2016 Air Force Year in Photos

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James speaks during the F-35A Lightning II initial operational capability ceremony Aug. 5, 2016, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Lee)

An Air Force CV-22 Osprey connects to an MC-130H Combat Talon II for refueling during a training mission over Hurlburt Field, Fla., Sept. 7, 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Joseph Pick)

Fireworks light the sky at Yokota Air Base, Japan, during the 2016 Japanese-American Friendship Festival Sept. 18, 2016. Thousands of people attend the festival every year to learn more about the U.S. military and American culture. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Delano Scott)

Colombian air force Capt. Juan Monsalve prepares for take-off during Exercise Green Flag East at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 17, 2016. The Super Tucano is the Colombian air force’s most effective aircraft currently in operation, providing air support to its military forces on day-to-day operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Mozer O. Da Cunha)

The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team performs a rifle demonstration during the 2016 Air Force Tattoo at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., Sept. 22, 2016. In addition to the team’s performance, the event consisted of U.S. Air Force Band routines, aircraft flyovers and heritage speeches. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jordyn Fetter)

Senior Airman Jon Huggins, a 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, performs a pre-flight inspection on a C-130J Super Hercules at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., Nov. 16, 2016. The C-130 Hercules primarily performs the tactical portion of the airlift mission. The aircraft is capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for airdropping troops and equipment into hostile areas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Kenny Holston)

Base leadership salute as Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s aircraft taxies away after a visit to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Nov. 17, 2016. Carter visited numerous locations around Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field, Fla. during his tour of the local area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Tech. Sgt. Jordan Brown refills a C-130H Hercules with liquid oxygen as the super moon sets over a frozen flightline in the early morning at the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio, Dec. 14, 2016. The 179th Airlift Wing is always on a mission to be the first choice to respond to state and federal missions with a trusted team of Airmen. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Tech. Sgt. Joe Harwood)

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody and Tech. Sgt. Daniel Bogan, a rotary wing gun air adviser, listen as a pilot from Train, Advise and Assist Command discusses Afghan Air Force progress with the MD-530 light attack helicopter at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan, April 6, 2016. During his travel, Cody engaged with Airmen deployed to Afghanistan in support of the NATO Resolute Support mission and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel through a series of Q-and-A all calls, small group discussions and personal site visits. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Rau)

Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division prepare to jump in the Sicily Drop Zone out of a C17 Globemaster III during battalion mass tactical week at Pope Army Airfield, N.C., July 12, 2016. Army and Air Force units worked together during joint readiness exercises to improve interoperability for worldwide crisis, contingency and humanitarian operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Sandra Welch)

U.S. Air Force Honor Guard members Tech. Sgt. Juan Garcia and Staff Sgt. Annzen Salvador lift the sword used for the Order of the Sword ceremony at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Ga., July 13, 2016. The Order of the Sword is an honor awarded by NCOs of a command to recognize individuals they hold in high esteem and for their contributions to the enlisted corps. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Stephen D. Schester)

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker July 18, 2016, while taking part in exercise Red Flag 16-3 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Red Flag 16-3 is one of four Red Flag exercises at Nellis AFB, with this iteration focusing on multi-domain operations in air, space and cyberspace. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. David Salanitri)

Master Sgt. Cassandra Doub, the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron first sergeant, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Perna, a 455th ECES maintenance and equipment craftsman, secure AM-2 matting with a hammer at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 11, 2016. AM-2 matting is used to form runways, taxiways, parking and other areas required for aircraft operations and maintenance. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Justyn M. Freeman)

Maj. Nathan Shepard, a 673rd Medical Operations Squadron physical therapist, examines a Sri Lankan patient while being assisted by a translator during Pacific Angel 16-3 in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, Aug. 15, 2016. The exercise helped multilateral militaries in the Pacific improve and build relationships across a wide spectrum of civic operations, which bolster each nation’s capacity to respond and support future humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittany A. Chase)

U.S. Army 173rd Airborne Brigade and German Army 1st Airborne Brigade paratroopers parachute during a joint airborne operation near Aviano Air Base, Italy, Aug. 25, 2016. The paratroopers trained on airfield clearance after jumping out of a C-130 Hercules from the 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany after departing from Aviano AB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Cory W. Bush)

