Airmen assigned to the Missouri Air National Guard‘s139th Airlift Wing participate in a ruck march April 22 in Elwood, Kansas. The Airmen were qualifying for the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency. The event included running, swimming, sprints, pull-up hang, pistol marksmanship and a ruck march. Participants could qualify in bronze, silver or gold categories.
Crew chiefs with the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Maintenance Group tow an aircraft inside a hangar to facilitate maintenance April 21 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Maintainers must tow the aircraft into the hangar when wind gusts are above maximum limits to perform certain types of repairs.
A U.S. Airman and a Royal Netherlands army soldier wrestle after receiving a level two exposure to pepper spray as part of a nonlethal weapons class April 23 during exercise African Lion 16 in Tifnit, Morocco. The participants of the class had the opportunity to receive either a level one or two exposure before practicing nonlethal skills learned during the class.
Capt. Daniel Stancin, a 36th Airlift Squadron navigator, applies face paint April 21during survival, evasion, resistance and escape training at Tama Hills Recreation Area, Japan. The SERE training keeps personnel prepared for contingency situations, such as evading and escaping capture behind enemy lines.
Military members participating in exercise African Lion 16 gather inside a tent at the end of the day April 23 in Tifnit, Morocco. Among the 11 nations participating in the annual exercise were a group of U.S. military members, Royal Moroccan Armed Forces members, Spanish Legion soldiers and Royal Netherlands Army soldiers. They lived in field conditions and participated in daily familiarization with other nations’ tactics to improve interoperability.
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform aerial maneuvers during the AirPower over Hampton Roads Open House April 24 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Originally scheduled to perform three times at the open house, the team only performed once due to weather conditions.
Airman 1st Class Ian Wilkerson, a 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron communication navigation specialist, checks the radio systems of an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter during a preflight inspection April 26 at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Maintenance and inspections are conducted before and after every mission to ensure aircraft safety and longevity.
Pararescuemen assigned to the 57th Rescue Squadron use the Jaws of Life to tear apart a vehicle’s roof to remove a mock victim during a combat search and rescue demonstration April 21 at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. Pararescuemen and members of the 48th Security Forces Squadron demonstrated the rescue during a chief of staff of the air force civic leader program visit.
An Air Force team sets up a mobile air traffic control tower April 26 at Eloy Alfaro International Airport in Manta, Ecuador. The portable tower will help local controllers increase the flow of humanitarian aid entering the country. The United States, in coordination with the Ecuadorian government, deployed 12 U.S Airmen to Ecuador to support international relief efforts for victims of a 7.8-magnitude earthquake.