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Atlantic Ocean. (May 8, 2025): Few people will ever forget the sting of a wasp. In this photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Kemble, Seaman Nathan Kimbrough mans a fire hose aboard the flight deck of the USS Wasp during an aviation training exercise. Numerous ships have worn the name, including sloops, schooners, a steam yacht, and two aircraft carriers and every one of them delivered a vicious bite.
The first USS Wasp was a Continental Navy schooner, originally named Scorpion, which set sail in 1775 with the first American naval fleet. The vessel was later destroyed in 1777 during an unsuccessful engagement with the British. It was run aground, set on fire, and its gunpowder exploded.
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Fort McCoy, Wisconsin (May 17, 2025): A single miscommunication between Air Force pilots in the air and Army troops on the ground can be catastrophic. To prevent this, the Air Force operates a special school, hosted by the 435th Training Squadron, designed to eliminate such confusion between air and ground units.
Officially called the Air Mobility Liaison Officer (AMLO) Qualification Course, the program focuses on drop zone control and landing zone safety. To qualify for the training, Students must be rated pilots or navigators and are hand selected. During the course, students study everything from doctrine and command relationships to the complexities of aircraft landing and drop zones. They also learn proper radio procedures and the cultural differences between the Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps.
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Kadena Air Base, Japan. (May 6, 2025): When the Air Force does the “Elephant Walk”, America’s enemies take notice. In this photo by Senior Master Sgt. Nadine Barclay, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps aircraft along with Army Patriot missile batteries line up on the runway for an elephant walk. The term elephant walk dates to World War II when large fleets of allied bombers would conduct attacks in missions containing 1,000 aircraft. Those who observed the taxiing of these large numbers of aircraft to take off in single file in nose-to-tail formations said that they looked like elephants walking to the next watering hole.
During a recent routine operational readiness exercise, Kadena Air Force Base showcased more than 100 aircraft taxiing right before takeoff in close formation. Doing the Elephant Walk not only demonstrates the U.S. military’s ability to act as a team, but it prepares squadrons for wartime operations and pilots to launch in one mass event.
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Gantioqui, Philippines. (May 8, 2025): As we witness the devastating use of unmanned aerial vehicles by Ukraine against the Russians, it is only natural to ask, “What are WE doing about drones.” In this photo by Sergeant Mitchell Johnson, Marines with 3d Littoral Anti-Air Battalion, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, prepare a Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) for training.
MADIS is a mobile, maneuverable, short-range air defense platform developed to protect against aerial threats like drones but also fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and even cruise missiles. The MADIS system is mounted on two Joint Light Tactical Vehicles and consists of two variants, Mk1 and Mk2, that work in tandem.
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Suva, Fiji. (May 8, 2025): Despite being a tiny island in the South Pacific, Fiji has played an outsized role in America’s defeat of the Japanese during World War II. In this photo by Seaman Alajia Williams, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kadeeja Howard and Fijian Navy Ordinary Seaman Nadidi Taginaselala participate in a beautification project during a port visit by the USS Blue Ridge.
During World War II, Fiji served as a staging and training base and to relieve New Zealand troops. The island was a crucial point along the shipping route from the US to South Pacific bases, particularly Australia. American forces operated airfields and seaplane bases that were used to interdict the Japanese Navy thereby preventing them from isolating the Aussies from their American allies. Thanks to the Fijians, the Japanese were unsuccessful in their efforts to cut off supply routes in the South Pacific.
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North Pacific Ocean. (May 7, 2025): When U.S. Sailors are looking for something to shoot at, they choose the “Killer Tomato”. In this photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jamaal Liddell, Sailors aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Preble deploy a floating target used for live fire exercises. The Killer Tomato provides a flexible, realistic target to simulate small crafts and their electronic systems. The target allows Sailors to ascertain range and distance measurements to simulate realistic combat situations including interdiction and rescue missions.
Manufactured by American Pacific Plastic Fabricators, Inc., the Killer Tomato is easy to unpack, set up, inflate, launch, and recover. These surface targets are made from vinyl fabric, are relatively light weight, and can be inflated using a power air blower. Weighing just forty-eight pounds deflated, it can be manhandled overboard by a handful of Sailors and is likewise easily retrieved.