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RAF Fairford, United Kingdom. (March 20, 2025): An aircraft already older than most of its pilots is getting yet another lease on life. In this photo by Master Sergeant Chris Hibben, a B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron flies over Europe during a recent NATO exercise. The veritable Stratofortress is undergoing a major upgrade with the replacement of its aging and out-of-production Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines with Rolls-Royce F130 engines, an upgrade that will allow it to fly well into the 2050’s.
In 2021, the Air Force selected Rolls Royce to deliver over six hundred new engines for America’s fleet of 76 Boeing B-52H strategic bombers. The engines come from the Rolls-Royce's BR700 family, a line that has a stellar reputation after accumulating over thirty million flight hours. The company is conducting performance trials at its NASA Stennis Space Center site in southwest Mississippi and the engines will be built at the Rolls Royce manufacturing facility at Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Tallahassee, Florida. (March 18, 2025): In this photo by NASA’s Keegan Barber, a pod of dolphins greets the SpaceX Dragon capsule after its successful splashdown off the coast of Florida. The flight marked a significant moment in history as Colonel Nick Hague became the first active-duty Space Force Guardian in space. During his 171 days aloft, Col. Hague logged 72,553,920 miles and completed 2,736 orbits of the Earth.
The U.S. Space Force, established in 2019, is the sixth branch of the US military with a mission to secure America’s interests in space. The agency is responsible for launching and operating satellites, developing and deploying space-based capabilities, and conducting research on space technologies. Guardians also monitor satellites, track space debris, and guard against a surprise missile attack on the U.S. They are also charged with protecting vital communications, navigation, and intelligence gathering operations in space from hostile interference.
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Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois. (March 20, 2025): It is a symbolic gesture that conveys a nation’s gratitude for true and faithful service. In this photo by the Navy’s Kelsey Danner, Sailors fold the American flag during a retirement ceremony held here. The flag is folded thirteen times to represent the original colonies of the United States, but that is not the only tie to the Revolutionary War.
First, the flag is folded into a triangle to symbolize the tri-cornered hats worn by soldiers who fought for independence. In addition to representing the original colonies, each fold has its own symbolism. The first fold represents life, for example, while the second expresses a belief in a supreme being, and the third honors veterans who gave their lives. Each subsequent fold represents a tribute to fathers, women, god, and the United States.
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Colorado Springs, Colorado. (March 19, 2025): In this photo by Dylan Smith, the Air Force’s Christina Watrall scores a point against an opponent during a Fencing championship at the Air Force Academy. Like pirates of old, the military continues to incorporate the ancient art of Fencing into its training and competitions. With all the high-tech arms available today, what value is sword play in modern warfare?
Archeologists tell us the first evidence of sword fighting was discovered on a temple wall in Egypt, circa 1190 BC. These early drawings depicted warriors in combat as well as individuals apparently participating in a duel. In ancient Greece, swordsmanship became a staple of the Olympic Games and the Greeks established the first Fencing school teaching combat styles that are still used today.
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Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. (March 7, 2025): The grand tradition of the “sweet science” of boxing is alive and well in today’s military. In this photo by Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem, Airman 1st Class Bradley Hoke, left, and Senior Airman Jason Santillana punch it out during the recent Rumble in the Deid IV. The event was hosted by the 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron and involved forty participants who showed off their physical condition and combat skills.
Boxing in the military dates to ancient Greece where it became a popular sport in the first Olympic Games. Originally called “pugilism” from the Latin word “pugil” meaning fighter, the contest required two men to battle with their fists until one was knocked out or admitted defeat. The sport evolved into a method to train soldiers in hand-to-hand combat and to improve overall physical readiness.
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Catoosa, Georgia. (March 12, 2025): In this photo by Sergeant Allison Gilstrap, Staff Sergeant Gregory Smith uses a red light to illuminate navigation points during a night land navigation exercise. Of all the colors in the rainbow, why does the military insist on using red lights?
The reason is twofold; to be able to see, and to not be seen.
Red light is less disruptive to the eye's ability to see in the dark compared to other colors. The eyes have two types of receptors, called rods and cones, which allow us to see colors in low light conditions. In near darkness, the eyes use the rods on the outer edges of the retina that are most sensitive to light to distinguish black and white. Because red has a longer wavelength than brighter colors like blue or green, it allows a person to see without compromising their night vision.