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Travis Air Force Base, California. (February 26, 2024): “Military Brat” is an affectionate term given to the children of active duty servicemembers. They enter this world with a green “US” stamped on their diapers and in the loving arms of a military nurse. In this photo by Kenneth Abbate, Air Force First Lieutenant Elisabeth Wallace, left, and Senior Airman Shorettalayne Gutierrez provide stimulation to a newborn mannequin in the labor and delivery simulation room during weekly staff training.
Each year, thousands of children are born to military families at bases at home and abroad and the duty of bringing these future troops into the world falls to military nurses. These highly skilled professionals give prenatal and postpartum care to military wives and are trained to handle the high-pressure situations during childbirths. They are part of a team of caregivers who provide delicate care for newborns until they are discharged.
To become an Air Force nurse requires at least a bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing from an accredited school and at least one year of full-time practical experience. Candidates must pass the 6-week Air Force Officer Training School and be under age 47 before being commissioned as officers. Nurses can specialize in various Ob/Gyn fields and there are numerous opportunities for them to gain new knowledge and skills.
Perhaps the greatest benefit these nurses enjoy is bringing new lives into the world while serving their country.
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Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. (March 1, 2024): In this photo by Technical Sergeant Curt Beach, First Lieutenant Jake Heydinger, a pilot with the 525th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, prepares for flight during exercise Bamboo Eagle 24-1. The exercise involved approximately 3,000 service members across the four military branches flying and maintaining more than 150 aircraft from twenty-four units from across the nation. Conducted by the Air Force Warfare Center, Bamboo uses the lands and airspace of the Nevada Test and Training Range, the largest facility in the country which occupies about three million acres.
Here the Center offers advanced pilot training, develops new tactics, and integrates many of the Air Force's test and evaluation requirements. Founded in 1966, the Center teaches the concept of Agile Combat Employment (ACE), a warfighting strategy developed to compete in today’s three-dimensional combat environment. ACE relies less on traditional large overseas bases that serve as hubs for combat deployments in favor of smaller, more dispersed forward operating bases.
The shift in policy is due to the advances in reconnaissance and missile technologies that now present risks to bases that were traditionally considered “sanctuaries.” This year, the event included maritime warfare including anti-ship technology and cyber operations.
The 525th Fighter Squadron, based at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, Alaska, flies the Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor to conduct precision strikes of surface targets using a wide variety of conventional air-to-surface munitions.
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Santa Maria Regional Airport, California. (February 28, 2024): In the movies snipers always belong to the Army or Marine Corps, sharp shooters from the Air Force get very little attention. In this photo by Staff Sergeant Scott Warner, 14th Air Support Operations Squadron tactical air control craftsman Staff Sergeant Aaron Weaver aims his SCAR MK 20 sniper rifle at the enemy while playing the opposing force during exercise Agile Flag 24-1.
Sergeant Weaver is a member of the Air Force’s “Close Precision Engagement Teams” charged with protecting flight lines and other vital areas of bases around the world. They also conduct perimeter defense, counter sniper operations, reconnaissance, and surveillance. Each team is composed of two individuals, the sniper and the spotter. The spotter uses a long-range scope to identify targets, gather range and windage adjustments, and relays this information to the sniper. The sniper makes the adjustments on the M-24 and fires on the target.
Snipers must be able to operate independently and make quick decisions in high pressure situations. They also play a vital role collecting intelligence on enemy activity which gives commanders situational awareness. These missions require patience, attention to detail, and the ability to remain calm in often chaotic situations. As one can imagine, becoming an Air Force sniper requires extensive training and a high level of mental and physical discipline.
To become an Air Force sniper, candidates attend an eleven-day Advanced Designated Marksman Course that familiarizes students with the M24 weapon system. Next, students attend a nineteen-day Close Precision Engagement Course at Fort Bliss, Texas. The course teaches advanced marksmanship, military scouting skills, and field tactics. The course is very physically demanding with PT drills every day, obstacle courses, and forced marches. Instructors watch to see how their students perform when exhausted and under severe stress.
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Atlantic Ocean. (February 14, 2024): In this photo by MC1 Danielle Serocki, U.S. and French Navy Sailors carry Zodiac combat rubber raiding craft off the stern gate in the well deck of the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall after conducting small boat operations. The French troops are from Le Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Detroyat, or “Sailor Rifleman” that serves as security for land and coastal regions. Their mission is to protect naval vessels at sea and key sites on land and have been an integral part of the French Navy since the 1800’s.
The French and Americans are participating in Steadfast Defender 2024, the largest military exercise in Europe since the Cold War. With approximately 90,000 troops from all 31 NATO Allies, as well as new partner Sweden, participating, the exercise will evaluate NATO’s plans for reinforcing Europe against a near-peer adversary. During the event, these militaries will conduct and sustain complex multi-domain operations over several months and across thousands of miles. The exercise is strategically located in several key European countries, including Finland, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
For its part, the Gunston Hall is one of the most versatile amphibious platforms in the U.S. Navy. With two large helicopter landing pads, the largest well deck in the fleet, and spacious troop berthing facilities, Gunston Hall has the ability to embark a diverse array of military forces.
The Steadfast Defender 2024 exercises are expected to end on May 31, 2024.
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White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. (February 18, 2024): In this photo by Sergeant Benjamin Castro, a Soldier assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) marks a landing zone for a CH-47 Helicopter using an infrared laser after a nighttime raid on a village. The 3rd Special Forces are participating in Sage Eagle, an annual exercise to prepare these elite troops for real world missions.
Held on the sprawling White Sands facility, the training pushes soldiers to discover their personal leadership skills while being guided by Army Green Berets and active-duty Special Forces troops. Soldiers are taught how to react to ambushes and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), booby traps, and how to evacuate casualties. Troops practice clearing rooms, entering trenches, and providing convoy security while assaulting simulated villages.
The 3rd Special Forces specialize in unconventional warfare and counter insurgency operations and often work with foreign governments on their internal defense strategies. Today, they are primarily responsible for counter-terrorism efforts in Africa.
Annual events like Sage Eagle keep our elite special forces ready to deploy to defend American anywhere, anytime.
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Colorado Springs, Colorado. (February 20, 2024): The Air Force Academy held its annual Firstie Flag exercises this week to give Senior Cadets the chance to “show what they know” while making valuable contacts in their respective career fields. In this photo by Trevor Cokley, a cadet tracks incoming threats using the latest technology and under battle stress conditions. During the exercise, Cadets demonstrate their ability to work together, to solve problems “on the fly,” and to improvise solutions under realistic conditions. The goal is to prepare these cadets for future conflicts with great power adversaries. The interaction also allows these young officers the chance to meet senior practitioners of their chosen craft. It introduces first-class cadets to their future jobs and the roles they will play in a future fight.
The space operations team, for example, confronted anti-satellite missiles, co-orbital, and cyber threats and formulated plans to counter them. The team later presented their findings to the class for further discussion and brainstorming. At the same time, cadets received guidance from senior operators in their field and the opportunity to develop relationships with experts in their chosen field.
During these sessions, students met with some eighty faculty and staff, including air officers, air mobility trainers, and senior mentors from the graduate community. These contacts may prove invaluable as these Cadets graduate and serve as line officers in tomorrow’s Air Force.