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Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. (January 17, 2024): On any given day, there are over three thousand U.S. personnel serving in the Horn of Africa, from pilots to sailors, who depend on the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron when they need help. In this photo by Staff Sergeant Jana Somero, an Airman secures the landing zone after being dropped off by an MV-22B Osprey during a personnel recovery training exercise. The 82nd Squadron, part of the 449th Air Expeditionary Group, is made up of pararescue personnel who do search and rescue missions for the U.S. Africa Command.
The Horn of Africa is beset by numerous conflicts, from squabbles between Sudan and Ethiopia to Islamist militants in Kenya and the al-Shabaab insurgency in Somalia.
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Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois. (January 9, 2025): Most people do not realize the sheer number of engineering jobs available in a massive organization like the U.S. Navy. With approximately 450,000 Sailors manning three hundred ships and submarines and flying 3,700 aircraft, the Navy needs enlisted engineers. In this photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matt Hall, Sailors practice installing a flange shield on a valve, one of many engineering tasks they will encounter once aboard ship. The Navy’s Surface Warfare Engineering School offers a variety of engineering courses that provide both technical and on-the-job experience in nearly every field of engineering.
The road to a Navy engineering career begins with the Basic Engineering Common Core, a ten-week program on mechanical theory, piping systems, the Navy’s Maintenance Material Management System, and essential safety precautions. From there, the majority of students advance to the Engineering Professional Apprenticeship Career Track. This 34-day course delves deeper into various engineering skills students will need as they start their careers.
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Pacific Ocean. (January 11, 2025): In the Navy, there are little-known heroes who deliver power to the ship, and the entire crew depends on them. In this photo by MC3 Brianna Walker, Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) Fireman Manuel Gutierrez trains Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Robbie Zepponi on how to note readings on an air compressor aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett. They are responsible for keeping giant turbine engines running around the clock and the survival of the ship is literally in their hands.
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are powered by two General Electric LM2500 turbines that generate 33,600 shaft horsepower allowing the ship to achieve speeds of thirty-one knots. These LM2500 turbines drive ninety five percent of all current U.S. Navy ships.
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Okinawa, Japan. (January 8, 2025): Acrophobia sounds like a terrible disease, but it is really quite common. Fear of Heights. In this photo by Sergeant Noah Masog, Sergeant Brian Evans supervises Marines rappelling down a steep cliff during a company exercise at the Jungle Warfare Training Center here. All troopers experience, to varying degrees, some level of acrophobia while learning to rappel.
Symptoms of this irrational fear are intense anxiety, trembling, and shortness of breath. For many, even thinking of heights or being in a high place can be debilitating. To conquer these fears, troops must have confidence in their rappelling skills and the quality of their equipment.
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Fort Moore, Georgia. (January 16, 2025): With slogans like "Death from Above", it is obvious that “Going Airborne” is no picnic. In this photo by Staff Sergeant Keith Thornburgh, a prospective trooper jumps from a tower wearing full combat gear at the Army’s Basic Airborne Course (BAC). Operated by the 1st Battalion, 507th Infantry, the course is open to servicemembers from all branches of the military, ROTC cadets, and allied military personnel.
From the D-Day invasion of Normandy to Operation Northern Delay in Iraq, American Airborne forces are widely admired by allies and feared by enemies. Joining this group is understandably difficult, right from the beginning. To qualify for Airborne training, candidates must pass the Army Physical Fitness Test using the standards for the 17-21 age group, regardless of their actual age. If they meet these requirements, cadets will undergo a three-week intensive program divided into three phases; Ground, Tower, and Jump Weeks.
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Cheyenne, Wyoming. (January 10, 2025): The Air National Guard has joined local California authorities battling wildfires that have devastated Los Angeles. In this photo by Senior Airman Zachary Herold, Airmen from the 153rd Airlift Wing load and install a Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) onto a C-130H Hercules aircraft. The Air National Guard has activated all eight of its firefighting units to support local efforts.
Earlier this month, multiple wildfires broke out in Los Angeles County, the largest one encompassing almost 3,000 acres in Pacific Palisades. Local officials have ordered the evacuation of about 150,000 residents and opened nine shelters to house displaced families. As of this writing, the fires have killed at least twenty-six people and the death toll is likely to grow. Experts estimate the economic losses of this event to be in the range of $135 to $150 billion dollars, making it one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.