Staff Sgt. Daniel Glenn, a firefighter with the 106th Rescue Wing, operates a powered saw to cut through a reinforced cinder block wall at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, N.Y., Aug. 25, 2016. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher S. Muncy)

An A-10C Thunderbolt II, assigned to the 75th Fighter Squadron, performs a low-angle strafe during the Hawgsmoke competition at Barry M. Goldwater Range, Ariz., June 2, 2016. The two-day competition included team and individual scoring of strafing, high-altitude dive-bombing, Maverick missile precision and team tactics. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Chris Drzazgowski)

Senior Airman Dejahnay Truesdale, a 31st Maintenance Squadron aerospace ground equipment journeyman, fixes the bumper pad on a maintenance stand June 20, 2016, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The bumper pad wraps around the edge of the stand to ensure it does not damage an aircraft when maintenance is performed. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Cory W. Bush)

The Eglin Air Force Base Honor Guard presents the colors at the Khobar Towers Memorial Ceremony on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., June 24, 2016. The ceremony marked the 20th anniversary of the Khobar Towers terrorist attack, and honored the 19 Airmen who lost their lives and paid tribute to the families and survivors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stormy Archer)

An F-22 Raptor is refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker over the Nevada Test and Training Range during the U.S. Air Force Weapons School’s Deliberate Strike Night, June 16, 2016. The exercise is part of the final seven-day advanced integration portion of the school’s curriculum, testing stealth and conventional airframes’ abilities to conduct attacks during the hours after sunset. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Kevin Tanenbaum)

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III poses for a portrait, June 24, 2016, in his office in Washington, D.C. As the CSAF, he serves as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of 660,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces, both in the U.S. and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the general and other service chiefs function as military advisers to the secretary of defense, National Security Council and the president. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Vernon Young Jr.)

Special Tactics Training Squadron students swim the length of the pool with their hands and feet bound during a pre-scuba class at Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 29, 2016. The training familiarizes trainees with the basics of water operations. Trainees perform tasks such as tying knots underwater, staying afloat without their arms and hands, and using snorkeling gear. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ryan Conroy)

A HH-60 Pave Hawk returns from an exercise mission July 12, 2016, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., as part of Red Flag 16-3. The exercise is one of four Red Flags at Nellis AFB, with this iteration focusing on air, space and cyberspace operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. David Salanitri)

Airman 1st Class Andrew Des Marias, a Dover Air Force Base Honor Guard member, stands at the position of "port arms" prior to the start of the 436th Maintenance Group change of command ceremony, May 24, 2016, at Dover AFB, Del. During the ceremony, Col. Chuck Nesemeier relinquished command of the 436th MXG to Col. Tyler Knack. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)

President Barack Obama delivers the commencement address to the U.S. Air Force Academy class of 2016 at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 2, 2016. More than 820 cadets graduated to become the newest second lieutenants in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Amelia McNab, sleeps on a seat inside a C-17 Globemaster III at Baltimore Washington International Airport, Md., April 1, 2016. Amelia is the daughter of two military parents. Defense Department dependents in Adana, Izmir and Mugla, Turkey, were given a departure order by the State Department and secretary of defense. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Lee)

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress leads a formation of aircraft, including two Polish air force F-16 Fighting Falcons, four U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, two German Eurofighter Typhoons and four Swedish Gripens over the Baltic Sea, June 9, 2016. The formation was part of exercise BALTOPS 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Erin Babis)

An United Launch Alliance Delta IV-Heavy rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 37B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., June 11, 2016. The Delta IV rocket carried a classified national security payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. (Courtesy photo/United Launch Alliance)

Staff Sgt. Shane Harding, a 647th Civil Engineer Squadron structures craftsman, paints a classroom during Pacific Angel 16-2, June 12, 2016, at Wat Steung Primary School in Kampot, Cambodia. The U.S. developed Pacific Angel to enhance relations and interoperability with other countries in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, the mission gives the U.S. an opportunity to support the efforts of other governments in the region to provide medical, dental, optometry, and engineering assistance, and subject matter expert exchanges to host nation citizens. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Omari Bernard)

