Air Force Operations and Logistics

Scenes of military personnel loading and unloading equipment, including cargo aircraft operations and Air National Guard activities in various locations.

US soldiers disembarking from a C-17 Globemaster III during a cargo drop demonstration at the 2012 March Field Airfest in Riverside, California, USA

050903-F-0692C-003. Base: Lackland Air Force Base State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Alaska Air and Army National Guardsmen return to Fairbanks, Alaska, Sept. 30 from assisting Nome community residents affected by the remnants of Typhoon Merbok. The Alaska Joint Task Force members removed more than 180,000 pounds of storm-related debris and logged more than 3,000 work hours across 32 communities. (Alaska National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey)

U.S. Airmen salute as a KC-10 Extender taxis on the flight line at Travis Air Force Base, California, Jan. 11, 2024. The 9th Air Refueling Squadron leaders designated this specific aircraft as the squadron flagship based off historical records and documentation. The term flagship traditionally referred to the ship that carried the commander of a naval fleet, deeming it most important.

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 305th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 305th Aerial Port Squadron unload a 10K All-Terrain Forklift off of a C-17 Globemaster on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Sept. 20, 2022. The two-day training course provided 305th AMXS Airmen with skills and knowledge outside of their Air Force specialty code in order to create Multi-Capable Airmen.

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 305th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 305th Aerial Port Squadron unload a 10K All-Terrain Forklift off of a C-17 Globemaster on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Sept. 20, 2022. The two-day training course provided 305th AMXS Airmen with skills and knowledge outside of their Air Force specialty code in order to create Multi-Capable Airmen.

US soldiers disembarking from a C-17 Globemaster III during a cargo drop demonstration at the 2012 March Field Airfest in Riverside, California, USA

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 305th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 305th Aerial Port Squadron conduct Multi-Capable Airmen training onboard a C-17 Globemaster on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Sept. 20, 2022. The MCA course was designed to train crew chiefs on aerial port hard skills, enabling them to minimize manning and equipment deficiencies within a deployed environment.

At 0730 hours, crews unload baggage from the front of a C-17 Globemaster III. Eight C-17s participated in the operation which marks the first full-scale exercise assignment for Air Mobility Command's newest aircraft. They completed a strenuous evaluation earlier in the month. Subject Operation/Series: INTRINSIC ACTION Base: Kuwait International Airport Country: Kuwait (KWT)

Airmen from the 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, board a C-130 from the 40th Airlift Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, May 25, 2022 after participating 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 the exercise is to prepare the 366th Fighter Wing and its Airmen for potential future operations in accordance with the National Defense Strategy.

Air Force members of AGILE FLAG 22-2 offload a C-130 at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida, July 22, 2022. Participating units for AGILE FLAG 22-2 travelled from Moody AFB, Shaw AFB, Dyess AFB, Hurlburt AFB, MacDill AFB, Travis AFB, and Robbins AFB to the Air Dominance Center in Savannah, Georgia, and other regional locations for the duration of the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lionel Castellano)

Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Nebraska Army National Guard, board a C-130 Hercules in preparation for a high performance jump above Rattlesnake Drop Zone, Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, July 23, 2022. The 2nd Battalion is the newest unit to join the 45th IBCT, bringing with them airborne capabilities that the 45th has not had in more than 50 years. (OKlahoma National Guard photo by Pfc. Haden Tolbert)

U.S. Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 and 3d Marine Division load equipment onto a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Super Hercules during an Alert Contingency Marine Air-Ground Task Force drill on Okinawa, Japan, initiating the deployment of the divisions Forward Command Element participating in KAMANDAG 6 in the Philippines, Sept. 27, 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.

US soldiers disembarking from a C-17 Globemaster III during a cargo drop demonstration at the 2012 March Field Airfest in Riverside, California, USA

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)

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)

CAPTION

Airmen assigned to the New York Air National Guards 106th Rescue Wing, load an HH-60 Pave Hawk search and rescue helicopter on board a C-17 assigned to the New York Air National Guards 105th Airlift Wing at Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, New York on August 19, 2022. The aircraft is being sent to Brazil where it will be used to participate in Exercise Tapio, a combined Brazilian- U.S. irregular warfare exercise in Campo Grade, Brazil. The New York Air National Guard is sending 100 Airmen from the two wings to participate as part of the State Partnership Program relationship with Brazil,

100115-F-2034C-065Members of the 82nd Airborne Division get off a C-130 Hercules Jan. 15, 2010 after arriving at Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The C-130, from the 2nd Airlift Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, Fayetteville, North Carolina, brought the Soldiers to Haiti as part of the relief efforts being conducted by the DoD. U.S. Southern Command is deploying assets to Haiti to conduct search and rescue operations, damage assessments, and transitions sustained Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief operations in order to prevent human suffering and additional loss of life.

