Corps Brigade partnered with Soldiers From the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade to air insert two Terrestrial Transmission Line Of Sight radios (TRILOS) on June 7, 2022. During their training, Apex Company Soldiers conducted platoon validations on Command Post Nodes (CPN), Joint Network Nodes (JNN), and TRILOS to test their expeditionary signal communications and further support XVIII Airborne Corps and all its mission command systems. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Maxine Baen)

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Justin Stoltzfus (left), 39th Air Base Wing command chief, speaks with Polish Senior Staff Warrant Officer Tomasz Bieniara, Polish Military Contingent major chief senior enlisted leader, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, July 22, 2022. The wing command team visited the Polish Military Contingent as part of an immersion tour to learn about their mission and ensure they are receiving operational support. Polands mission at Incirlik Air Base consists of on-call duty and monitoring the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea in collaboration with NATO Permanent Maritime Groups and NATO Naval Command.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Vidal Rivera, 43d Fighter Generation Squadron low observable craftsman, adjusts a tool in preparation to remove a panel on an F-22 Raptor at Savannah Hilton Head International Airport, Georgia, May 3, 2022. The 325th Fighter Wing sent more than 200 personnel and 22 aircraft to participate in Sentry Savannah, a near-peer training exercise hosted by the Air National Guards Air Dominance Center.

102nd Intelligence Wing Airmen attend an all-council social on Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts, June 9, 2022. The Rising Six Council, Top Three Council and Company Grade Officer Councils at the 102nd IW are devoted to making the 102nd a better place for all Airmen, and this morale event allowed Airmen to socialize, learn and take an active role in shaping how these councils support and give back to them.

U.S. Air Force attendees of a Forward Area Refueling Point demo at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, watch as the 23rd Logistics Readiness Squadron FARP team refuel two A-10C Thunderbolt IIs, June 6, 2022. The team is able to refuel aircraft directly from an HC-130J Combat King II. The demo allowed for leaders of the 22nd Air Force to see first-hand how important the swift action of a FARP team is in agile combat employment locations.

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Josef Hartzel, officer in charge of plans and resources assigned to the 39th Communications Squadron, discusses flight equipment with U.S. Army Spc. Thomas Arotzarena, a crew chief assigned to Alpha Company, 3-227th Assault Helicopter Battalion Task Force Werewolves, during a mission orientation at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Jan. 24, 2022. Task Force Werewolves ensure the mobility of the joint warfighter in support of U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command missions throughout Turkey and the wider region. The Werewolves are one of many tenant units that partner with the 39th Air Base Wing to promote security and stability in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Derek Seifert)

Col. Leah Fry, 4th Maintenance Group commander, and 4th Fighter Wing and leadership pose for a photo after Frys fini flight at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, May 4, 2022. Fry commanded the maintenance group which provides maintenance to the largest F-15E Strike Eagle fleet in Air Combat Command.

U.S. Airmen with the 8th Maintenance Squadron adjust a crane for an F-16 Fighting Falcon canopy replacement during RED FLAG-Alaska 22-3 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, July 28, 2022. RF-A serves as an ideal platform for international engagement, enabling the exchange of tactics, techniques and procedures while improving interoperability to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Sgt. Kolin Schurter, a Soldier assigned to Delta Company, 1-229th Attack Bn., 16th Combat Aviation Brigade prepares to ride in an AH-64E Apache helicopter at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. on Apr. 20, 2022. The Apache does not have enlisted crew members that accompany the aircraft during flight, making this reward for for high-performing Soldiers a special and uncommon event.

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron adjust the wheel height on a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 21, 2023. Crew chiefs ensure that the aircraft in their care are ready to fly at a moments notice so that pilots can safely and effectively complete their mission.

Left to right Sr. Airman Jethro Ignacio, avionics specialist with the 924th Fighter Group, and Maj. Joe Martin, A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot with the 924th Fighter Group, conclude A-10 post flight procedures on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, July 30, 2022. More than 200 Airmen and 10 A-10s from the 924th FG of the 944th Fighter Wing are working out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii July 21-Aug. 4, during the units participation in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, three submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The worlds largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the worlds oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Wyatt Thompson, left, and Airman 1st Class Pierce Gaillot, both loadmasters with the 7th Airlift Squadron, secure a 10K All-Terrain C.A.T. Forklift to the floor of a C-17 Globemaster III during Exercise Rainier War 22B at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Oct. 19, 2022. Rainier War is a full-scale readiness exercise with an Air Force Generation prioritization; demonstrating the ability to generate, employ and sustain a combat force during a rigorous wartime scenario.

