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Mediterranean Sea. (Aug. 5, 2023): In this photo by MC3 Riley Gasdia, Sailors assigned to Tactical Air Control Squadron 21 track the movement of aircraft within the vicinity of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan. Bataan and the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall are on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th and U.S. 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. A Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) establishes centralized control, coordination, and integration of air operations aboard warships during amphibious warfare. TACRON 21 deploys its detachments with amphibious squadrons to amphibious readiness groups around the world.
The concept of tactical air control was born during the British/German air wars in the initial stages of World War II. The Americans adopted the idea for use in its Pacific campaign against the Japanese and later in campaigns across Africa. As a result of these experiences, a concerted effort was made to set up and train several groups of personnel as Air Support Parties to guide combat aircraft.
As the Pacific war progressed, planners anticipated more naval landings combined with air assaults that would require one commander to coordinate the entire amphibious operation. Subsequent amphibious landings on Tarawa, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa saw the formation of teams of air controllers assigned to amphibious flagships to coordinate air and sea power and the Tactical Air Squadron was born.
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Fort Novosel, Alabama. (August 7, 2023): In this photo by Adam Sikes, Specialist Jason Riley, on the left, and Sergeant Jason Paglia appear in good spirits despite facing a grueling ruck march at Army Materiel Command's 2023 Best Squad Competition held here recently. Travelling long distances carrying a heavy rucksack, or “rucking,” is a practice as old as the American Army itself.
While the burdens carried by individual soldiers have changed over the years, the need for an efficient way for troops to transport weapons and equipment without bringing them to exhaustion has not changed. Today’s rucksack is essentially a large, rugged backpack whose name is derived from the German, “der rücken,” or “the back.” Every American soldier has endured a steep, seemingly never-ending incline, bent over, while carrying an 80-pound rucksack. What most troops failed to realize is the extensive research and development that has gone into this metal framed monster on their backs.
The first recorded instance of a warrior carrying a backpack was the famous “Otzi the Iceman,” a Copper age mummy encased in mountain ice for centuries that was discovered by a group of hikers in Italy. Otzi carried a bag along with his weapons and other gear in an animal skin pack supported by wooden stakes.
The forerunner of the modern backpack was designed by Henry Merriam In 1878 who received a patent for his “Knapsack” which included a metal frame that held the pack away from a soldier’s body.
During the Civil War, soldiers carried their gear in bundles built with sticks and canvas cloth which were a burden to carry and a constant source of irritation for Colonial troops. The advent of World War I brought the need for improved military backpacks and the “Haversack” was born. The Haversack was strapped onto the upper and lower back and held ammo, canteens, shovels, and other personal items.
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Fuga Island, Philippines. (August 7, 2023): In this photo by Sergeant Sean Potter, Corporal Daniel Lauer, a crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing passes emergency relief supplies to a Filipino citizen victimized by Typhoon Doksuri that struck the island causing widespread damage. At the request of the Philippine Armed Forces, the Marines fanned out across the island to provide lifesaving capabilities to local communities. During the three-day relief effort, the Marines delivered over 64,000 pounds of food and water to remote areas hardest hit by the storm.
Typhoon Doksuri made a direct hit on the Philippines, Taiwan, and China that killed eighty-seven people and injured 204 others while leaving behind a trail of catastrophic damage. Flooding was reported in nine out of seventeen regions affecting two million residents and causing over 300,000 to evacuate.
The Marines are often called upon to help in natural disasters due to their unique capacity to deliver vital relief supplies by sea and air. Their role as an amphibious force enables the Marines to use their shallow water vessels, helicopters, and tiltrotor aircraft to reach remote areas quickly in an emergency. Americans can be justly proud of our Marines using their skills to save countless lives around the world.
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Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. (August 3, 2023): In this photo by Staff Sergeant David Phaff, Airmen from the 22nd Training Squadron teach water survival techniques to local Civil Air Patrol Cadets who came to learn to survive in austere environments. These brave young souls, some only 12 years old, volunteer their time and energy learning leadership, physical fitness, and character development in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). The CAP is the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force with stations in eight geographic regions including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Each year, the CAP attracts over 23,000 members ages 12 through 20 to its cadet programs that focus on four areas — leadership, aerospace, physical fitness, and character development.
Members must have a sincere interest in learning about aviation and the military and a desire to develop leadership skills in this year-round youth program.
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Indian Ocean. (Aug. 4, 2023):In this photo by MC1 Ryre Arciaga, Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Gabriel Schiazza, from San Diego, California, and Lieutenant Junior Grade Jay Hollister, from Marysville, Washington, connect a quick-release hook to a rigid-hull inflatable boat aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam. The Antietam and her crew were taking part in Talisman Sabre 23, the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States of the year.
The Indian Ocean has been a critical trade route for centuries and currently accounts for one-third of the world's bulk cargo traffic and two-thirds of the world's oil shipments. Australia is the lynch pin for allied efforts to protect the free and open transit of these waters by commercial traffic. China has pursued what Beijing calls a “string of pearls” strategy to expand its influence in the Indian Ocean by building ports along its borders. Most of China’s oil flows through the Indian Ocean which is its primary access to Africa and the Middle East.
For these reasons, preventing China or Russia from dominating the Indian Ocean is essential to protecting western interests. To be ready for such a conflict, the U.S. and Australia conduct these annual Sabre exercises to ensure both nations can work together seamlessly should war break out.
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Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. (August 8, 2023): In this photo by Staff Sergeant Darius Sostre-Miroir, Staff Sergeant Paul Bartholdson and Technical Sergeant Nathan Edwards, Rescue Riggers with the 920th Logistics Readiness Squadron, prepare to attach a reach pendant underneath a HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter during sling load training. A sling load is used to transport a variety of cargo to remote, austere locations while suspended beneath the versatile Pave Hawk.
In 1981, the Air Force chose the Pave Hawk to replace the legendary Jolly Green Giant, the Air Force’s workhorse helicopter since the 1960s. Manufactured by Sikorski Aircraft, the Pave Hawk is a four blade, twin engine, medium lift chopper used primarily by special operations troops. Its missions include the insertion and recovery of special operations troops, combat search and rescue, and resupply of forces by air. They take on the most secretive and dangerous missions for the U.S. military.
The “Pave” is an upgraded communications and navigation suite that includes integrated inertial navigation/global positioning/Doppler navigation systems, satellite communications, and secure voice communications. The system allows the Pave Hawk to operate day or night and under severe weather conditions making it ideal for civil search and rescue and aeromedical evacuation.
The 920th Logistics Readiness Squadron provides supply, fuels, and transportation for warfighters preparing for deployment worldwide. The Squadron is comprised of Airmen who specialize in deployment planning, supply chain operations, and transportation management.