U.S. Air Force 27th Special Operations Wing members, assigned to Cannon Air Force Base, N.m., greet members from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force assigned Komaki Air Base at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 18, 2022. Regular, routine exchanges with our allies and partners are instrumental in cultivating military cooperation, increasing emergency preparedness, and enhancing bilateral response capabilities.

010812-F-3677G-021. Subject Operation/Series: SEAHAWK 2001 Base: Canadian Forces Base, Comox State: Vancouver Island Country: Canada (CAN) Scene Major Command Shown: AMC/ANG

Tom Udall, U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand, is briefed on capabilities of a C-130H Hercules assigned to Royal New Zealand Air Forces 40 Squadron during a visit to RNZAF Base Auckland at the beginning of exercise Teak Net 22, May 3, 2022. Udall visited to welcome U.S. forces and thank RNZAF for hosting their visit to New Zealand.

Airmen from the 366th Fighter Wing Maintenance Group, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, receive and maintain jets after flight operations during exercise Raging Gunfighter 22-2 at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, May 21, 2022. Raging Gunfighter demonstrates the need for our force to be able to rapidly embed, establish logistics and communications within a theaters command and control hub, receive follow-on forces, continue to generate the mission, and project combat power across all domains.

Lt. Col. Kelly Church, 203rd Air Refueling Squadron commander, and 154th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chiefs, conduct a preflight inspection April 28, 2022, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The KC-135R Stratotanker, numbered 60-0329, has been an integral part of the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron since forming in 1993 and is recognized for conducting the world's first tri-level refueling during the Vietnam conflict. The Hawaii Air National Guard Airmen flew the aircraft to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, so that it may become the first Stratotanker inducted into the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

970427-F-1787R-238. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH Base: Doha Country: Qatar (QAT)

A U.S. Air Force pilot assigned to the 79th Fighter Squadron prepares to load into the jet before deploying at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., July 19, 2022. The 79th FS deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, in support of theater plans and operations.

040219-M-3843C-002. Base: Mcas, Beaufort State: South Carolina (SC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Polish land forces board a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, assigned to the 37th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, prior to a static line air drop as part of the Aviation Detachment Rotation 22-4 (ADR 22-4 training), at Krakòw International Airport, Poland, Sept. 14, 2022. ADRs are bilateral training exercises and deployments designed to enhance partner interoperability, maintain joint readiness, and assure our regional allies across the U.S. European Command area of responsibility.

U.S. Airmen from the 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit speak to Royal Australian Air Force Indigenous Youth Program members during their visit to RAAF Base Darwin, Australia, Sept. 6, 2022. Local youths had the opportunity to learn about the aircraft and Exercise Pitch Black 2022 operations from U.S. Air Force pilots, maintainers and security forces members.

US Soldiers board a C-5 at the airport in Mogadishu enroute to the United States. Subject Operation/Series: UNOSOM II Base: Modadishu Country: Somalia (SOM)

A U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker with the New Jersey Air National Guard's 108th Wing is prepared for a training flight on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, March 31, 2022. The Stratotankers assigned to the 141st Air Refueling Squadron "Tigers" allow the Wing to support Air Mobility Command with mid-air refueling and air bridge support to overseas contingency operations and homeland defense.

Several Aircrew members from the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio, celebrated their final flights June 16th, 2022, at the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio. The "Fini" flight tradition is one where aircrew members are hosed down with water by their peers, family, and friends upon their completion of their final flight.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Daniel Lackey, aerial porter with the 62d Aerial Port Squadron, guides a forklift onto a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft during Exercise Rainier War 22B at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Oct. 19, 2022. Rainier War is a semi-annual exercise designed to demonstrate the 62d Airlift Wing, 627th Air Base Group and 446th Airlift Wings ability to generate, employ and sustain operations.