U.S. Army Sgt. Deven Scelfo, left, a flight medic, and Spc. Gabriel Thibault, a UH-60L Black Hawk crew chief treat a simulated casualty during medical evacuation training on Nov. 14, 2018. Scelfo and Thibault are both with the New Jersey National Guard's Detachment 2, Charlie Company, 1-171st General Support Aviation Battalion.

A Paratrooper assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, jumps from a C-17 aircraft during an airborne operation Aug. 12, 2022, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The 82nd Airborne Division is constantly training and ensuring the ability to provide the Nations ground forces who can deploy, fight, and win anywhere within 18 hours of notification.

A U. S. Air Force Airman from the 127thAircraft Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, (SANGB) work side-by-side with soldiers from the Michigan Army National Guard and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, performing Agile Combat Employment (ACE) training while refueling an A-10 Thunderbolt II also from SANGB during an Integrated Combat Turn (ICT) during Northern Agility 22-2/Northern Strike 22, at Grayling Army Airfield, Mich., Aug. 9, 2022. Northern Agility 22-2 and Northern Strike 22 executing currently demonstrate how the Air Forces new Agile Combat Employment concept can be integrated into the joint fight. Northern Strike provides the perfect backdrop for the Michigan Air National Guard to establish Michigan as a center of excellence for ACE.

Col. Young and Command Sgt. Maj. Rancourt of the 120th Regional Support Group (RSG), Maine Army National Guard prepare to uncover the unit colors during Transfer of Authority Ceremony. The Transfer of Authority Ceremony took place on 1 July 2022 at the Powidz Airfield. The 120th RSG accepted the transfer of authority from the 191st RSG of the Puerto Rico National Guard. The 120th RSG will be conducting Base Operation Support at multiple sites across Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia in support of Atlantic Resolve.

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Dylan Raess, 319th Special Operations Squadron U-28A combat systems operator, conducts pre-flight checks on a U-28A Draco at Duke Field, Fla., Oct. 28, 2022. The U-28A provides manned fixed-wing tactical airborne ISR support to humanitarian operations, search and rescue and conventional and special operation missions.

U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno shakes the hand of a Soldier after presenting him with a Bronze Star medal for Valor during a ceremony at Forward Operation Base Zangabad, Afghanistan Sept. 18, 2012. The medals were presented to Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. Odierno is in Afghanistan visiting troops and meeting with leadership.

Joint Civilian Orientation Conference participants ride in a Boeing H-47 Chinook during the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference visit, Oct. 25, 2022, at Fort Carson, Colorado. The JCOC is the Department of Defenses oldest and most prestigious public liaison program that was established in 1948.

040308-F-2902B-002. Base: Balad Air Base Country: Iraq (IRQ)

Airmen from McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, perform a FOD (Foreign Object Debris) walk in preparation for Frontiers in Flight, this years open house & airshow, Sept. 21, 2022. The FOD walk is serves to remove any debris that could cause damage to aircraft arriving for the show.

KFOR multinational partners participate in Medical Evacuation training conducted by Task Force Pegasus Soldiers, at Camp Novo Selo July 13, 2022. Training like this builds interoperability between the Army and its multinational partners.

Members of the U.S. Army 12 Cavalry Regiment attach the armored shirts to an M1 Abrams tank after arriving for The Great Texas Airshow Apr. 21, 2022, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. The U.S. Air Force is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a The Great Texas Airshow as a key event. The airshow features the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds performing for people to display the pride, precision and professionalism the U.S. Air Force represents. Through air shows and flyovers, they aim to excite and inspire. In addition to showcasing the elite skills all pilots must possess, the Thunderbirds demonstrate the incredible capabilities of the Air Forces premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ryan Estes (left) and Staff Sgt. Ryan Culbertson (right), aerial gunners with the 4th Special Operations Squadron, participate in a training sortie on an AC-130J Ghostrider, April 27, 2022 at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The 4 SOS regularly performs training sorties on the AC-130J in order to ensure readiness to perform special operations missions any time, any place.

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Megan Nobuoka, 27th Special Operation Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintenance lead, brief a Japan Air Self-Defense Force member about AC-130J Ghostrider capabilities at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 15, 2022. Several 27th Special Operations Wing squadrons participated in Keen Sword to support the Air Forces ACE strategy via light logistics packages including bringing the ammunition and personnel needed to execute the exercise objectives.

