Featured Image: Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Adam Huggins, assigned to the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), greets his family as Bataan returns to Naval Station Norfolk following an eight and a half-month deployment operating in the U.S. 5th and U.S. 6th Fleet areas of operation, March 21, 2024. More than 4,000 Sailors and Marines assigned to the Bataan ARG supported a wide range of interoperability opportunities and exercises, increasing combat readiness and crisis response capabilities while strengthening relationships with NATO Allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anderson W. Branch)
Army
A Bradley Fighting Vehicle assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, pulls security during a live-fire exercise (LFX) at Fort Stewart, Georgia, March 9, 2023. The LFX provides realistic and challenging situations that prepare Soldiers for combat. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Santiago Lepper)
Soldiers jump from an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III during an all-female flight in honor of International Women’s Day at Malemute Drop Zone at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, March 7, 2024. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Julia Lebens)
Navy
NARVIK, Norway (March 15, 2024) The guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) arrives in Narvik, Norway, March 15, 2024, following its participation in Steadfast Defender 2024, the largest NATO exercise since World War II. Paul Ignatius played a key role in the exercise, which focused on enhancing interoperability and readiness across 32 NATO allies and partner nations. (U.S. Navy photo)
BEAUFORT SEA (March 15, 2024) A Bell UH-1H helicopter departs Ice Camp Whale during Operation Ice Camp 2024. Ice Camp is a three-week operation that allows the Navy to assess its operational readiness in the Arctic, increase experience in the region, advance understanding of the Arctic environment, and continue to develop relationships with other services, allies, and partner organizations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Scott Barnes)
Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Johnathan Saechao, a low altitude air defense gunner, with 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, 3rd Marine Air Wing, fires a Stinger Trainer Launch Simulator during Warrior Shield 24 on Daecheon Firing Range, Republic of Korea March 5, 2024. Warrior Shield 24 is an annual joint, combined exercise held on the Korean Peninsula that seeks to strengthen the combined defensive capabilities of ROK and U.S. forces. This routine, regularly scheduled, field training exercise provides the ROK and U.S. Marines the opportunity to rehearse combined operations, exchange knowledge, and demonstrate the strength and capabilities of the ROK-U.S. Alliance. Saechao is a native of California. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Pruett
U.S. Marine Corps pilots with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepare to taxi a KC-130J Super Hercules as they self-redeploy to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, after the conclusion of Exercise Nordic Response 24 at Andenes, Norway, March 16, 2024. Exercise Nordic Response is designed to enhance military capabilities and allied cooperation in high-intensity warfighting scenarios under challenging arctic conditions, while providing U.S. Marines unique opportunities to train alongside NATO allies and partners. U.S. Marine Corps photo by 2nd Lt. Duncan Stoner
Air Force
An F-22 Raptor performs aerobatic maneuvers during the Wings Over Solano air show and open house at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., March 16, 2024. Air Combat Command’s F-22 Demonstration Team performs precision aerial maneuvers to demonstrate the unique capabilities of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kenneth Abbate)
U.S. Air Force pararescuemen assigned to the 57th Rescue Squadron land near Aviano Air Base, Italy, March 13, 2024. The 57th RQS provides personnel recovery, combat search and rescue, civil search and rescue and casualty evacuation to fulfill U.S. European Command, U. S. Africa Command and NATO security cooperation requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joseph Bartoszek)
Coast Guard
The Coast Guard Cutter Legare (WMEC 912) weighs anchor near the Statue of Liberty in New York City, New York, March 17, 2024. In support of Operation Atlantic Venture, Legare steamed more than 6,300 nautical miles, patrolling the coast of New England, New York and near the Gulf of Maine, to conduct maritime safety missions, while bolstering the safety and sustainability of the marine ecosystem through enforcement of Living Marine Resources regulations. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Legare)
Crewmembers from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick prepare a towing exercise with Royal Canadian Navy Vessel HMCS Yellowknife off the coast of Ketchikan, Alaska March 14, 2024. The objectives of the Coast Guard search and rescue program are to reduce loss of life, injury, and property damage in the maritime setting, minimize risks to responders, maximize resource utilization, and uphold global leadership in maritime search and readiness proficiency and impact. U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo.