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 21st Expeditionary Airlift Squadron load Patriot vehicles and equipment from the 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, into a C-17 Globemaster III at an undisclosed location in the CENTCOM Area of Operations, Jan 7, 2024. U.S. Army air defense artillery batteries are highly mobile, capable of deploying swiftly across the globe to support and defend U.S. troops and partners.

U.S. Soldiers from the 18th Airborne Corps board an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft for a static line airdrop during a joint forcible entry exercise at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., April 26, 2010. The 82nd Airborne Division brigades use joint forcible entry exercises to train for real-world contingency operations.

040304-F-2828D-065. Base: Port-Au-Prince Country: Haiti (HTI)

U.S. Marines with 3d Battalion, 12th Marines, 3d Marine Division and Airmen with 353 Special Operations Wing conduct a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Rapid Infiltration during Marine Aviation Support Activity 22.1 in Luzon, Philippines, June 8, 2022. MASA 22 is a bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Marine Corps, aimed at increasing interoperability and improving aviation-related capabilities in support of U.S.-Philippine mutual defense.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Lindsay Harte, 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron medical service corps officer, left, and Tech. Sgt. Craig Monger, 45th AES health services administration journeyman, transport a dummy on a litter during an evacuation exercise at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Dec. 5, 2022. This exercise enhanced the capabilities of the Airmen to rescue wounded warriors from the battlefield with an aircrafts engines running.

75 members of the 107th Airlift Wing have deployed downstate to aid in Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts. Oct. 30, 2012 (National Guard Photo/Senior Master Sgt. Ray Lloyd)

Airmen assigned to the New York Air National Guards 106th Rescue Wing, load an HH-60 Pave Hawk search and rescue helicopter on board a C-17 assigned to the New York Air National Guards 105th Airlift Wing at Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, New York on August 19, 2022. The aircraft is being sent to Brazil where it will be used to participate in Exercise Tapio, a combined Brazilian- U.S. irregular warfare exercise in Campo Grade, Brazil. The New York Air National Guard is sending 100 Airmen from the two wings to participate as part of the State Partnership Program relationship with Brazil,

U. S. Air Force Airmen from the 124th Fighter Wing, Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, Boise, Idaho, perform Agile Combat Employment (ACE) training while loading an A-10 Thunderbolt II Gatling Gun Ammunition Loader into a C-130 Hercules from the Illinois Air National Guard's 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria Air National Guard Base, during an Integrated Combat Turn (ICT) during Agile Rage 22, Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Mich., June 9, 2022. ACE is not a specific mission, but a universal application to all combat air force operations. ACE is the ability to project combat power anytime, anywhere, while remaining operationally unpredictable to complicate an adversary's decision making process.

A group of U.S. Army Paratroopers, assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and Warrior Training Center, walks in formation to board a C-130 aircraft with their T-11 parachute during Exrcise Falcon Leap on Eindhoven Air Base, Eindhoven, Netherlands., Sep. 13, 2022. More than 1000 Paratroopers from all over the world, 13 different nationalities, multiple airdrops per day, and training with each other equipment for two weeks. this is NATO's largest technical airborne exercise

A Russian URAL 378D truck is offloaded from an IL-76 aircraft, the first such aircraft to arrive at Tuzla, in support of JOINT ENDEAVOR. Subject Operation/Series: JOINT ENDEAVOR Base: Tuzla Air Base Country: Bosnia And/I Herzegovina (BIH)

A U.S. Marine with Fox Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve directs a M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) to begin onloading onto a C-130J Hercules during a HIMARS Rapid Infiltration, also known as a HIRAIN, during exercise Arctic Edge 2024 at Eielson Air Force, Alaska, Feb. 24, 2024. The HIRAIN training demonstrated Marine Forces Reserves ability to rapidly deploy the HIMARS to meet and deter any threats in any environment, including harsh arctic environments. Arctic Edge 2024 (AE24) is a U.S. Northern Command-led homeland defense exercise demonstrating the U.S. militarys capabilities in extreme cold weather, joint force readiness, and U.S. military commitment to mutual strategic security interests in the arctic region. Marine Corps

U.S. Marines with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 533, and Airmen with the 36th Airlift Squadron, unload equipment from a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam May 26, 2022. Marines with VMFA(AW) 533 traveled from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam to enhance squadron readiness and conduct joint-level training as part of an Aviation Training Relocation Program.