Providers assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division discuss and prepare for convoy on Fort Bragg, NC, March 28, 2022. The Field Training Exercise ensures Paratroopers stand ready to fight, win, and meet the 18 hour deployment standard.

Airmen assigned to the 909th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and 909th Air Refueling Squadron review KC-135 Stratotanker maintenance records at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 28, 2022. Kadena conducts operations in support of the defense of Japan, as well as U.S. efforts to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific.

U.S. Air Force Lt Col. Jimmy Arnold, Director of Operations at Detachment 1, briefs Col. Chris Robinson, 375th Air Mobility Wing commander and Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Blount, 375th Air Mobility Wing command chief at Det 1, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 24, 2022. The commander and command chief were at the detachment for a quarterly visit.

1st Cavalry Division became apart of history by being the first to load the new M1A2 SEPV3 onto a C-5 at Fort Hood, TX, April 19. The M1A2 SEPV3 is going to be at the Great Texas Air Show in San Antonio. (Photo by U.S. Army SPC Cheyne Hanoski, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs Office)

U.S. Army Pfc. Adrian Murphy, assigned to the 54th Signal Battalion, participates in the Norwegian Foot March April 2, 2022, at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. The Norwegian foot march is a physically challenging test of endurance, physical fitness and mental resilience in which participants are expected to complete an 18.6-mile foot march while carrying a 25-pound ruck within a time standard.

U.S. Air Force and Royal Malaysian Air Force aircrew members discuss the features of the C-130J Super Hercules prior to a familiarization flight during Exercise Pacific Angel at Subang Air Base, Malaysia, Aug. 15, 2022. The flight was intended to introduce U.S. Air Force aircrew members to flying in the local area as well as showcase the Super Hercules and its capabilities to the RMAF Aircrew, who currently fly the C-130 Hercules.

U.S. Air Force Col. Jens Lyndrup (right), 721st Air Mobility Operations Group commander, briefs U.S. Army Col. Kevin Jackson (center), 19th Battlefield Coordination Detachment commander, and U.S. Air Force Col. Sean Lowe, 603rd Air and Space Operations Center commander, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 15, 2022. Commanders from the 19th BCD and 603rd AOC visited the 721st Aerial Port Squadron to recognize Airmen who were critical partners during recent joint operations in support of Ukraine and to learn about Air Mobility Commands en route aerial port capabilities.

Reserve Citizen Airman from the 48th Aerial Port Squadron load cargo onto a Hawaii Air National Guard KC-135R, 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, during an Unit Training Assemble, Nov. 5, 2022. Total Force Integration improve connections and strengthens relationships between different components of the Air Force performing a common mission.

U.S. Army Soldier 1st Lt. Jamal Husien, executive officer, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, helps direct traffic on the tarmac at Andersen Air Force Base, Gaum as his unit prepares to return to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Sept. 28, 2022. Alpha Company deployed to Guam to rehearse their mission as the Ready Response Force, U.S. Army Pacifics on call light infantry unit.

Airmen assigned to the 19th Airlift Wing board a C-130J Super Hercules during ROCKI 22-03 at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, May 18, 2022. Designed to validate the full spectrum readiness capabilities of the airlift wing, ROCKI exercises are typically divided into distinct phases, each deliberately intended to assess the wing in various warfighting functions.

U.S. Air Force Major Grace Gibbens, 46th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron Pilot, flies the HH-60 Pave Hawk to an undisclosed location August 1, 2022. The Pave Hawk is a twin-turbo shaft engine helicopter in service with the United States Air Force used in search and rescue missions.

U.S. Air Force Airmen with the 449th Air Expeditionary Group (AEG) and 776th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron (EABS), and Soldiers with the 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, conduct a base tour for Col. Jason Chambers, incoming commander of the 449th AEG, during a base tour at Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti, May 28, 2022. The 776th EABS provides intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for AFRICOM and CENTCOM.

U.S. Air Force Col. Rob Lankford, left, commander of the 437th Airlift Wing, and U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anthony Martinez, a loadmaster assigned to the 15th Airlift Squadron, stationed at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, discuss operations at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Dec. 1, 2022. Airmen assigned to the 437th AW and 509th Bomb Wing performed a specialized fuel operation, marking the first time a C-17 refueled a B-2, increasing flexibility for the bomber to conduct agile combat employment operations

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Todd E. Holsten and Master Sgt. Daniel B. Walton, both munitions controllers assigned to the 122nd Fighter Wing Munitions Maintenance Flight, verify front strake alignment for a GBU-54 Bomb at the Fort Wayne Air National Guard base, Fort Wayne, Indiana August 4, 2022. Munitions specialists are required to complete job refresher training every 18 months.

