Army 2nd Lt. Tess White, left, and Army Sgt. Tobey White unwrap presents on Christmas Day on Forward Operating Base Salerno in Afghanistan. The sisters met up on the tail end of Tobey’s deployment and the beginning of Tess’. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Epperson.
More here:
PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 20, 2011) Heavy waves crash against the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Tippecanoe (T-AOE 199) during a replenishment at sea with the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). Makin Island is on its maiden deployment conducting operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility in support of the Navy's Maritime Strategy. Makin Island is the Navy's newest amphibious assault ship and the only U.S. Navy ship with a hybrid electric propulsion system. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alan Gragg.
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait (Dec. 12, 2011) Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 1st Class Mike Dillon, assigned to Commander, Task Group 56.1, places a composition C-4 demolition charge on a 155mm projectile during demolition operations supervisor training. Task Group 56.1 provides mine counter-measure, explosive ordnance disposal, salvage-diving, counter-terrorism and force protection for the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Kathryn Whittenberger
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (Dec. 23, 2011) The Virginia-class submarine USS Texas (SSN 775) returns to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after completing her maiden Western Pacific deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ronald Gutridge.
U.S. Army Col. Todd Royar and Army Maj. Travis Habhab land their AH-64 Apache helicopter as the sun sets over Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 25, 2011. Royar is commander and Habhab is executive officer of the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade. The two leaders spent Christmas Day visiting the brigade's soldiers, who are spread across southern Afghanistan, providing rotary-wing aviation support and forward arming and refueling capabilities. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Stephanie Carl.
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Prall, rifleman with 3rd Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment scans the area while crossing a bridge during a partnered security patrol with Afghan National Army soldiers in Helmand Province Afghanistan Dec. 18, 2011. The ANA and Marines interacted with local citizens to further the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance of Afghanistan by defeating insurgent forces and helping secure the Afghan people. Official U. S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Reece Lodder.
SINGAPORE (Dec. 23, 2011) Sailors, Marines and local nationals bring supplies up the brow of the dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52). Pearl Harbor and embarked marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU) are currently on deployment conducting operations in the 7th fleet area of responsibility as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Behnke.
Erin Kennedy, a chemical engineer for the Army and the Joint Service Aircrew Mask-Fixed Wing Research Team test and evaluation lead, listens to feedback from Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Michael Lindamood during a field evaluation of the mask at the West Virginia Air National Guard in Martinsburg, W.Va., Dec. 7, 2011. The Department of Defense research team had aircrew in each of the flying positions don the mask and accompanying gear and perform their duties on a C-5 Galaxy aircraft. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Emily Beightol-Deyerle.
More here:
U.S. Marines patrol through the desert while Afghan security forces pass by during Operation Eagle Hunt in Afghanistan. The Marines, assigned to Border Adviser Team 1, worked as a quick-reaction back-up force for the Afghan-led operation. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Marco Mancha.
KUWAIT NAVAL BASE, Kuwait (Dec. 11, 2011) Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Matt Clausen, assigned to Commander, Task Group 56.1, conducts anti-terrorism/force protection dives on a vessel. Task Group 56.1 provides mine counter-measure, explosive ordnance disposal, salvage-diving, counter-terrorism and force protection for the U.S. 5th Fleet are of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Kathryn Whittenberger.
PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 24, 2011) Hull Technician Fireman Douglas Anderson, left, and Hull Technician Fireman Patrick Zembol watch the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) take on fuel in heavy seas during a refueling at sea with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are underway on a Western Pacific deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans.
U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr., left, greets U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, upon his arrival at Baghdad International Airport in Baghdad.
PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 25, 2011) Rear. Adm. Mike Shoemaker, center-right, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, and Capt. John D. Alexander, commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), help serve Sailors a traditional Christmas dinner. Lincoln is in the 7th Fleet area of operations on deployment to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans and will soon join coalition efforts in the 5th Fleet region. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam Randolph.
An Afghan National Army soldier guards the perimeter during a tactical compound assessment in Azan village in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Dec. 16, 2011. The commandos and coalition forces conducted missions in the region to disrupt insurgent activity and provide security and stability to the local populace. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer by 1st Class Jeffery Tilghman Williams