Members from the Utah Air National Guards 151st Wing and Air Force Reserves 419th Fighter Wing prepare to unload an AIM 120 missile coffin from a KC-135R at Hill Air Force Base Feb. 4, 2024 as part of Exercise PERSES. Exercise PERSES is a dynamic exercise serving as a platform for exploring innovative ideas and refining communication practices in a challenging operational environment for both Utah Air and Army National Guard. Air Force

041202-F-4800M-060. Base: Dover Air Force Base State: Delaware (DE) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Soldiers with the 25th Infantry Division, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii, board a C-17 Globemaster III during Exercise Golden Bee at Northwest Field, Guam, Sept. 28, 2022. Exercise Golden Bee is a joint readiness exercise designed to provide training integration and rehearse strategic and operational objectives in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility.

030804-F-7751S-019. Base: Charleston State: West Virginia (WV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

030408-F-0762P-004. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

Aircraft loadmasters assigned to the 103rd Operations Group, 103rd Airlift Wing, Connecticut Air National Guard, and members of the Italian armed forces load cargo onto a C-130H Hercules in preparation for an airdrop mission, May 4, 2022 at Pisa International Airport, Pisa, Italy. Swift Response is a U.S. EUCOM scheduled, U.S. Army Europe and Africa conducted, and SETAF-AF led global exercise, focused on Allied Airborne forces' ability to quickly and effectively respond to crisis situations as an interoperable, multi-national team. Swift Response demonstrates U.S. and Allied force projection and high readiness interoperability in support of NATO Connected Force Initiative (CFI). Swift Response consists of Joint Forcible Entries (JFEs) into the Nordic, Baltics, and Balkans, followed by multinational training, and live-fire exercises.

U.S. Marines with 3rd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Corps Forces Reserve, and British Royal Marines, enter a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft before a static-line parachute operation on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 4, 2022. 3rd ANGLICO conducted low-level static line parachute insertion operations in order to enhance the tactical and operational readiness of its Marines for exercises and real-world operations.

Airmen assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing recieve a U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, after landing at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, in support of a Bomber Task Force mission, Oct. 18, 2022. Bomber missions contribute to joint force lethality and deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific by demonstrating the U.S. Air Forces ability to operate anywhere in the world at any time in support of the National Defense Strategy.

A 437th Airlift Wing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, arrives at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, Sept. 29, 2022. Planes, equipment and Airmen came to Wright-Patt to get out of the way of Hurricane Ian which had crossed Florida and turned North.

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)

U.S. Air Force Airmen stand on the flightline as Maj. Gen. Corey J. Martin, 18th Air Force commander, pilots a C-17 Globemaster III down the taxiway at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, Sept.15, 2022. Martin has accumulated more than 4,200 flying hours in his 31 years of service in the Air Force.

U.S. Air Force TSgt Jimmy Womack, a crew chief with the 509th maintenance squadron overlooks a B-2 Spirit as it prepares to taxi during Exercise Agile Tiger on April 5, 2022. Exercises contribute to the development of Airmen and aircrew, improving mission readiness and increasing capabilities in challenging environments.

051210-F-5964B-076. Complete Scene Caption: US Army (USA) paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division (AD), Fort Bragg, North Carolina (NC), board a US Air Force (USAF) C-130 Hercules aircraft at Pope Air Force Base (AFB), North Carolina (NC), for the 8th Annual Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop. The international community relations operation is designed to collect toys for children of military families on Fort Bragg and Pope AFB as well as those in the surrounding communities. USA paratroopers participate in the operation by donating a toy in exchange for a chance to make a non-tactical parachute jump with German and Irish military jumpmasters. Since its inception, Operation Toy Drop has collected and distributed more than 14,000 toys for families of US Soldiers and Airmen as well as orphanages in the local community.

Airmen from the 28th Maintenance Group, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, perform postflight checks on an Ellsworth AFB B-1B Lancer while 7th Bomb Wing leadership greet crewmembers on the flightline at Dyess AFB, Texas, Feb. 3, 2024. Air Force

Airmen from the 437th Aerial Port Squadron secure a fuel truck for delivery to North Auxiliary Airfield, North, South Carolina, in support of the Composite Training Unit Exercise, Jan. 27, 2022. The exercise is a combination of multiple units and commands preparing to conduct military operations at sea, project combat power ashore, and deploys the nations crisis response force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Diana Cossaboom)

Members of the 913th Airlift Group conduct multiple scenarios during the group's Agile Herk Exercise, March 30, 2023, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The Reservists worked over the course of two days to fulfill readiness and annual training requirements during their super drill weekend.