A Soldier from 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment informed visitors from the Department of Defense of the CROWS-J Javelin Weapon System Sept. 20 at Fort Carson. After the brief Soldiers and visitors enjoyed a delicious lunch of MREs.

U.S. Army Spc. Daniel Pyu, an Electronic Warfare Specialist assigned to Delta Company, 837th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, center, discusses operation of a Versatile Radio Observation and Direction (VROD) during a training exercise at Camp Grayling, Michigan, Aug. 14, 2022. Pyu, alongside other soldiers of D Co. had the opportunity to train with the VROD equipment in a myriad of locations and scenarios, giving them first-hand expertise with this new technology and increasing their overall readiness and warfighting capabilities.

Capt. Margaret Larson, Executive Officer, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, Task Force Hammerhead, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, speaks about the flight medics from the Kandahar Air Wing and their accomplishments during the flight medic training they completed with C/3-25 AVN on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Nov. 28.

Senior Master Sgt. Noah Shedd, 374th Maintenance Squadron maintenance flight superintendent, explains a landing gear of a C-130J Super Hercules to a United States Air Force Academy cadets at Yokota Air Base, Japan, June 29, 2022. Operation Air Force is a two week long academy summer program that sends cadets entering their third and fourth years of training to bases around the world to experience what active duty Airmen from all areas of expertise do to support the Department of Defense mission for U.S. Military Forces.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Dalton King, 301st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, weapons load crew chief, assigned to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Forth Worth, Texas, directs off-loading of munitions during Weapons System Evaluation Program-East 23.01 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Oct. 5, 2022. WSEP-E 23.01 combined COMBAT ARCHER and COMBAT HAMMER exercises, allowing participating units to be evaluated on not only air-to-air weapons employment normally held at Tyndall, but air-to-ground weapons as well.

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 86th Maintenance Group explain different sections of a static display of a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to attendees at the Open House event at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 20, 2022. The static display was available to all attendees to tour.

Soldiers from B Troop, 1st Battalion, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, rehearsed casualty evacuation procedures during the North Africa Response Force Mission Readiness Exercise at the Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, July 28, 2022. The exercise tested the capability of the NARF to respond to crises and protect American interests in Africa. U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa supports U.S. Africa Command with a scalable crisis response capability ranging from a rapid response infantry platoon to a full-scale joint task force headquarters. Joined by elements of the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force for aviation lift and a host of other capabilities, SETAF-AF and 173rd Airborne Infantry Brigade form the nucleus of the North and West Africa Response Force or NARF.

U.S. Air Force, Army and contracts attend the Army and Air Force Exchange Service's grand opening at Chabelley Airfield, Sept. 14, 2022. The new exchange offers personnel a variety of items that were previously inaccessible such as personal hygiene products, laundry detergent, batteries, workout supplements, energy drinks, snacks and more. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Branden Rae)

BERLIN, Germany - Lt. Gen. Robert Marion, Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisitions, coins Sgt. Thomas Barnes during opening day of the Innovation and Leadership in Aerospace, Berlin trade show at the Berlin Expo Center Airport, Berlin Brandenburg International Airport, Germany, June 22, 2022. ILA Berlin provides a platform for international exchange between the aerospace industry, space agencies, the military, politics, and science. Representatives of world- renowned companies, leading exhibitors, and aviation experts use it as an opportunity to discuss market developments, strategies, and trends. Maintaining a capable U.S. presence in Europe strengthens our national security by encouraging peace, unity and cohesion.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Eric J. Tolska relinquishes command of the 1-150th Assault Helicopter Battalion to Lt. Col. Justin Oliver during a change of command ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Jan. 20, 2024.

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 refuel a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft with Patrol Squadron Eight at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 22, 2022. MWSS-171 Marines cooperate with joint forces to support aerial operations in the Indo-Pacific through timely and efficient aircraft refueling.

U.S. Airmen load cargo onto a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 3rd Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, April 7, 2022. Polar Force 22-4 was led by the 3rd Wing and was designed to hone in on strategies used by service members when navigating adverse situations and austere environments.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jordan Chattler, right, and 1st Lt. Charlie Young, left, both helicopter pilots with 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, show high school students the inside of a Boeing AH-64 Apache, as part of a tour at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Jan. 11, 2024. The United States Army Recruiting Command is responsible for manning both the Active Army and the U.S. Army Reserve, ensuring security and readiness for our nation.

