U.S. Marines Cpl. Noel Lopez, an aircraft ordnance technician with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, loads MK-76 training bombs at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Dec. 2, 2020. VMFA-312 supported 3rd More
A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 104th Fighter Squadron of the 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard, flies over the Warren Grove Gunnery Range, Dec. 3, 2020, in Warren Grove, N.J. Joint Terminal More
U.S. Marines with Kilo Company, 3d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, emplace a 60mm mortar during a live-fire range as a part of Fuji Viper 21.2 at Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, Japan, Jan. 14, 2021. More
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Mark Herber (left), Assistant Air Officer with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, speaks to Col. Robert Bodisch, Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji commanding officer, during a close air s More
Capt. Patrick Hopkins, air officer with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, checks the time while awaiting fixed wing close air support training at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, Jan. 14, 2021. By succ More
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Patrick Hopkins, air officer for 3d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, conducts fixed wing close air support coordination in support of 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment at Combined Arms Tr More
From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Ryan Metas, Sgt. Jose Romo, Capt. Trevor Shimulunas, Cpl. Ryan Philips and U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Juan Gutierrez with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaiso More
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jay Hoylman with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO), I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, checks his gear before patrolling during close air support integration tr More
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jose Romo, a fire support Marine with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, calls for close air support during exercise Winter Fury 21 at More
U.S. Marines with 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO), II Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, wait for extraction after conducting close air support training for exercise Northern Strike w More
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Cyrus Jean, a field artillery cannoneer, with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, receives instructions to act as a joint fire observer during exercise More
A Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter refuels Dec. 9 at Charlie runway on Tinian’s North Field during Exercise Forager Fury II to execute a forward arming and refueling point training. FF II allows Marines and sailo More
In February 1944, Lt. Col Cochran and a handful of pilots manned their P-51A Mustang fighters embarking on a daring secret mission and making aviation history. That mission’s legacy still lives in today’s Air Commandos.
An 81st Fighter Squadron A-10 Thunderbolt II taxis down the runway here as a crew chief inspects another A-10 Sept. 12, during Ramstein Rover 2012. A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 81st FS are participating in the More
A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet flies a combat patrol over in Afghanistan on Dec. 15. Aircraft such as these provide close-air support for ground forces in need.
The first and only KC-130J "Harvest Hawk" in Afghanistan sits on the flightline at Forward Operating Base Dwyer for routine maintenance. The Harvest Hawk, which is a 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) asset, h More
This is for whom we fight! Dedicated to all the men who bravely served at Bala Murghab. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Kevin Wallace/RELEASED)
A Navy MH-60S helicopter accompanies a Humvee convoy during Carrier Airwing Training conducted by the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center aboard Naval Air Station Fallon, Nev., April 5. During the exercise, Joi More
An Idaho Air National Guard A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 190th Fighter Squadron provides close air support for the 125th Special Tactics Squadron, Oregon Air National Guard, during joint training near Antelope, More
Joint Terminal Attack Controllers from the 124th Air Support Operations Squadron prepare to dismount a US Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter during Operation Mountain Fury, the squadron’s official annual training ex More
Navy Lt. James E. Lamb, a joint terminal attack controller serving with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, or Anglico, climbs to position before the day's training here July 20. A detachment of Marines and More
Staff Sgt. Joshua DeWitt, the fire support officer for Task Force Wings (4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment), calls to establish a restricted operating zone as he verifies grid coordinates for support from More
Sgt. Arturo Fernandez, a crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, and a native of Los Angeles, rests with a UH-1Y Huey before takeoff at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Sept. 15. Working in tande More