A B-52 Stratofortress flies overhead of a combined arms live fire demonstration for distinguished visitors during Saber Strike 16, June 13, at Adazi Military Base, Latvia. Saber Strike is a cooperative training exercise led by U.S. Army Europe spanning from May 27 through June 22, in locations throughout Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, featuring 13 participating nations. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. Paige Behringer, 10th Press Camp Headquarters)

Senior Airman Tariq Russell, a 21st Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, shakes the paw of his partner, Paul, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., June 14, 2016. MWD handlers are assigned one dog for their entire duration at Peterson AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Dennis Hoffman)

Two U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers assigned to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, fly overhead the U.S. Navy USS Spruance (DDG 111) guided missile destroyer following a joint-service bombing exercise in the Pacific Ocean, June 15, 2016. As part of routine continuous bomber presence operations, the bombers’ presence allows U.S. forces to integrate multiple aerial platforms in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Will Gaskill/Released)

Marie Powell, general supervisor of molecular diagnostics, draws human biological samples before testing them for the Zika virus at the Epidemiology Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, April 20, 2016. The Aedes mosquito can spread serious diseases such as dengue fever, yellow fever, the Zika virus and chikungunya. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Brian Ferguson)

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 at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, April 21, 2016. 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. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Emerson Nuñez)

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform an aerial demonstration during the Cannon Air Show May 28, 2016, at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. The air show highlights the unique capabilities and qualities of Cannon’s air commandos and also celebrates the long-standing relationship between the 27th Special Operations Wing and the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez)

Capt. Daniel Stancin, a 36th Airlift Squadron navigator, applies face paint during survival, evasion, resistance and escape training at Tama Hills Recreation Area, Japan, April 21, 2016. The SERE training keeps personnel prepared for contingency situations, such as evading and escaping capture behind enemy lines. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Delano Scott)

An Air Combat Command F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team aircraft flies during the AirPower over Hampton Roads Open House at Langley Air Force Base, Va., April 24, 2016. The team also works with the Air Force Heritage flight exhibiting the professional qualities the Air Force develops in the people who fly, maintain and support these aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kayla Newman)

Defense Secretary Ash Carter briefs the official announcement of Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, who was nominated to become the 21st Air Force chief of staff, at the Pentagon, April 29, 2016. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James also attended the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)

Soldiers fast rope from a UH-60 Black Hawk during Emerald Warrior 16 at Hurlburt Field, Fla., May 3, 2016. Emerald Warrior 16 is a U.S. Special Operation Command sponsored mission rehearsal exercise in which joint special operations forces train to respond to real and emerging worldwide threats. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Logan Carlson)

A C-130 Hercules from the 36th Airlift Squadron conducts a night flight mission over Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 11, 2016. The C-130 provides tactical airlift worldwide and its flexible design allows it to operate in austere environments. (U.S. Air Force photo/Yasuo Osakabe)

A C-130J Super Hercules from the 37th Airlift Squadron fires flares as it performs anti-aircraft fire tests during exercise Carpathian May 9, 2016, in Romania. The 37th AS, from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, began participating in off-station training deployments with Romania as early as 1996, allowing the Air Force to work with NATO allies to develop and improve ready air forces capable of maintaining regional security. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Lane Plummer)

A row of 96th Security Forces Squadron Airmen stand at parade rest during the Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony May 16, 2016, in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. The ceremony honored fallen police officers from the previous year by reading their names aloud. Security forces Airmen from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and Hurlburt Field, Fla., attended and participated in the event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Jonas, the 374th Operations Support Squadron’s survival, evasion, resistance and escape operations NCO in charge, jumps out of a C-130 Hercules while flying over Yokota Air Base, Japan, March 2, 2016. During the high-altitude, low-opening airdrop, Jonas jumped from 10,000 feet and parachuted to the base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman David Owsianka)

An Eglin Air Force Base F-35A Lightning II receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to MacDill AFB approximately 100 miles off the Gulf Coast March 2, 2016 following the 58th Fighter Squadron's first successful munition employment at a nearby range. Airmen from the 33rd Fighter Wing were able to complete modifications to the aircraft ahead of schedule to enable the use of inert munitions instead of simulated weapons, advancing the fifth-generation fighter’s syllabus and ensuring pilots receive the most comprehensive training before they support a combat-coded F-35A unit. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Capt. Hope R. Cronin)