U.S. Marines from the 3d Littoral Combat Team, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division load a Marine combat vehicle onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands, Hawaii Oct. 31, 2022, during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 23-01. Realistic training exercises, like JPMRC 23-01, strengthen defense relationships, foster multinational interoperability, increase U.S. readiness, and reinforce the unified regional power network that supports a free and open Indo-Pacific.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Isaac Kasten, 71st Rescue Squadron, walks toward an aircraft at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Jan. 10, 2024 to leave for exercise Red Flag 24-1. Red Flag exercises provide aircrews the experience of multiple, intensive air combat sorties in the safety of a training environment.

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Avalon McGuigan, right, and Lance Cpl. Mathew Chavis, of 2nd Landing Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, approach a KC-130J Hercules prior to conducting static line airborne operations during Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 1-23 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Sept. 30, 2022. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, providing standardization advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine aviation training and readiness and assist in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics.

Master Sgt. Adam Krotz (left), 155th Air Refueling Wing boom operator, and Senior Master Sgt. Phil Lauer (right), 155th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron avionics superintendent, walk through the KC-135R Stratotanker performing preflight checklists, Sept. 6, 2022, Pardubice Airport, Czech Republic, during Ample Strike 2022. Participation in Ample Strike offers a great opportunity for our Airmen to train and hone operational and tactical skills with NATO Allies in dynamic and unfamiliar terrain and air space that is unavailable at home stations.

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 435th Contingency Response Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, conduct an F-15 hot-pit refueling training with the 48th Maintenance Group at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, July 27, 2022. The training aids in expanding the squadrons Agile Combat Employment capabilities.

U.S. Air Force Airmen board a C-17 Globemaster III as they leave for their deployment at the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility at Mountain Home Air Force base, Idaho, Sept 23, 2022. Airmen will be conducting a wide range of tasks to ensure the success of providing critical combat power capabilities in that region of the world.

A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle is suspended by a crane during a Crash, Damaged and Disabled Aircraft Recovery exercise at RAF Lakenheath, England, Jan. 2, 2024. RAF Mildenhall and Liberty Wing Airmen participated in the CDDAR exercise to recertify them for aircraft recovery.

U.S. Air Force Airmen deplane a C-130J Super Hercules after it arrived at Air Dominance Center, a Combat Readiness Training Center, in Savannah, Georgia, to drop off personnel and load cargo prior to flying to Avon Park Auxiliary Airfield, Florida, July 20, 2022. The C-130J delivered Airmen and cargo to support the AGILE FLAG 22-2 exercise hosted by Air Combat Command. AGILE FLAG 22-2 marks a significant milestone in standardizing the way ACC organizes, trains, and equips for ACE after a period of experimentation.

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron board a C-130, Sept. 11, 2022 at Łask Air Base, Poland. The 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron forward deployed to Ørland Main Air Station, Norway to conduct agile combat employment, integrate, and train with the Royal Norwegian Air Force.

Members of 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment retrograde nine UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, Jan. 29, 2024, Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo. The Soldiers were deployed to Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Guardian, a NATO peacekeeping mission under the Kosovo Force (KFOR). KFORs mission is to provide a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement in Kosovo, in accordance with United Nations Resolution (UNSC) 1244.

U.S. service members board a KC-130J Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252 during Exercise Trident 23-2 at Blackstone Army Airfield, Virginia, Nov. 16, 2022. VMGR-252 provided assault support to U.S. Navy SEALs during the training exercise to enhance combat readiness and improve naval integration. VMGR-252 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force.

Joint-Force maintainers from the U.S. Air Force 35th and 25th Aircraft Maintenance Units, U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Squadron 25 and Electronic Attack Squadron 130 Maintenance Squadrons, and the Republic of Singapore 428th Fighter Squadron Aircraft Maintenance Unit, pose for a group photo in front of the Thunderdome Hangar and static display of their units aircraft during Red Flag 22-2 exercise at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 20, 2022. Pilots rely on the exceptional efforts of their ground crews and maintenance teams to keep their aircraft flying reliably due to the high-stress demands of constant flying. Red Flag-Alaska is the only exercise of its kind that provides allied nations and joint-partner forces the opportunity to see mock combat and high operational working tempo in a simulated deployed environment.

