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Colorado Springs, Colorado. (July 7, 2023): In this photo by Trevor Cokley, Basic cadets from the Class of 2027 receive an intimidating welcome during their first day at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Termed “I Day,” this is the first step in a cadet’s journey to becoming an Air or Space Force Officer and it can be a jarring experience for young recruits accustomed to the comforts of civilian life.The tenderhearted might ask; “Is all this “in your face” discipline really necessary?” To which every military trainer will reply “Absolutely.” Americans view themselves as rugged individualists and recruits arrive at the Academy hailing from varied backgrounds, financial circumstances, and ethnic groups. The military’s philosophy is to “break them down to rebuild them” in the martial tradition. Military service requires immediate obedience to orders and exacting precision in dress, thought, and demeanor.
Basic Training is designed to break down egos and individualism and replace it with the warrior spirit and code of ethics. Only through stern discipline can the nation develop the capable leaders we need for the future.The Air Force Academy is an accredited four-year university offering bachelor's degrees in a variety of subjects. Approximately 70 percent of the faculty are active-duty Air Force and Space Force officers with the balance long-term civilian professors, visiting professors from civilian universities, and instructors from other U.S. and allied foreign military services.
In recent years, civilians have become a growing portion of senior faculty.Traditionally, the academic program at the Air Force Academy (as with military academies in general) focusses heavily on science and engineering with the idea that many graduates would be expected to manage complex air, space, and information technology systems. As a result, the Academy's engineering programs have traditionally been ranked highly nationally.To be eligible to enter the Academy, a candidate must:
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Boston, Massachusetts. (July 4, 2023): In this photo by MC1 Raymond Minam, volunteers with the 1812 Marine Guard fire a saluting volley aboard USS Constitution during 4th of July celebrations in Boston Harbor.
The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate and is the world’s oldest ship still afloat. She was launched in 1797 and the name "Constitution" was among ten names submitted to President George Washington by the Secretary of War. Constitution is most noted for her actions during the War of 1812 against the United Kingdom when she captured numerous merchant ships and defeated five British warships.
She earned the nickname “Old Ironsides” after British cannonballs were seen bouncing off her wooden hull while battling the English warship Guerriere off the coast of Nova Scotia. Constitution’s gunners blew away the Guerriere’s masts and the vessel began to sink. American sailors boarded her, captured the crew, and returned with their trophy to Boston Harbor which boosted American morale greatly at the time.
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“A welder is someone who does precision guesswork based on unreliable data provided by those of questionable knowledge. You can also call us wizards.” — Unknown (Everyday Power Inspirational Quotes)
Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. (June 18, 2023): This unattributed quote pretty much sums up the challenges faced by Welders, one of the most vital trades in the military. In this photo by Jonathan Mallard, Carlos Ramirez, 502nd Civil Engineer Squadron shop welder attaches a boiler pipe flange at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. His welding shop was recently recognized for completing more than 1,000 welding jobs so far this year.
While Welders may not enjoy the glamour of fighter pilots, their role in military history is a long and vital one. It is believed that the ancient Egyptians developed a form of welding as early as 4000 BC and it has been used in military applications ever since.
The reason they are called wizards with fire is their ability to mold shape and repair a wide range of metals, usually under the worst of conditions. They are experts at brazing, soldering, and forming metals to aid in different construction efforts that serve military missions worldwide. They create custom parts to repair the structural components of ships, tanks, submarines, landing craft, buildings, and equipment and they install sheet metal products, such as roofs, air ducts, gutters, and vents.
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Philippine Sea. (June 13, 2023) Help Wanted. Retail associates to manage a busy store and laundry mat.
Apply to the U.S. Navy. (Note: Must be willing to travel.)
In this photo by MC1Ryre Arciaga, Retail Services Specialist 3rd Class Mingxu Du, from Los Angeles, handles a line aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam during a replenishment-at-sea with the fleet-replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock in the Philippine Sea. Retail Services Specialists are responsible for managing and operating all shipboard retail and service activities. These include the ship's store, vending machines, coffee kiosks, barber shops, and laundry operations.
Retail Services delivers a “little piece of home” for Sailors at sea, and this has a major impact on morale. A sailor may enjoy a café latte as well as a haircut and dozens of recreational activities coordinated by retail services.
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Twenty-Nine Palms, California. (June 16, 2023): In this photo by Corporal Ryan Schmid, Lance Corporals Edward Reeves, left, and Daniel Puente, both mortarmen with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, conduct mortar range firing during Integrated Training Exercise 4-23 held at Twenty-Nine Palms, California. This is the premier annual event for Marine reservists from across the country to absorb realistic training at the Marine Corps Air Combat Center.
Training Exercise 4-23 gives reservists the chance to practice mobilization readiness and to establish coordination with the units they would serve with in combat. The Marine Corps reserve was established by Congress in 1916 and is responsible for providing trained units and qualified individuals to be mobilized for active duty in time of war or national emergency. Marine reservists may also be called upon to relieve active-duty troops and they continually provide service to their local communities through programs like “Toys for Tots”. There are currently 35,000 Marines serving at 184 reserve training centers around the country who typically serve two days a month and two weeks a year.
In civilian life, Corporal Reyes is a firefighter and Puente is a salesman.
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Aviano, Italy. (June 22, 2023): In this photo by Senior Airman Noah Sudolca, an Air Force pararescueman from the 57th Rescue Squadron takes notes at a simulated helicopter crash during exercise Astral Knight 2023 in the Albanian countryside. The 57th Rescue Squadron is a combat-ready team of pararescue personnel capable of performing combat rescue and personnel retrieval missions in theaters of operations worldwide. Air Forces Africa Airmen and aircraft from across the U.S. and throughout the European theater assembled in Croatia and Albania to participate in this year’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense exercise.
The 57th Rescue Squadron trained with NATO allies on performing complex rescue operations in hostile environments. This year’s Astral Knight featured the American HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter, the HC-130 Hercules cargo plane, A-10 Warthog attack fighters, and ships and aircraft from both Albanian and Croatian militaries.