Tech. Sgt. Christopher Melrose, a 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron phase technician, inspects the interior of an F-16C Fighting Falcon during routine phase maintenance at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, May 18, 2016. The aircraft went through phase maintenance where members of the 455th EAMXS phase flight closely inspected the aircraft for cracks and other types of damage, verifying that the 30-plus year old aircraft was safe to fly. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Justyn M. Freeman)

A C-5 Galaxy from the 436th Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base, Del., flies over New Jersey while lit by the setting sun. The C-5, one of the largest military aircraft, provides the Air Force with heavy intercontinental strategic airlift capability. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht)

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro throws a shotput during the 2016 Invictus Games slogan in Orlando, Fla. May 10, 2016. (DoD News photo by EJ Hersom)

A member of the U.S. Air Force Demonstration Team "Thunderbirds" performs an aerial demonstration at the Shaw Air Expo and open house, "Thunder over the Midlands," at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., May 21, 2016.

Luke, a retired military working dog, sits at the United States War Dogs Association display at the 2016 Shaw Air Expo and open house, "Thunder Over the Midlands," at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., May 21, 2016.

An F-35 Lightning II flies around the airspace of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 5, 2016. The F-35 was participating in Air Combat Command’s Heritage Flight Training Course, a program that features modern fighter and attack aircraft flying alongside Word War II, Korean War and Vietnam War-era aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Brandon Shapiro)

Airman 1st Class Sean Carnes, a 1st Combat Camera Squadron combat photojournalist, fires an M4 carbine rifle as part of tactics training during exercise Scorpion Lens 2016 at Fort Jackson, S.C., March 7, 2016. The exercise was twofold containing the Scorpion Lens portion, which is dedicated to advanced weapons and tactical training, and the flash bang portion, which practices photography and videography documentation standards in combat situations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)

An E-3 Sentry assigned to the 552nd Air Control Wing at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, takes off for a mission March 8, 2016, during Red Flag 16-2. Along with Airmen from the 726th Air Control Squadron out of Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, and Marines from the Marine Air Control Squadron 1, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, 552nd ACW assets provided a large, joint-service command and control footprint for the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chuck Broadway)

Senior Airman Kervin Tellado, a 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels journeyman, shuts down a JP-8 fuel pumping component at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, March 14, 2016. More than 1.8 million gallons of fuel on the installation are distributed to U.S. and coalition forces vehicles and aircraft supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla)

Two F-22 Raptors from the 3rd Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, conduct approach training March 24, 2016. The F-22 is the Air Force’s premium fifth-generation fighter asset. (U.S. Air Force photo/Justin Connaher)

A C-17A Globemaster III from Dover Air Force Base, Del., expends countermeasure flares to defeat a simulated surface-to-air missile shot from a Man-Portable Aircraft Survivability Trainer system March 24, 2016, at the Bollen Live-Fire Range Complex on Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. A total of 240 flares were expended for the aircraft during the training mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman William Johnson)

Fourteen KC-135 Stratotankers line up during a simulated alert call March 24, 2016, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. Known as the “elephant walk,” the alert call was part of an exercise, which displayed the rapid mobility capabilities and teamwork of the men and women at McConnell AFB to take flight within minutes of being notified of a mission. (U.S. Air Force photos/Airman 1st Class Christopher Thornbury)

A B-2 Spirit, deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., takes off March 27, 2016, in the U.S. Pacific Command area of operations. Bomber operations provide a visible demonstration of the Air Force's ability to project power globally and respond to any potential crisis or challenge. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Joel Pfiester)

Staff Sgt. Travis Bowersock, a 577th Expeditionary Prime BEEF Squadron paint team lead, clears away dissolved rubber with a Toolcat utility work machine during rubber removal operations at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, April 4, 2016. The team travels throughout the U.S. Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility cleaning runways, some up to 420,000 square feet. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Rau)

Airmen from the Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont Air National Guard fire departments perform a live aircraft fire training exercise at 165th Airlift Wing's Regional Fire Training Facility in Savannah, Ga., April 4, 2016. The Airmen conducted joint training exercises to maintain operational readiness. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Tech. Sgt. Andrew J. Merlock)