U.S. Air Force Airmen from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, perform maintenance on F-15E Strike Eagles, Sept. 30, 2011. Strike Eagles are all-weather multi-role fighters that provide close air support for coalit More
U.S. Air Force maintenance Airmen arm F-15E Strike Eagles in between close air support (CAS) missions at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Oct. 10, 2011. Strike Eagles are all-weather multirole fighters that prov More
A U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron takes off from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Oct. 13, 2011. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht/Released)
U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles from the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron prep for close air support (CAS) missions at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Oct. 27, 2011. Strike Eagles are all-weather multi-ro More
U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles from the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron prep for close air support (CAS) missions at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan on Nov. 12, 2011. Strike Eagles are all-weather multi More
Air crews from the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Bagram Air Field provided International Security Assistance Force commander Gen. John R. Allen with an orientation flight to observe close-air support More
An A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot taxis to the runway at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 20, 2012. The A-10 fires a 30 mm cannon and can carry up to 16,000 pounds of ordnance for close-air support missions to s More
Naval gunfire strikes the Shore Bombardment Area on San Clemente Island from the USS Chancellorsville during a combined arms exercise with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, Feb. 12. The exercise included More
After a 10-hour flight, the Harvest Hawk sits on the runway at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, March 26. The modified KC-130J is staffed with officers who have experience conducting close-air-support, is equipp More
Sgt. David Garcia, a Crew Chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 and Glendale, Ariz., native, and Cpl. Dexter Moore, a Maintenance Administrative Clerk of South Hill, Va., fold an American flag More
Captain Michael A. Perkins, officer-in-charge, 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company Detachment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, establishes communications with aircraft, which will provide close air support, o More
Gunnery Sgt. Shaun Leek, the fires chief at MCSCG, observes the Chilean Marine Corps’ Second Marine Detachment “Miller” conduct a surface delivery fire mission during a Subject Matter Expert Exchange at Puerto More
Capt. Jonathan Cook, the 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, 2nd Brigade Platoon air officer and a native of Roswell, Ga., and Gunner Erriott Lupson, a 148th Battery, 29th Commando Fire Support Team, British More
Sgt. Jonathan Broadnax, the Joint Terminal Attack Controller, Fire Support Team, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), communicates with the battlespace owner during a combat logistics patrol in Helmand Provinc More
Staff Sgt. Brian Aguigui assigned to the 116th Air Support Operations Squadron at Camp Murray, Washington from hometown Ewa Beach, Hawaii, prepares his radio for secure operations during Exercise Northern Strik More
Staff Sgt. Richard Campbell (right), a joint fires observer with Charlie Company 2nd Squadron, 152nd Regiment, Indiana National Guard, radios up an artillery request on target coordinates while Chief Master Sgt More
Master Sgt. Steve Salander a joint terminal attack controller with the 169th Air Support Operations Squadron, Peoria, Ill., Illinois Air National Guard from Washington, Ill., receiving his mission evaluation fo More
Senior Airman Austin Schmitz assigned to the 124th Air Support Operations Squadron, Boise, Idaho, walks in a tactical formation to an observation point during a close air support evaluation mission during Exerc More
Master Sgt. Steve Salander, a joint terminal attack controller with the 169th Air Support Operations Squadron, Peoria, Ill., Illinois Air National Guard from Washington, Ill., receiving his mission evaluation r More
Capt. Elias Donker (left) assigned to Wolf Operations Group, Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana National Guard demonstrates with Staff Sgt. Brian Aguigui (right) assigned to the 116th Air Support Operat More
Staff Sgt. Brian Aguigui (right) assigned to the 116th Air Support Operations Squadron at Camp Murray, Wash., practices holding techniques with Senior Airman Austin Schmitz (left) assigned to the 124th Air Supp More
Tactical air control party airmen practice close quaters drills with a suited up aggressor during a training class to help gain the realism of a hostile situation during Exercise Northern Strike 2012 at Graylin More
Tactical air control party airmen from the 116th Air Support Operations Squadron Camp Murray, Wash., find an advantage point to spot targets to control a close air support mission during Exercise Northern Strik More
Capt. Trevor Kernes assigned to 116th Air Support Operations Squadron, Camp Murray, Wash., monitors and evaluates a simulated close air support mission for Joint terminal attack controllers during Exercise Nort More
Sgt. Shaye Carter, platoon sergeant, Personal Security Detail, Regimental Combat Team-7, radios target information during a Fire Support Coordination Exercise as part of Enhanced Mojave Viper 7-12, July 24. Car More