Airmen from the 176th and 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadrons off-load an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from a 144th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III after transporting the helicopter to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richadson, Alaska. The Pave Hawk experienced a malfunction after completing a medevac mission in Western Alaska. The aircraft landed safely at the Alaska Army National Guard hangar in Bethel after the mission but was unable to complete the trip back to JBER. The ability to seamlessly transition from rescue operations to global mobility provides the 176th Wing with a strategic edge, showcasing the Wings commitment to agile combat employment and effectiveness when handling complex situations, both within the state and across the globe. (Alaska National Guard

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Daniel Nielsen, right, and Cpl. Benjamin Reinhardt, loadmasters with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152, prepare for takeoff on a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft before a night-time aerial refueling training exercise at Kadena Air Force base, Okinawa, Japan, June 24, 2022. VMGR-152 provides aerial refueling service to support Fleet Marine Force air operations and provides assault air transport of personnel, equipment and supplies.

Right side front view medium shot as US Air Force SRA Clint Boyett and SSGT James Natson of the 605 Aircraft Generation Squadron, McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, prepare to vacuum the ground points under their KC-10 Extender before the pre-flight maintenance inspection at Pope Air Force Base on May 7, 2000 during the Rodeo 2000 readiness competition. During the one week competition, more than 100 teams and 2,500 personnel from over 300 Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, U.S. Army units, and foreign nations will compete in airdrops, cargo loading, refueling, pre-flight, combat endurance, combat tactics, as well as other air and ground operations (Army units, foreign .... Complete Scene Caption: Right side front view medium shot as US Air Force SRA Clint Boyett and SSGT James Natson of the 605 Aircraft Generation Squadron, McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, prepare to vacuum the ground points under their KC-10 Extender before the pre-flight maintenance inspection at

An Air Force High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) is used to back a United Nations trailer onto the Dover AFB, 436th/512th Airlift Wing C-5 Galaxy at the Addis Ababa International Airport. The equipment will be used to support the multinational policing in the Rwandan civil war. Subject Operation/Series: SUPPORT HOPE Base: Addis Ababa Country: Ethiopia (ETH)

030206-F-4441R-084. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: March Air Reserve Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AFRC

Cubans are transferred from a C-130 Hercules aircraft to a Cuban I1-62M aircraft for the trip back to their country during Operation URGENT FURY. Subject Operation/Series: URGENT FURY Base: Seawell International Airport Country: Bangladesh (BGD)

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Tan Pham, 755th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron acting lead production superintendent, walks around an EC-130H Compass Call during a preflight check at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Aug. 17, 2022. After six months of dedicated hard work, the EC-130 was marked with zero functional discrepancies.

DA-SC-85-01165. Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Air Force airmen attending the USAF Landing Zone Safety Operations Course pose in front of a U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II assigned to the 1st Special Operations Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, at Northwest Field, Guam, June 23, 2022. Across two weeks students learned to measure possible obstructions that may cause problems for landing planes, setup airfield marking panels and establish radio communication with inbound aircraft to advise pilots on landing and takeoff conditions. Upon completion of the course, Airmen were granted certification as Landing Zone Safety Officers. The course was first offered at Scott Air Force Base; before making its way to the pacific theater.

U.S. Air Force HC-130J Combat King II from the 71st Rescue Squadron, Moody Air Force Base arrives at Avon Park Auxiliary Air Field, Florida, July 21, 2022. The HC-130J delivered Airmen and cargo to support the AGILE FLAG 22-2 exercise hosted by Air Combat Command. AGILE FLAG 22-2 marks a significant milestone in standardizing the way ACC organizes, trains, and equips for ACE after a period of experimentation.

2nd Infantry Division/ ROK-U.S. Combined Division command team, greets soldiers from the 3d Cavalry Regiment as they arrive in South Korea for the KRF rotation in Osan, South Korea, Feb. 21, 2024. During the rotation, they will be under operational control of the 2nd Infantry ROK-U.S. Combined Division. Army

Commanders and Airmen from the 459th Airlift Squadron gather for a change of command ceremony for the 459th AS at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 10, 2022. Per military doctrine, the primary purpose of a change of command ceremony is to allow subordinates to witness the formal leadership changeover of one officer to another.