An A-29 Super Tucano flies over Afghanistan during a training mission April 6, 2016. The A-29 is a light attack aircraft that can be armed with two 500-pound bombs, twin .50-caliber machine guns and rockets. Aircrews are trained on aerial interdiction and armed overwatch missions that enable a pre-planned strike capability. The Afghan air force currently has eight A-29s but will have 20 by the end of 2018. Train, Advise, Assist Command-Air (TAAC-Air) works daily with the Afghan air force to help build a professional, sustainable and capable air force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Eydie Sakura/released)

An Airman assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing is embraced by his daughter after returning to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., April 13, 2016. Approximately 300 Airmen deployed for six months to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jensen Stidham)

A B-52 Stratofortress flies over the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial in Marnes-la-Coquette, France, April 20, 2016, during a ceremony honoring the 268 Americans who joined the French air force before the U.S. officially engaged in World War I. In addition to the B-52, four F-22 Raptors, four French Mirage 2000Ns and a WWI-era Steerman PT-17 biplane performed flyovers during the ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Layfette Escadrille’s formation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua DeMotts)

Capt. Kevin W. O'Brien, the operations flight commander of Air Force ROTC Detachment 520, is a Ph.D. candidate in Engineering at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., where he is doing research on using air pressure to morph the shape of aerodynamic wings. O'Brien supervises the cadet wing at Cornell in the conduct of Leadership Laboratory activities, teaches aerospace studies and leadership courses and manages programs to identify, attract, and retain cadets for the Air Force ROTC program. (U.S. Air Force photo/J.M. Eddins Jr.)

A B-1B Lancer flies over the Norma Brown building during the 75th Diamond Anniversary ceremony on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 26, 2016. The B-1 represented the intelligence support training the base now provides. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Scott Jackson)

Loadmasters with the 439th Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, load a 1982 Mack 1250 GPM pumper fire truck onto a C-5B Galaxy at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst N.J., Aug. 12, 2016. Master Sgt. Jorge A. Narvaez, a traditional New Jersey Air National Guardsman with the 108th Security Forces Squadron, was instrumental in getting the truck donated to a group of volunteer firefighters in Managua, Nicaragua. The truck donation is done through the Denton Program, which allows U.S. citizens and organizations to use space available on military cargo aircraft to transport humanitarian goods to countries in need. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen)

An A-10 Thunderbolt II takes off from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Jan. 28, 2016. The A-10 has maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude, and is a highly accurate and survivable weapons delivery platform. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Chris Drzazgowski)

Senior Airman Christopher Mann, of the 96th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Red, tightens down a fin on an AIM-120 AMRAAM while it’s loaded on an F-15 Eagle during the Loadcrew of the Year competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 29, 2016. Two F-15 loadcrews battled two F-16 Fighting Falcon loadcrews for the best time, and fewest mistakes, while loading three missiles onto their respective aircraft. The winners were revealed at the annual 96th Maintenance Group banquet in March. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Lt. Col. Thomas Wolfe, the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group deputy commander, performs preflight checks on an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 1, 2016. The 421st EFS, based out of Bagram Airfield, is the only dedicated fighter squadron in the country and continuously supports Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and the NATO Resolute Support missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Rau)

An AC-130W Stinger II, assigned to the 73rd Special Operations Squadron, circles training targets on Range 10 during a live-fire training mission Feb. 3, 2016, at Melrose Air Force Range, N.M. This was the first time live munitions had been fired at Range 10 in 45 years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez)

Senior Airman Noah Lindquist, a 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron loadmaster, tests his night vision goggles in the back of a C-130J Super Hercules before a sortie at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 22, 2016. Loadmasters are responsible for calculating aircraft weight, balancing records and cargo manifests, conducting cargo and personnel airdrops, scanning for threats, and troubleshooting in-flight problems. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Robert Cloys)

Members from the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron operate air blast sweepers on the runway at Misawa Air Base, Japan Feb. 24, 2016. Airmen from the 35th CES ensure the flying mission is carried out and the base populous is able to safely commute during the winter. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittany A. Chase)

A formation of F-15C Eagles assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron, and an F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 492nd Fighter Squadron, fly over Gloucestershire, England, to attend the upcoming Royal International Air Tattoo airshow held at Royal Air Force Fairford, July 7, 2016. The Royal Air Force Lakenheath aircraft were on public display, along with many other military aircraft from around the U.K., to provide an opportunity for U.S. and military allies to showcase their capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Erin Trower)