(From left to right) Incoming Army Field Support Battalion-Benelux Commander Lt. Col. Blake Smith, 405th Army Field Support Brigade Commander Col. Brad Bane and outgoing AFSBn-Benelux Commander Lt. Col. Aaron Jones stand at attention as U.S. Army Maj. Sherry Childs, executive officer of the unit, narrates the AFSBn-Benelux change of command ceremony June 16, 2022, at the Zutendaal Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 worksite in Belgium.

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Alycia Hendrickson, 768 Expeditionary Air Base Squadron civil engineer speaks to Maj. Gen. Derek France, Third Air Force commander on future site of the base's powerplant at Air Base 101, Niger, Aug 26, 2022. The future powerplant will centralize the base's power requirements, resulting in saved fuel, and make it easier for civil engineer airmen to maintain the power grid.

Sgt. Maj. Howard kreamer, U.S. Strategic Command Senior Enlisted Leader meets with Airmen from the 509th Munitions Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Aug. 02, 2022. The munitions squadron showed Kreamer thier conventional munition capabilities in support of the B-2 mission.

Troopers, assigned to 1st Cavalry Division, return from a rotation overseas on Fort Hood, Texas, Aug. 17, 2022. 1st Cavalry Division Troopers are regularly sent overseas to support global operations. (U.S. Army photos by Pfc. Jacob Nunnenkamp)

Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, commander of U.S. Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force, steps aboard the JS Izumo alongside General Yamazaki Koji, chief of staff of the Japan Joint Staff, for a bilateral press conference for Keen Sword 23, Nov. 14, 2022. Keen Sword is a biennial, joint, and bilateral field-training exercise, involving the U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Forces, designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad Japan-U.S. alliance.(Photo by Air Force Maj. Thomas Barger)

Airmen from the 151st Air Refueling Maintenance Group and 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) load a Polaris Military RZR onto a KC-135R at Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base, Utah, in preparation for a joint force exercise being held at Dugway Proving Ground on Sept. 8, 2022. The exercise is designed to challenge the status quo and allow the U.S. military to improve strategies against their greatest competitors.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Concepcion Rodelo (front) and Airman 1st Class Aaron Bowie (back), 74th Fighter Generation Squadron load crew members, load munitions onto an A-10C Thunderbolt II at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Jan. 5, 2024. Improperly loading munitions can result in a mark down of points during the competition.

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, and Air Combat Command Chief Master Sgt. John Storms meet with Col. Geoffrey Church, 9th Reconnaissance Wing commander, and 9th Reconnaissance Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Breanna Oliver on Beale Air Force Base, Calif. on Dec. 6, 2022. Kelly visited Beale to inspect the 9th Reconnaissance Wings capabilities for combat power and reconnaissance.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Ryan Chabak, a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear officer, left, and Spc. Sierria Melendez, a unit supply specialist, both with 95th Chemical Company, take notes during a low light training event during exercise Keen Sword 23 at Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 16, 2022. Keen Sword is a biennial training event that exercises the combined capabilities and lethality developed between 3rd MLG, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and the Japan Self-Defense Force. This bilateral field-training exercise between the U.S. military and JSDF strengthens interoperability and combat readiness of the U.S.-Japan Alliance.

Key leadership from the Idaho National Guard and several other U.S. states joined partner nations on June 30, 2022 in Morocco to see the capabilities of multinational armies working together simultaneously in a combined arms live-fire mission. During the exercise, Marines called in air strikes simultaneously as Idaho's 1st Battalion of the 148th Field Artillery Regiment fired the M795 high explosive rounds from the M109A6 howitzers as ground support with Oregon, Utah and Wisconsin Army National Guards, a Marine Corps Reserve unit based in California and active-duty Soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas, with preparatory and destructive fires and obscuration using M825 white smoke rounds.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Johnathan Ferguson, 305th Air Mobility Wing quality assurance inspector (Right), and U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chase Staron, 305th Air Mobility Wing crew chief (Left), perform a quality assurance inspection at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. on Nov. 22, 2022. Ferguson is one of over one million registered bone marrow donors through the Department of Defenses Salute to Life program. This year he met with the recipient of a donation he made in 2012 that allowed the patient to achieve remission of leukemia.

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