A profile of the team of U.S. Army scouts and attachments who fought at Operation Red Sand, Bala Murghab District, Badghis Province, Afghanistan. Five service members were wounded in the mission, including: Tec More
Maintainers from the 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron remove firing pins from an A-10 Thunderbolt II on the flightline here Sept. 4, before it takes off for Ramstein Rover 2012 (RARO12). This month-long tacti More
An airman from the 81st Fighter Squadron looks on as an A-10 Thunderbolt II taxis down the runway before taking off for a close air support and forward air control training missions Sept. 10, during Ramstein Ro More
Czech Republic air force Lieutenant Jan Talacko, right, Exercise ground commander, directs one of his troops during a forward air control training scenario during Ramstein Rover 2012, Sept. 11, here. During thi More
Airman 1st Class Chad Thomson, 81st Fighter Squadron avionics technician, cleans parts of an A-10 Thunderbolt II before it takes off for a close air support exercise mission Sept. 10, during Ramstein Rover 2012 More
A member of the 81st Aircraft Maintenance Unit looks on as A-10 Thunderbolt II's take off for a close-air-support night mission Sept. 14 during Ramstein Rover 2012 here. RARO 12 is a NATO exercise focused on p More
The 4th Marine Air Wing was named winner of the Naval Aviation Readiness through Safety Award and the order of the Daedalians' Adm. James S. Russell Aviation Flight Safety Award for Calendar Year 2012. 4th MAW More
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773, Marine Aircraft Group 49, nicknamed the "Red Dogs."
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Philip R. Lyon, left, and Maj. Patrick F. Lieneweg, UH-1Y Huey utility helicopter pilots with the air interdiction force (AIF) assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) More
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Seth Armstrong poses for a photo in front of an artist's rendering of the Task Force Condor insignia at Bagram Airfield in Parwan province, Afghanistan, Jan. 24, 2013. Armstron More
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Bryan Patton, Air Force Weapons School JTAC instructor, uses Digitally Aided Close Air Support program during the Joint Terminal Air Controller Advanced Instructor Course at the Nevad More
A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom crew chief assigned to Marine Light Helicopter Attack Squadron (HMLA) 169 conducts preflight preparations on Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 3, 2013. The Marine More
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Ryan P. Hough, Harrier pilot, with Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231), prepares to carry out a close air support (CAS) mission, Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Feb. 7, 2013 More
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Karen O'Neal, 81st Aircraft Maintenance Unit avionics technician from Yokosuka, Japan, checks systems inside the cockpit of an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft in Monte Real, Portugal, More
2nd Lt. Stephanie Grabor, student, Alpha Co., The Basic School, uses a pen to guide herself onto a target to plot during live-fire call for fire exercise. Being able to accurately call for supporting fire makes More
A two-ship of HH-60 Pave hawks, 34th Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., taxi down a runway after arrival for terminal employment phase March 8, 2013, at Gowen Field, I More
(Left to Right) Airman 1st Class Mark Armstrong, Staff Sgt. Keith Billings and Senior Airman Garron Theriault, 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron egress technicians, remove an Advanced Concept Ejection Sy More
A U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 119th Fighter Squadron, 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, flies in the distance as it performs practice attack runs at the Warren Grove Gunnery R More
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Richard Andrews from the 177th Civil Engineering Squadron, 177th Fire Department, shows off life saving gear during an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) "Boss Lift More
A 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Maritime Raid Force Marine calls in close air support during nighttime joint terminal attack control training with a UH-1N Huey and an AH-1W Super Cobra assigned to Marine More
Cadets from the Michigan Wing Civil Air Patrol pose for a photo near a Humvee with members of the 182nd Air Support Operations Group at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Mich., Aug. 1, 2013. The cadets w More
Maj. Scott Grotbo of the 182nd Air Support Operations Group, Peoria, Ill., briefs all the participates during Exercise Northern Strike 2013 about operations taking place at Grayling Air Gunnery Range, Grayling, More
Lance Cpl. Conner McMullan (left) spots possible close air support targets with Capt. James Nilan from 2nd Anglico, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C., from Observation Point Charlie during Exerc More
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Chuck L. Barth, a tactical air control party specialist with the 182nd Air Support Operations Group, speaks with a C-130 Hercules at Grayling Gunnery Range on a deployment of a traini More
The rotary-wing team, consisting of Marine aviators from Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics One, Yuma, Ariz., and the Swedish Air Force 21st UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter Wing review final mission details before More
