AF Year in Photos U.S. Air Force Logo Jan. 5, 2024 Viper focus U.S. Air Force Capt. Aimee Fiedler, F-16 Viper Demonstration Team commander and pilot, mentally prepares for her flight back to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., after F-AIR Colombia International Aeronautics and Space Fair at José María Córdova Airport in Rionegro, Colombia, July 17, 2023. Activities like F-AIR strengthen international partnerships, enhancing interoperability and improving the collective readiness to conduct a range of potential future operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Madeline Herzog) Details Download A team effort A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., undergoes maintenance at Andersen AFB, Guam, in support of a Bomber Task Force mission, April 11, 2023. More than 210 Airmen and four B-52s recently arrived on the installation in support of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command BTF missions to offer aircrews the opportunity to familiarize themselves with operating in a joint and coalition environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class William Pugh) Details Download Thunder over Mount Rainer The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds" fly over Mount Rainier, Wash., July 17, 2023. The Thunderbirds performed the flyover during their return to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., from the JBLM Air Show and Warrior Expo at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dakota Carter) Details Download Puppy love Koda, the new support dog for the 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard, poses during a photoshoot at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, St. Joseph, Mo., Oct. 10, 2023. Koda is a 4-month-old goldendoodle training to be a certified post-traumatic stress disorder support dog, therapy dog and comfort dog. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Janae Masoner) Details Download To the rescue Special warfare candidates simulate a medical rescue mission in an austere location during Prolonged Resiliency Training Jan. 26, 2023, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The training simulated the stressful and long hours of an operator in the field, testing candidates' endurance and ability to work as a team while, simultaneously, preparing them for the rigors of the training pipeline ahead. (U.S. Air Force photo by Miriam Thurber) Details Download Talon on the rise A T-38 Talon assigned to 50th Fighter Training Squadron, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., sits on the flightline at MacDill AFB, Fla., July 7, 2023. Students with the 50th FTS train on advanced aircraft handling, tactical navigation, fluid maneuvering and an increased emphasis in two and four-ship formations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Foster) Details Download VCSAF speaks at UAS Summit Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin delivers a speech at the 2023 Unmanned Aerial Systems Summit and Expo Oct. 10, 2023, in Grand Forks, N.D. Allvin discussed the need to leverage emerging technology to be successful in today’s complex strategic environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Raisa Christie) Details Download 100 years of air refueling A B-2 Spirit from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., flies behind a KC-135 Stratotanker from Scott AFB, Ill., during a commemorative flight marking the 100-year anniversary of air refueling over Missouri, June 27, 2023. The B-2 is a versatile bomber with capabilities to deploy both conventional and nuclear munitions, signifying a significant advancement in the U.S. bomber modernization program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mark Sulaica) Details Download High altitude comms Pennsylvania Air National Guard Airmen assigned to the 111th Attack Wing install an antenna on a communications tower at Biddle Air National Guard Base, Pa., May 7, 2023. This installation consisted of climbing approximately 50 feet up the tower, properly rigging the antenna to the tower, and testing it from the ground. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Charles Casner) Details Download On patrol A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 389th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, flies a combat patrol mission within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 18, 2023. Fighter aircraft routinely conduct patrols within the CENTCOM AOR to ensure combat airpower dominance, deter adversaries, and ensure regional security and stability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Daniel Asselta) Details Download Under arrest U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Norberto A. Gonzalez, Senior Airman Curtis A. Rhoden and Airman 1st Class Katlin G. Anders, assigned to the 48th Civil Engineer Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, represent Team U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa during a Mobile Aircraft Arresting System challenge April 25, 2023, at the Air Force Civil Engineer Readiness Challenge IX at Silver Flag Training Site, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. Eight teams representing various major commands battled it out for the title of Readiness Challenge champion. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel Robbins) Details Download Cutting through the skies An F-22 Raptor assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, flies over the Alaskan Range during exercise Northern Edge 23-1, May 10, 2023. NE 23-1 allows the U.S. Joint Force to develop Joint All-Domain Operations concepts through exercises and experimentation for application in operations around the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Ariana Wilkinson) Details Download Sticking together Air Force Academy cadets participate in physical training exercises during the class of 2026’s recognition at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 20, 2023. Successful completion of recognition formalizes the cadet’s identity and allows them to wear the prop and wings insignia on their uniforms. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley) Details Download Always ready U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron prepare for a B-1B Lancer assigned to the 34th EBS to take off from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, in support of a Bomber Task Force mission Feb. 4, 2023. U.S. forces will fly and operate anywhere international law allows, at the time and tempo of choosing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ericka A. Woolever) Details Download Wolf in the air An MH-139A Grey Wolf lifts an Air Force Global Strike Command Detachment 7 special mission aviator into the air April 26, 2023, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The aircraft successfully completed its first live hoist test lifting SMA’s via the massive forest penetrator and the rescue strop. The 413th Flight Test Squadron and Det. 7 worked together to reach another milestone for the Air Force’s newest helicopter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.) Details Download AFFORGEN in action U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall coins an Airman at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 7, 2023. Kendall visited installations throughout the CENTCOM AOR and recognized Airmen and Guardians for their distinguished service in support of the Middle East region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Vaughn Weber) Details Download Man's best friends Col. Justin Spears, 49th Wing commander, introduces his dog, Blue, to a Vision 60 Q-UGV ground robot at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., April 17, 2023. The Vision 60 is a quadrupedal ground robot that is capable of maneuvering through rough terrain, making it perfect for patrolling Holloman AFB’s arid environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaiah Pedrazzini) Details Download Enhancing interoperability Forces from U.S. Central Command components and the Israel Defense Forces participate in exercise Juniper Oak 23-2, Jan. 25, 2023, over the USCENTCOM area of responsibility. The bilateral military exercise is designed to enhance interoperability between the U.S. and Israel militaries. (Israel Defense Forces courtesy photo) Details Download Ready for fuel Three U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers are parked on the flightline at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Oct. 29, 2023. The KC-135 provides aerial refueling support to U.S. and partner nations. The U.S. along with partner nations, operate a highly agile fighting force, leveraging the most advanced platforms to deter aggression and ensure stability in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lawrence Sena) Details Download Enlisted Blueprint Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass delivers remarks during the CORONA South all-call at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., June 15, 2023. Top Air Force leaders convened at MacDill AFB June 12-15 for CORONA South, a bi-annual event that allows Air Force commanders to discuss strategy and policy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luther Mitchell Jr.) Details Download Dragon in the air A 1st Reconnaissance Squadron U-2 Dragon Lady pilot prepares for landing during his final flight Jan. 25, 2023, at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. The U-2 is a reconnaissance aircraft that can reach an altitude of about 70, 000 feet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shaei Rodriguez) Details Download Loading the Pegasus Royal Australian Air Force and 92nd Expeditionary Wing personnel prepare to get multiple U.S. Air Force KC-46 Pegasus airborne for exercise Mobility Guardian 23 in Darwin, Australia, July 9, 2023. A multinational endeavor, MG23 featured seven participating countries – Australia, Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States – operating nearly 70 mobility aircraft across multiple locations spanning a 3,000-mile area in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Haiden Morris) Details Download Sunsetting An RQ-4 Global Hawk assigned to the 452nd Flight Test Squadron flies in the skies above Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., May 23, 2023. The 452nd FLTS held a “sunsetting” event for the RQ-4 Global Hawk flight test program at Edwards AFB, June 9. The event marked the completion of the squadron’s test campaign for the aircraft. (Air Force photo by Bryce Bennett) Details Download Finish line Darcy Whyte crosses the finish line of the Air Force Marathon 10-kilometer race Sept. 16, 2023, at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Whyte won the women’s portion of the event with a time of 38 minutes, 15 seconds, before going on to compete in the half-marathon. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez) Details Download Huey hoist Senior Airman Devin Hackney, 36th Rescue Squadron special mission aviator, prepares to hoist from a UH-1N Huey at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., Jan. 13, 2023. The UH-1N Huey is a multipurpose utility helicopter famous for its widespread use during the Vietnam War. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Stassney Davis) Details Download Meeting with USecAF Air Force and Space Force ROTC cadets and newly commissioned officers speak with Kristyn Jones, Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of the Air Force, at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., July 14, 2023. The group is part of a summer internship program at the Pentagon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich) Details Download Liquid oxygen Master Sgt. Anthony Martinez, an aircraft electrical and environmental systems craftsman assigned to the 910th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, services liquid oxygen on a 910th Airlift Wing C-130H Hercules aircraft Jan. 11, 2023, at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The C-130 was grounded by an Air Mobility Command time compliance technical order Sept. 27, 2022, while conducting an aerial spray mission at Mountain Home AFB. Martinez was part of a maintenance recovery team dispatched by the 910th Airlift Wing to inspect and repair the C-130 for its return to service and trip home. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Hanna Pakkala) Details Download Minuteman launch A team of Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen launch an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a test reentry vehicle from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Feb 9, 2023. The test launch was part of routine and periodic activities intended to demonstrate that the United States' nuclear deterrence mission is safe, secure, reliable and effective in deterring 21st-century threats and reassuring allies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Landon Gunsauls) Details Download Surgeon General talks AFMED U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Miller, Air Force Surgeon General, and Chief Master Sgt. Dawn Kolczynski, medical enlisted force and enlisted corps chief, receive an informational briefing during an immersion tour with Capt. Jacquelyn Gillaspy, 51st Healthcare Operations Squadron primary care element chief, at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Sept. 25, 2023. Miller toured ongoing operations at medical treatment facilities around the globe and addressed the upcoming restructure of Air Force Medical Services, AFMED. AFMED targets complete overhaul of the health service’s organizational structure to streamline readiness and medical support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tristan Truesdell) Details Download Searching high and low Tech. Sgt. Chrystal Maldonado, 92nd Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, and 92nd SFS MWD Leo search for survival, evasion, resistance, and escape students in a combined training effort in Cusick, Wash., Jan. 25, 2023. The 92nd SFS partnered with 336th Training Group SERE instructors to enhance operations for both squadrons while providing real-world scenarios for the SERE students. (U.S. Air Force photo Airman 1st Class Stassney Davis) Details Download Taking the plunge Senior Airman Stanley Fairchild, 89th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, stands by as Senior Airman Max Shircliff Jr., 89th AS loadmaster, jumps from a Coast Guard vessel into the ocean Jan. 19, 2023, during water survival training at North Island Naval Air Station, Calif. The joint training event included water survival, AES training flights and urban survival, evasion, resistance and escape. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Patrick O'Reilly) Details Download Champions! U.S. Air Force Academy’s Football Squad celebrate their win against James Madison University at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl game. The Falcons capped their 2023 season with a 9-4 record defeating JMU, 31-21, Dec. 23, 2023, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rayna Grace) Details Download One Team, One Fight Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne Bass listen to Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall deliver his keynote speech “One Team, One Fight” during the Air and Space Forces Association 2023 Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colo., March 7, 2023. Kendall emphasized the need to modernize and reshape the Air Force and Space Force to confront China and other emerging powers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich) Details Download Steel City sunrise The sun rises on a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 911th Airlift Wing, May 15, 2023, at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pa. The C-17 has global reach capabilities when combined with in-flight refueling. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jeffrey Grossi) Details Download Rendering aid Special tactics Airmen with the 24th Special Operations Wing, Detachment 1, render medical aid to a simulated combat casualty in an arctic environment as an Alaska Army National Guard HH-60M Black Hawk approaches during a training exercise at Camp Mad Bull, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Jan. 10, 2023. The 24th SOW Detachment 1 consists of 54 members across 15 job codes forming four agile teams, whose primary role is to bare base, rapidly turn undeveloped locations into fully functional bases. (U.S. Air Force photo by Alejandro Peña) Details Download Al Dhafra all-call U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass answer questions during an all-call with Airmen and Guardians at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 8, 2023. The senior leaders’ stop at Al Dhafra AB was one of many across Air Force Central Command to recognize and thank Airmen and Guardians who protect the U.S., allies and partners’ national security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Sabatino DiMascio) Details Download Helping hand U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Lorenzo Bennette, 409th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Quick Reaction Force member, hands a bottle of water to a local child near Air Base 201, Niger, Jan. 