AURORA, Co. (AFNS)

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall leads the panel discussion “Reoptimizing for Great Power Competition: A Senior Leaders Discussion” during the Air and Space Forces Association 2024 Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colo., Feb. 12, 2024. The leaders outlined 24 specific decisions that will position the services to better confront China and maintain the hard-won superiority in air and space that has been a crucial foundation for deterrence and for protecting the nation’s security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich) Share

AURORA, Co. (AFNS)

Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman makes remarks for the panel discussion “Reoptimizing for Great Power Competition: A Senior Leaders Discussion” during the Air and Space Forces Association 2024 Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colo., Feb. 12, 2024. The leaders outlined 24 specific decisions that will position the services to better confront China and maintain the hard-won superiority in air and space that has been a crucial foundation for deterrence and for protecting the nation’s security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich) Share

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del.

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Nathaniel Bochenek, 3rd Airlift Squadron pilot, pets Ranger Matthews, USO of Delaware emotional support dog, during Operation Cookie Drop at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Dec. 19, 2023. The Dover AFB Chapel and USO of Delaware delivered more than 3,000 cookies provided by Team Dover members to Airmen across the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amanda Jett) Share

Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan

A U.S. Air Force pararescueman, 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, scans for ground threats during a mission Nov. 7, 2012, over Afghanistan. Pararescue teams assault, secure, and dominate the rescue objective area utilizing any available Department of Defense or allied, air, land, or sea asset. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder) Share

DJIBOUTI

U.S. Air Force pararescuemen with the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron remove their jump gear after conducting water jumps into the Gulf of Aden, Djibouti, Nov. 27, 2023. Hosted by Camp Lemonnier and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, Bull Shark is a biannual exercise that tests water rescue teams on their ability to extract an injured person from the water in a hostile environment and transport the casualty to a higher echelon of care. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Allison Payne) Share

JOINT BASE ELMENDORFRICHARDSON, Alaska

A 210th Rescue Squadron 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk takes off at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. The Chugach Mountains provide the backdrop and was the site of a Nov. 16 rescue at the range’s Arctic Valley. (Alaska Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Edward Eagerton) Share

PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE, Fla.

Tech. Sgt. Nick Sivilich, 301st Rescue Squadron special missions aviator and simulated isolated person, uses a combat survivor evader locator radio during a skills-based competition event at Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida, Nov. 7, 2023. This skills-based competition brings together combat search and rescue squadrons from around the world, offering valuable training and skill development as participants learn from each other's techniques, tactics and experiences. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Kelly Goonan) Share

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Milo Carter, 36th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, gazes at Mt. Fuji during Operation Volant Spouse 2023 at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 4, 2023. The 36th AS maintains C-130J Super Hercules mission-ready aircrew to conduct theater airlift, special operations, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, repatriation and humanitarian relief missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler) Share

AGADEZ, Niger

A U.S. Air Force quick reaction force member assigned to the 409th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron helps a rescue specialist cut apart a vehicle to extract a simulated patient during a training exercise at Air Base 201, Agadez, Niger, Nov. 1, 2023. The exercise allowed the 409th ESFS to work alongside rescue specialists to improve the command’s ability to respond to any personnel recovery contingency on the African continent. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rose Gudex) Share

Guam

A rescue jumpmaster from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron uses rescue jumpmaster procedures to allow a special tactics team to conduct military freefall onto an unknown and unmarked drop zone. Members from the 353rd Special Operations Group worked with the 36th Contingency Response Group from Andersen Air Base, Guam, to open Wake Island air field after Typhoon Halola passed through the island. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kristine Dreyer) Share

KADENA AIR BASE

Japan Air Self-Defense Force and U.S. Air Force service members participate in a water rescue training during Rescue Flag Okinawa 2023 at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Oct. 24, 2023. U.S. military forces flew the MC-130J Commando II, HH-60G Pavehawk alongside Japanese forces flying the U-125A, UH-60J and the US-2, to take on challenging search and rescue scenarios, and execute the first open-ocean patient transfer from a US-2 to a helicopter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luis E. Rios Calderon) Share

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, MT

Airman 1st Class Keera Nickodem, 40th Helicopter Squadron flight engineer, shoots an M240 machine gun out of a UH-1N Huey at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., June 28, 2023. The 40th HS began as Detachment 5 of the 37th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron and was one of seven detachments in the 37th ARRS under Military Airlift Command. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Christopher Volkmar) Share