Captain Nathan Shivley, an air officer for 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, discusses the results of a munitions drop during a close air support exercise Sept. 11. The exerc More
Maj. Lawrence Evert and Capt. Alan Goncalves, 74th Expeditionary Wing A-10C pilots, have accumulated more than 1,000 combat hours during their multiple deployments to Afghanistan. The members are currently depl More
Senior Airman Robert Ellis, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron refueling unit operator, deployed from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., and a native of Gladstone, Mo., reads off the total amount of g More
Staff Sgt. Andrew MacDonald, 82nd Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron joint terminal attack controller, coordinates close air support attacks during a joint live-fire exercise Oct. 23, 2013, at a regi More
An AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter provides over watch from the sky as U.S. Army soldiers assigned to 4th Platoon, 527th Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, conduct cordon and search oper More
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Grant Meril, 16th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron flight engineer, preflights an AC-130H Spectre gunship for a close air support mission Nov. 27, 2013, at an undisclosed loca More
Cpl. Kristopher Biegel, right, attaches a trainer ignition cap to a FI-92 stinger launcher Dec. 11 at Tinian’s North Field during a professional military education class to crew members with Helicopter Sea Comb More
Capt. John M. Yunker, Jr. prepares for flight during Forward Air Controller (Airborne) training at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Jan. 15. The training gives pilots with Marine Attack Squadron 223, attac More
U.S. Marine Cpl. Shawn Brakey, fire-support man, 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, helps a soldier with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force locate points on his map during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Ca More
A U.S. Air Force AC-130U Spooky gunship with the 4th Special Operations Squadron, flies over a Distinguished Flying Cross ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Fla., May 11, 2018. U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, comma More
An AH-1W Cobra provides air support for a UH-1Y Huey while participating in a close air support mission during exercise Ssang Yong 2014 on April 1, 2014. Exercise Ssang Yong is conducted annually in the Republi More
An A-10 Thunderbolt II flies a training mission at the Grayling Air Gunnery Range, Mich., April 11, 2014. The A-10 is flown by the 107th Fighter Squadron, based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. The A More
An A-10 Thunderbolt II sits on the ramp at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, April 20, 2014. The A-10 is used for close air support throughout Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Gary J. Rihn/Released)
Two AH-64 Apache helicopters with Alpha Company, 1-501st Aviation Regiment, 1st Armored Division, maneuver into position during a close air-support training exercise with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd More
An A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog" aircraft from the 188th Fighter Wing, Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Ark., flies behind a KC-135 Stratotanker from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., operated by a 931 More
U.S. Air Force Airmen from the New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Security Forces Squadron receive map and compass training from tactical air control party specialists at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Bavaria, More
A U.S. Air Force Airman from the 227th Air Support Operations Squadron playing as an opposing forces member engages with fellow Airmen preforming small unit tactics at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Bavaria, German More
Sergeant Chad Walker, a Joint Tactical Air Controller from the Y Battery, 2nd Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, Petewawa, Ontario, radios to a CH-47 Chinook Helicopter from the Illinois Army National Guard 2nd Ba More
Sgt. Maj. Jeff Johnson rotates a blade during pre-flight on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from the Illinois Army National Guard, 2nd Battalion, 238th General Support Aviation Battalion, Peoria, Ill., in support of More
Joint tactical air controllers from Canada and the 148th Air Support Operations Squadron, Annville, Pa., move through terrain while on the way to their objective during Operation Northern Strike 2014 near Roger More
Second Lt. Paul Hauter directs his tactical air control party members from the 169th Air Support Operations Squadron, Peoria, Ill., while on a close air support mission during Operation Northern Strike 2014 nea More
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Robert Childers (left) and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lucas Bohm pilot a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from the Illinois Army National Guard 2nd Battalion, 238th General Support Aviation Battali More
Joint Terminal Air Controllers from the Latvian Armed Forces call-in a close air support mission during Operation Northern Strike 2014 near Grayling, Mich. on Aug. 8, 2014. Operation Northern Strike 2014 is a j More