Tech. Sgt. Allan Habel, a tactical aircraft maintainer, performs preflight checks on an F-16 Fighting Falcon during a practice demonstration Feb. 29, 2016, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

The 45th Space Wing supported NASA’s successful launch of Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., March 22, 2016. The rocket carrying Cygnus cargo vessel OA-6 is a resupply mission to the International Space Station supporting NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services program. (Courtesy photo/United Launch Alliance)

Senior Airman Taylor Lancaster, a 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft crew chief, guides a B-52H Stratofortress on Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Jan. 9, 2015. Lancaster’s main duty is to ensure his jet is fixed and prepared to take off before its flight time. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Sahara L. Fales)

Lt. Col. George Watkins, the 34th Fighter Squadron commander, drops a GBU-12 laser-guided bomb from an F-35A Lightning II at the Utah Test and Training Range Feb. 25, 2016. The 34th FS is the Air Force's first combat unit to employ munitions from the F-35A. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jim Haseltine)

Staff Sgt. Christopher Maire, a 60th Security Forces Squadron patrolman at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., strains to complete an exercise during a physical training session Jan. 5, 2016, during the first week of the Phoenix Raven Qualification Course at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The intensive three-week, 12-hour-a-day course covers such subjects as cross-cultural awareness, legal considerations, embassy operations, airfield survey techniques, explosive ordnance awareness, aircraft searches and unarmed self-defense techniques. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Vernon Young Jr.)

Aircrew members assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron prepare to land a CV-22 Osprey Jan. 7, 2016, at Melrose Air Force Range, N.M. The aircraft landed to pick up Command Sgt. Maj. William Thetford, the U.S. Special Operations Command senior enlisted adviser, during his visit to Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Manuel Martinez)

Staff Sgt. Brian Alfano, a survival, evasion, resistance and escape instructor with the 103rd Rescue Squadron, demonstrates an overt method for marking a drop zone during a bundle drop training flight at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., Jan. 19, 2016. (U.S. Air Nation Guard photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher S. Muncy)

Senior Airman Ian Kuhn, a survival, evasion, resistance and escape instructor with the 103rd Rescue Squadron, demonstrates how to build a concealed shelter during a combat and water survival training course Jan. 20, 2016, at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. During this course, aircrew members gained refresher training on using their emergency radios, tactical movements through difficult terrain, how to build shelters, ways to build fires and methods for evading the enemy. (U.S. Air National Guard/Staff Sgt. Christopher S. Muncy)

Airman 1st Class Avery Friedman, a 106th Rescue Wing Honor Guard member, performs taps at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, N.Y., Dec. 15, 2016. (US Air National Guard/Staff Sgt. Christopher S. Muncy)

Senior Airman Angelique Culver, a 59th Dental Support Squadron dental lab technician, examines dentures at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Jan. 26, 2016. The 59th DSS supports more than 90,000 patients, seven residencies and two dental fellowships by providing a high-performance health system dedicated to excellence in global dental care and education. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Keith James)

Airman 1st Class Brandon Burchell and Senior Airman Jakob Hunley, both 7th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controllers, scan the airfield using binoculars Jan. 25, 2016, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Air traffic controllers scan the flightline to check for wildlife, watch for potential vehicular traffic interfering with air operations and to ensure the aircrafts’ landing gear are down as they land. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Austin Mayfield)

An F-16 Fighting Falcon with the 18th Aggressor Squadron prepares to take off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, shortly after sunrise Jan. 24, 2016, in transit to Kadena Air Base, Japan, to participate in training exercises. More than 150 maintainers from the 354th Fighter Wing will keep the aggressors in the air and prepare Airmen, Sailors and Marines for contingency operations along with coalition partners in the Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel)

Senior Airman Drew Nicholson, of the 451st Expeditionary Support Squadron Security Forces Flight, inspects an M240 machine gun mounted to a common remote operating weapons station at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 21, 2016. Security forces members at Kandahar Airfield are responsible for the security of more than 150 aircraft and $2.2 billion of resources. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Robert Cloys)

An MQ-9 Reaper performs during an air show demonstration May 29, 2016, at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. The air show highlights the unique capabilities and qualities of Cannon's air commandos and also celebrates the long-standing relationship between the 27th Special Operations Wing and the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr.)