220504-F-OP776-0260
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Gabriel Nicola, a loadmaster with the 9th Special Operations Squadron, 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, and U.S Air Force Senior Airman Albert Washington, a direct support operator with the 9th SOS, 27th SOW, Cannon AFB, prepare for a static-line jump mission from an MC-130J Commando II during Emerald Warrior 22.1 over the Gulf of Mexico, May 4, 2022. Emerald Warrior is the largest joint special operations exercise involving U.S. Special Operations Command forces training to respond to various threats across the spectrum of conflict. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Harrison Winchell)