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, arrive at Sawyer International Airport, Marquette, Michigan in support of Agile Combat Employment (ACE) training as multi-capable Airmen during the Northern Agility 22-1 exercise, June 27, 2022. Northern Agility 22-1 tests the rapid insertion of an Air Expeditionary Wing into a bare-base environment, to establish logistics and communications and enhance the ability to operate in austere environments.

Airman 1st Class Justin Snyder, 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution operator, assigned to Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, pulls a refueling hose to a U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer attached to the 34th Bomb Squadron during a hot pit refueling at RAAF Base Darwin, NT, Australia, for a Bomber Task Force mission June 22, 2022. Bomber Task Force missions strengthen the collective ability of the U.S. and our allies and partners to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 109th, 934th, and 156th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadrons prepare a KC-46 Pegasus, 157th Air Refueling Wing, New Hampshire Air National Guard, for training in St. Paul., Minn., Sept. 12, 2022. The Airmen are familiarizing themselves with the aircraft and its capabilities regarding aeromedical evacuation missions.

A forklift is loaded aboard a C-130 Hercules aircraft during the 314th Tactical Airlift Wing's operational readiness exercise Purple Penny. Subject Operation/Series: PURPLE PENNY State: Georgia (GA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Sr. Airmen Kevin Barker, crew chief with the 924th Fighter Group, refuels an A-10 Thunderbolt II 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.

A C-17 Globemaster III transporting Desert Lightning Team members returns from a deployment at an undisclosed location at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Oct. 17, 2022. The members returned home to their families after a deployment overseas.

Senior Airman Chelsea Lewis, 493rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, prepares a U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II for launch during exercise Falcon Strike 2022 at Amendola Air Base, Italy, Nov. 15, 2022. Falcon Strike 22 consisted of multiple NATO nations practicing joint offensive and defensive air operations that integrated fourth and fifth-generation airpower.

A Pennsylvania Air National Guardsman stands guard as a KC-135 aircraft assigned to the 171st Air Refueling Wing near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is hot pit refueled for the first time at the unit Jan. 5, 2023. Hot-pit refueling is a technique used to eliminate downtime by keeping the engines running while the aircraft is refueled; instead of powering down the engines.

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.

U.S. Soldiers with 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team arrive home after a year-long deployment to Egypt as part of the Multinational Force & Observers and Task Force Sinai.

National television news from ABC News (right foreground) and CNN cover the deployment of the 23rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 23rd Wing from Pope AFB, N.C. bound for Ramstein Air Base, Germany and then to Tuzla Air Base, Bosnia where they will establish a Mobile Aeromedical Staging Facility (MASF) in support of Operation Joint Endeavor. Subject Operation/Series: JOINT ENDEAVOR Base: Pope Air Force Base State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

970225-F-0994L-020. Complete Scene Caption: Passengers arrive at Tuzla Air Base, Bosnia-Herzegovina, as the C-130 Hercules Air Transport exchanges cargo and personnel while the engines are running. The Green Hornets of the 61st Airlift Squadron (AS), Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, fly and maintain their C-130s while deployed to Ramstein Air Base, Germany for a 100-day Temporary Duty (TDY) tour assisting Operation JOINT GUARD (previously Operation Joint Endeavor). Flying Hercules Air Transports every day to the Former Yugoslav region (primarily Tuzla), they pickup and deliver cargo and passengers in support of JOINT GUARD. Tuzla is the dispersion and collection point for supplies, vehicles and personnel. JOINT GUARD enforces the Dayton Peace Accords and with multi-national allies continues to monitor the militaries of the former warring factions and provides a climate of stability in the war-torn land of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Subject Operation/Series: JOINT GUARD Base: Taszar Air

Maj. Gen. Michele C. Edmondson, Second Air Force commander, receives a tour of a C-130 during her visit to Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., April 29, 2022. Edmondson reviewed the training equipment that Airmen use to become aircraft loadmasters alongside many other positions.

Airmen assigned to the 621st Contingency Response Wing and 305th Air Mobility Wing team up with members of the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team to load cargo onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Feb. 8, 2024. The joint exercise included the loading and offloading of equipment and vehicles onto a C-17, as well as various inspections and documentation. Exercises like these are made possible by the leveraging of assets of Joint Force partners across the Department of Defenses only tri-service base. Air Force

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