6, 2023. QRF postures in and around the base allows for rapid response to developing hostile threats on or immediately around the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Michael Matkin) Details Download Pool party Students in the Air Force Combat Dive Course practice search and rescue techniques in Panama City Beach, Fla., April 5, 2023. The course prepares future special warfare operators to conduct underwater tactical diving for insertion, extraction and maritime rescue and recovery missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Miriam Thurber) Details Download CSAF Allvin welcome ceremony Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin salutes for the national anthem during Allvin’s welcome ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Nov. 17, 2023. Allvin was officially sworn in as the 23rd Air Force chief of staff on Nov. 2, 2023, at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich) Details Download Rolled up Tech. Sgt. Tristan Geray, 40th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, wraps up a fuel hose during Operation Night King in the California desert March 26, 2023. The 40th AS tested Multi-Capable Airman concepts during the exercise by empowering air crew to assist in rapid refueling procedures while simultaneously moving people, equipment or supplies on and off the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mercedes Porter) Details Download Teamwork Air Force Falcons lacrosse players huddle at center field before a game against Lindenwood University in the Holaday Athletic Center at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., March 25, 2023. USAFA defeated Lindenwood 15-6. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley) Details Download Night obstacles Candidates compete in a morning obstacle course during the Special Warfare Training Wing Assessment and Selection Course at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, March 15, 2023. The training wing prepares candidates physically, mentally, emotionally and cognitively for demanding careers as special warfare operators. (U.S. Air Force photo by Miriam Thurber) Details Download Marching with pride Air Force basic military training graduates participate in their graduation ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, March 15, 2023. More than 500 Airmen assigned to the 324th Training Squadron graduated from this iteration of BMTS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Brian Boisvert) Details Download Mobility snapshot Airman 1st Class Natalie Vandergriff, aerial combat camera journeyman assigned to the 1st Combat Camera Squadron, documents a mobility force training mission over Charleston, S.C., March 13, 2023. The squadron acquires still and motion imagery in support of classified and unclassified air, sea and ground military operations as a fundamental tool of commanders and decision-makers throughout the Department of Defense. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Matthew Plew) Details Download Honoring The Tuskegee Airmen Local contractors attach a historical replica of a P-51 Red Tail Mustang to its stand in a public park to memorialize the Tuskegee Airmen at Veterans Park, S.C., July 26, 2023. The P-51C Mustang was the primary fighter aircraft flown by the U.S. Air Force 322nd Fighter Group during World War II. The Tuskegee Airmen escorted bomber aircraft and solidified their reputation as successful pilots during the war, paving the way forward toward a stronger and more united Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Steven Cardo) Details Download Diving in Special warfare candidates perform swim tactics and team-building exercises during the Special Warfare Training Wing Assessment and Selection Course at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, March 14, 2023. Trainees in every course in the pipeline are provided holistic support to prepare each candidate physically, mentally, emotionally and cognitively for demanding careers as special warfare operators. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jennifer Gangemi) Details Download High-five U.S. Air Force pilots from the 25th Fighter Squadron greet South Korea air force pilots assigned to the 102nd FS after completing exercise Buddy Squadron 23-2 at Osan Air Base, South Korea, March 8, 2023. The exercise is a recurring, pre-planned training that provides air and ground operations the ability to improve readiness and train joint interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dwane R. Young) Details Download Pride and precision The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” sit on the flightline before an air show in Cocoa Beach, Fla., April 16, 2023. The Thunderbirds headlined the Cocoa Beach Air Show, which allowed them to demonstrate the pride, precision and professionalism of total force Airmen to thousands of spectators on the Space Coast. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dakota Carter) Details Download Air Force Reserve 75th birthday Chief of Air Force Reserve Lt. Gen. John Healy, Senior Airman Shamadre Chambliss, the youngest Airman present, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. and Chief Master Sgt. Tim White, command chief of Air Force Reserve Command, cut the cake during the Air Force Reserve 75th birthday celebration at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., April 14, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich) Details Download Pack it in U.S. Air Force aircrew from the 50th Air Refueling Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., load luggage onto a KC-135 Stratotanker in Perth, Australia, Jan. 27, 2023, during Operation Vespucci. Two KC-135s stopped in Australia as they circumnavigated the Southern Hemisphere during the endurance mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Kristin Nielsen) Details Download Sandy landing zone Master Sgt. Chase Plumley, 235th Air Traffic Control Squadron chief of operations, walks on the landing zone in front of a KC-130F Hercules at the Holland Drop Zone Pass in Vass, N.C., July 19, 2023. The 235th ATCS led a two-week Landing Zone Safety Officer course for Airmen across the Air National Guard. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Mary McKnight) Details Download Aim high Beau Becker, a U.S. Air Force Academy cadet, dunks the ball during a basketball game against San Jose State University in Clune Arena at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., March 4, 2023. The Air Force team was defeated by San Jose 61-63. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley) Details Download Weapons check U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Dustin Flaspohler, 138th Fighter Wing aircraft armament systems specialist, performs weapons checks on an F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 125th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, after hot pit refueling at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, Aug. 15, 2023. Hot pit refueling occurs after an aircraft has landed and is still running its engine allowing for refueling in austere locations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexander Frank) Details Download All-electric aircraft A BETA Technologies Alia conventional takeoff and landing aircraft sits on the flightline at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Oct. 18, 2023. AFWERX, in collaboration with BETA Technologies, an electric aerospace company, landed the all-electric aircraft at JB Andrews during a multistop flight from Vermont to Florida. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gianluca Ciccopiedi) Details Download Fire team exercise Airman 1st Class Jordana Rost, 96th Security Forces Squadron, enters a room with her fire team during some close quarters training Feb. 22, 2023, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The exercise was part of a new consolidated training curriculum created by Eglin AFB’s security forces unit combining the defenders’ requirements with combat-ready deployment exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.) Details Download Fueled up A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, receives fuel from a KC-10 Extender assigned to the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 13, 2023. The 908th EARS delivers fuel for U.S. and partner nation forces, extending the reach and combat airpower dominance to the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Daniel Asselta) Details Download Warrior strength Retired Tech. Sgt. Jerod Schley participates in a track event during the 2023 Air Force Trials at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Feb. 28, 2023. Each athlete is competing in the trials, which are part of the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program, to earn one of 40 primary slots on Team Air Force in hopes of competing at the Department of Defense Warrior Games. (U.S. Air Force photo by William R. Lewis) Details Download Strengthening alliances United Kingdom Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey and Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall share ideas during a meeting at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Feb. 8, 2023. During the bilateral exchange, the leaders discussed strengthening U.S.-U.K. cooperation on a range of shared air and space force priorities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Z. Erwin) Details Download Celebrate America Fireworks explode behind a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron during the Celebrate America event at Yokota Air Base, Japan, July 3, 2023. Celebrate America is an annual event providing military members and their families the opportunity to enjoy games, food and live bands before culminating in a fireworks display over the Yokota AB airfield to celebrate Independence Day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Details Download Help is on the way Urban search and rescue members from Fairfax County, Va., get comfortable on a C-17 Globemaster III at Dover Air Force Base, Del. prior to flying to Türkiye, Feb. 7, 2023. The U.S. Agency for International Development mobilized emergency humanitarian assistance to respond to the devastating impacts in Türkiye following the worst earthquake to hit the region in almost a century. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Faith Barron) Details Download Meal in the field Staff Sgts. Trenten Collins and Asher Wilthew, tactical air control party specialists with Detachment 1, 3rd Air Support Operations Squadron, dip bread in butter while camping along the Denali Highway, Alaska, during Operation Agipen 2, Jan. 31, 2023. Agipen 2 was an unsupported, sustained cold-weather operation designed to validate equipment and previous arctic training in austere conditions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Alejandro Peña) Details Download Presidential greeting President Joe Biden meets service members after commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 during a remembrance ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Sept. 11, 2023. Biden highlighted continued commitment to the defense of the nation and support to allies as an on-going tribute to the lives lost that day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Julia Lebens) Details Download Class of 2023 The U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2023 graduates toss their hats into the sky as the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds" roar overhead at the Academy's Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 1, 2023. Nine-hundred twenty-one cadets crossed the stage to become the Air Force and Space Force’s newest second lieutenants. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley) Details Download Nighttime landing An MQ-9 Reaper conducts the first MQ-9 landing on a dirt landing zone during a training exercise near Fort Stockton, Texas, June 15, 2023. The nighttime landing on an unimproved surface was part of a larger Air Force Special Operations Command exercise involving members of the 26th Special Tactics Squadron from Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alysa Calvarese) Details Download Dedication pass An F-35A Lightning II flown by Maj. Kristin Wolfe, 388th Fighter Wing F-35A Demonstration Team commander, performs a dedication pass during an airshow over Kleine Brogel Air Base, Belgium, Sept. 8, 2023. The F-35 Demo Team consists of approximately 15 Airmen to include the pilot and commander, pilot safety officers, superintendent, team chief, maintenance Airmen, aircrew flight equipment specialists and public affairs personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Barley) Details Download Remembering the fallen Airmen render a salute during a Memorial Day ceremony held at Madingley American Cemetery in Cambridge, England, May 29, 2023. The cemetery serves as a final resting place for 3,812 military personnel with 3,812 graves and 5,127 names listed on the Walls of the Missing, honoring American servicemen and women who lost their lives during World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Seleena Muhammad-Ali) Details Download Takeoff by the Strip An HH-60W Jolly Green II assigned to the 34th Weapons Squadron takes off to participate in a combat search and rescue training mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Oct. 23, 2023. One of the HH-60W's primary missions is to conduct personnel recovery operations in hostile environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Rufus) Details Download Safety check U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Chase McAvaney, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear element team member, scans a room for hazardous elements during a joint CBRN training at Camp Kinser, Japan, May 17, 2023. The combined training demonstrates emergency management integration between the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Army CBRN response units while also familiarizing each unit with the other’s techniques and procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tylir Meyer) Details Download First Red Hawk The first T-7A Red Hawk, piloted by Maj. Jonathan Aronoff, 416th Flight Test Squadron pilot, and Steve Schmidt, Boeing test pilot, soars over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Nov. 8, 2023. The T-7A will replace the 1960s-era T-38 aircraft by providing advanced pilot training capabilities for aviators learning to fly both tactical and bomber aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Bryce Bennett) Details Download CMSAF keynote speech Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass discusses Air Force culture, goals and vision during her “Airmen of the Future” keynote speech at the 2023 Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., Sept. 13, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stuart Bright) Details Download Joint operation A KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 134th Air Refueling Wing and F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 337th Fighter Squadron fly over Greece, June 20, 2023. The 134th ARW and 337th FS supported Thracian Sentry 2023, a joint operation between the 134th ARW, Hellenic and Bulgaria air forces. (U.S. National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Ben Cash) Details Download A special day Graduates in the combat control, special reconnaissance and special tactics officer career fields don their berets during a ceremony, May 11, 2023, in Whispering Pines, N.C. The special warfare operators earn their berets after completing the rigorous training pipeline and they honor the beret every day by upholding the high personal and professional standards of the operator community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Miriam Thurber) Details Download Final goodbye The 305th and 514th Air Mobility Wings bid farewell to the last KC-10 Extender set for retirement during a ceremony at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., June 21, 2023. The retirement of the final KC-10 represents a transition toward a more modern and advanced Total Force tanker enterprise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sergio Avalos) Details Download Attention to detail U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Bloom Marie Esteller, 423rd Air Base Group Honor Guard noncommissioned officer in charge, participates in a change of command ceremony at RAF Croughton, United Kingdom, June 15, 2023. The ceremony is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of a unit’s authority from one commander to another. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eugene Oliver) Details Download Weather flush exercise E-3G Sentry aircraft assigned to the 552nd Air Control Wing await clearance to depart during a weather flush exercise at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., March 21, 2023. The 552nd ACW’s mission is to train, develop and employ combat-ready Airmen and weapons systems to deliver decisive command of the air supporting America’s national security priorities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Paul Shirk) Details Download Enjoying the view U.S. Air Force Master Sgts. Patrick McCartney and Clint Elkins, 189th Airlift Wing loadmasters, Arkansas National Guard, sit on the ramp of a C-130 Hercules aircraft during a low-level training mission over Germany during exercise Air Defender 2023, June 20, 2023. Exercise AD23 integrates both U.S. and allied airpower to defend shared values, while leveraging and strengthening vital partnerships to deter aggression around the world. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Caila Arahood) Details Download Full throttle A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle engine is tested in a full afterburner state at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 21, 2023. U.S. Airmen from the 18th Component Maintenance Squadron test aircraft engines like this in a specialized hangar to ensure all components function properly before use. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Edward Yankus) Details Download Giddy up Capt. Magin Day, 375th Operational Medicine Readiness Squadron flight commander, makes a turn on her horse, Rumor, while competing on the first day of the two-day 2023 Queeny Park Equestrian Events Horse Trials at the National Equestrian Center in St. Louis, Mo., June 10, 2023. Day represented the Air Force and competed in her service dress uniform during the event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class De’Quan Simmons) Details Download Shield wall Air National Guard Airmen from the 185th Air Refueling Wing Security Forces Squadron form a shield wall amid smoke during domestic operations training at the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa, June 4, 2023. During the training, the security forces Airmen trained with shields, batons and smoke grenades. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Tylon Chapman) Details Download Thunderbirds over Magic Kingdom The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” perform a flyover over Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT, Fla., Oct. 30, 2023. The Thunderbirds performed the flyover to help kick off National Veterans and Military Family Month. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Andrew Burdette) Details Download Maintaining security U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Andrew Cranley, 423rd Security Forces Squadron Base Defense Operations controller, monitors base operations at RAF Molesworth, United Kingdom, Sept. 8, 2023. The Base Defense Operations Center is responsible for coordinating security on the installation and remains ready to coordinate responses to ensure the safety and security of the community and mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eugene Oliver) Details Download Head over heels Staff Sgt. Cameron Cullen, a student with the 68th Rescue Squadron Formal Training Unit, jumps from a plane during the Combat Leader Course over Marana, Ariz., Aug. 14, 2023. The CLC trains the next generation of Air Force pararescuemen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Devlin Bishop) Details Download Distant Fury A 920th Rescue Wing HH-60G Pave Hawk prepares to connect to the hose-and-drogue system of an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft during helicopter air-to-air refueling off the coast of California during exercise Distant Fury Stallion Dec. 5, 2023. This joint exercise presented a uniquely suited opportunity in remote, austere conditions to validate the wing’s interoperability within the joint team while reaffirming the wing’s lethality, precision and ability to fight and win. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicole Koreen) Details Download Let the sparks fly Tech. Sgt. Richard Collins, Pennsylvania Air National Guard vehicle maintenance craftsman, performs maintenance on an Aircraft Tug MB2 undercarriage Aug. 11, 2023, near Pittsburgh, Pa. The MB2 is an aircraft towing vehicle used by the U.S. Air Force and allied forces. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Bryan Hoover) Details Download Remaining calm under pressure Capt. Chase Todd, 40th Helicopter Squadron pilot, holds his breath under water during underwater egress training in the base pool at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., Aug. 3, 2023. The training is essential for placing aircrew in a psychologically and physiologically challenging situation and mandatory every three years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mary Bowers) Details Download Raw emotion Basic cadets from the Class of 2027 complete the assault course at the U.S. Air Force Academy's Jacks Valley in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 18, 2023. Basic cadet training is a six-week indoctrination program to guide the transformation of new cadets from being civilians to military academy cadets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley) Details Download Warm welcome Combat rescue Airmen with 920th Rescue Wing return from deployment July 7, 2023, at Patrick Space Force Base, Fla. Airmen from across the wing were reunited with their family and friends. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Dakota Raub) Details Download Burning rubber Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass participates in a ride-along with Amanda Sorensen, an Air Force Recruiting Service-sponsored driver, at a Formula Drift event at the Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, Calif., Oct. 14, 2023. Bass joined Sorensen for a lap around the track, where Sorensen showcased her professional driving abilities by expertly balancing speed and control while drifting around the track. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Colin Hollowell) Details Download 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. swears in as the 21st chairman from outgoing chairman U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley during the Armed Forces Hail at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., Sept. 29, 2023. The ceremony, hosted by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, marked Brown's swearing in and was attended by President Joseph R. Biden Jr., Vice President Kamala Harris, and other distinguished guests. (Department of Defense photo by Benjamin Applebaum) Details Download Down we go... U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Nicole Jarrett, religious affairs specialist, repels down a rock wall during a Jungle Religious Ministry Course at the Jungle Warfare Training Center in Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 26, 2023. JREL is executed biannually to enhance the expeditionary skills of religious ministry personnel in an expeditionary advanced base jungle environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Morales) Details Download Senior Leader Perspective Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., Mrs. Sharene Brown, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, Mrs. Jennifer Saltzman, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass, Mr. Rahn Bass, Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force Roger Towberman and Mrs. Rachel Rush take part in a panel discussion about the senior leader perspective at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., Sept. 13, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andy Morataya) Details Download Super Galaxy taxi A C-5M Super Galaxy taxis down the flightline after landing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Nov. 8, 2023. The C-5M, a strategic transport aircraft, is the largest aircraft in the U.S. Air Force inventory. It is an upgraded version of the C-5 Galaxy, with new engines, modernized avionics and a strengthened airframe and can carry up to 281,001 pounds of cargo for over 8,000 miles without refueling. (U.S. Air Force by Senior Airman Jack Rodgers) Details Download Feeling the heat Airman 1st Class Kyle Datu and Staff Sgt. Matt Trevizo, 99th Civil Engineering Squadron fire protection specialists, extinguish a fire during an aircraft live fire training exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Oct. 12, 2023. Propane ignitors are built in multiple positions throughout and around the training fuselage, providing firefighters with a realistic training environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Rufus) Details Download Enhancing capabilities through partnerships U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michael Harbeck, 824th Base Defense Squadron fire team member, discusses Puma Unmanned Aerial System operations with members of the Royal Canadian Navy during Exercise Agile Blizzard-Unified Vision 2023 aboard a RCN vessel near British Columbia, Canada, June 21, 2023. Both the U.S. Air Force and RCN operate the Puma UAS and were able to pass on different techniques, tactics and procedures to build the capabilities of both forces and enhance joint partnerships. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Betty R. Chevalier) Details Download Arrival Salute A U.S. Air Force Honor Guard team leads Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin and Royal Thai Air Force Commander in Chief Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul, at the conclusion of an arrival ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., Dec. 11, 2023. The visit aimed to strengthen the U.S.-Thailand alliance and advance shared security interests in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich) Details Download Leader Orientation Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall speaks with students and guests during the Senior Leader Orientation Course at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Nov. 13, 2023. The course provides training for newly selected brigadier generals and senior executive service members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich) Details Download Texas sortie Instructor pilots with the 340th Flying Training Group, 39th Flying Training Squadron, and 559th FTS fly a T-6 Texan II four-ship formation March 23, 2023, over Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. The sortie also marked the final flight of Lt. Col. Mark Pasierb, former Undergraduate Flying Training program commander, who will have approximately earned a combined 6,000 flight hours in the C-5 Galaxy and T-6. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jet Fabara) Details Download To the rescue Airmen training with the 68th Rescue Squadron rescue a simulated casualty from beneath a car at an undisclosed location in California, Sept. 17, 2023. The Airmen worked as a team to lift the car while one of their team members removed the simulated casualty from underneath. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class William Finn V) Details Download Under the red lights U.S. Airmen assigned to The U.S. Air Forces in Europe Concert Band perform at a concert in Przemyśl, Poland, Oct. 27, 2023. The U.S. Air Force bands provide an essential element in inspiring service members, fostering the support of citizens and the promotion of national interests at home and abroad. (Department of Defense photo by Senior Airman Jan K. Valle) Details Download Smoke and Thunder Tech. Sgt. Paul Wyckoff, 18th Combat Weather Squadron staff weather officer, walks through a cloud of smoke during exercise Thunder Challenge 2023 at Fort Liberty, N.C., Oct. 16, 2023. Thunder Challenge is an annual exercise in which combat weather teams come together to compete in events that test their knowledge of CW operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Slocum) Details Download This year's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This annual feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.