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Naval Air Station Rota, Spain, (June 8, 2023): In this photo by Courtney Pollock, Marla Echols, a third-grade teacher at Rota Elementary School, was recently named Teacher of the Year. Here she poses with school mascot “Toro” the bull.
Ms. Echols is one of over 8,000 educators who serve nearly 900,000 military connected children of all ages worldwide. Teachers like these must adapt to many of the same challenges as the students and their families they serve.
And their results are impressive.
Last year, Department of Defense students' average test scores ranged from 15 to 23 percentage points higher than corresponding national average scores and held steady or increased while national average scores decreased. This is a remarkable record given the transitory nature of military life and the demands it places on her young charges. Not to brag, but Rota Elementary School was also awarded the National Blue-Ribbon Award for 2022.
The DoD currently operates 160 schools located in 11 foreign countries, 7 states, and 2 territories across 10 time zones and all its schools are fully accredited.
Hat’s off to educator Echols for a job well done for our military kids.
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United Arab Emirates. (June 1, 2023): It is safe to say most Americans are unaware of the close military and cultural ties between the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In fact, the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces has participated in multiple conflicts alongside American troops in the Middle East for years. In the photo above, U.S. Marines with Marine Forces Command and soldiers with the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces practice close quarter infantry tactics during joint exercise Intrepid Maven 23 in the UAE. The exercise included more than 100 U.S. Marines and Sailors alongside United Arab Emirates Armed Forces who conducted live-fire close-air support exercises and expeditionary airfield operations at several training locations throughout the country.
During 1990–1991 Gulf War, the UAE lost 10 soldiers liberating Kuwait and they are the only Arab country that committed troops to the U.S. effort in Afghanistan.
The United States recognized the UAE in 1974 and the two countries have enjoyed friendly relations and have developed strong government-to-government ties including close security cooperation.
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Colorado Springs, Colorado. (June 9, 2023): The U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2023 holds the highest percentage of women in Air Force Academy history, with females accounting for 29%. The record-breaking number comes amid the 75th anniversary of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, which enabled women to serve in the military.
In this photo by Trevor Cokley, graduates toss their hats into the sky as the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds" roars overhead at the Academy's Falcon Stadium. Nine hundred twenty-one cadets crossed the stage to become the Air Force and Space Force’s newest second lieutenants.
The Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration squadron flyover is a 60-year-old tradition where pilots use flawless timing to coincide with the graduates' hat toss as they are dismissed. After the commencement ceremony, Cadets and their guests attended receptions, award ceremonies, concerts, parades, and the day ended with air demonstrations.
Another American tradition is to invite promising students from our international allies to join the Air Force Academy. This year, there were 12 four-year exchange cadets among the 921 graduates. These international students hailed from Cambodia, Jordan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Peru, Poland, Romania, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Tunisia.
Support Our Troops wishes these new officer’s god speed in their service to our nation.
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East China Sea. (June 2, 2023) In this photo by MC3 Thomas Contant, an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, Det. 6, attached to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America lands on the flight deck of the Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Anzac while operating in international waters. The America is the lead ship of the U.S. Amphibious Ready Group of the 7th Fleet, the Navy's largest forward-deployed force that routinely operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Tensions with China are at an all-time high as another dangerous incident involving a U.S. warship occurred this week. The U.S. military released a video of the incident on Monday which shows the “unsafe” Chinese maneuver in the Taiwan Strait in which a Chinese navy ship cut sharply across the path of an American destroyer, forcing the U.S. vessel to slow to avoid a collision.
The incident involved the American destroyer USS Chung-Hoon and the Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal as they were conducting a freedom of navigation transit of the strait between Taiwan and mainland China.
Since the end of World War II, China has claimed the democratic self-governing island of Taiwan as part of its territory and that the waters of the South China Sea are part of their “exclusive economic zone”. The U.S. and its allies regularly sail through and fly over the region to assert international law and the rights of all vessels to sail these waters free from harassment by the Chinese.
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Arlington, Virginia. (June. 6, 2023): Sadly, there are fewer and fewer eyewitnesses to history like retired Chief Yeoman Bill Norberg, a 100-year-old Battle of Midway veteran. In this photo by MC2 Carson J. Davis, Mr. Norberg is joined by Vice Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti during the 81st Anniversary of the Battle of Midway celebration dinner at the Army Navy Club in Arlington. Norberg was stationed aboard the USS Enterprise during the famous battle in which the U.S. ambushed and sunk four Japanese carriers thereby turning the tide of the Pacific war. What followed was an island-hopping strategy and even larger naval battles that would lie ahead for young Sailors like Norberg.
Despite his age, Mr. Norberg maintains an active schedule doing interviews around the country where he shares his firsthand accounts of the war, from escaping Japanese subs immediately after Pear Harbor to his experiences aboard Enterprise. He was also recently featured in an article by Elizabeth Crumbley in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The ceremony commemorated the U.S. Navy's victory at the Battle of Midway and the honor and sacrifice of World War II veterans.
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San Diego, California. (June 6, 2023): Indomitable. That describes in one word the toughness, tenacity, and dedication of the American warrior. Despite suffering life-changing injuries, these warfighters nevertheless overcome obstacles that would humble lesser men. In this photo by MC1 Kegan E. Kay, Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Maxwell "Kwame" Ocloo, from Osu, Ghana, competes in the 800-meter track event during the Defense Warrior Games 2023. The Warrior Games Challenge is composed of over 200 wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans competing in 12 adaptive sporting events held at Naval Air Station North Island, California.
This is the thirteenth adaptive sports competition sponsored by the Army Training and Doctrine Command as part of its continuing care for wounded warriors. The games provide an additional opportunity to inspire recovery and physical fitness outside of traditional therapy settings.