Today's Pix - Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

[santana]

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (April 27, 2012) Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class Christopher Driscoll, left, and Damage Controlman 1st Class Kevin White, members of the color guard for Commander, Navy Recruiting Command, present colors during the christening ceremony of the steamboat American Queen on Beale Street Landing in Memphis. American Queen is the largest steamboat ever built and is operated by the Great American Steamboat Company. AmericanQueen is homeported in Memphis, Tenn. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ty C. Connors/Released)

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ARABIAN SEA (April 24, 2012) Quartermaster 3rd Class Michelle Myers fires an M240B machine gun during a live-fire exercise aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94). Nitze is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeff Atherton/Released)

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ARABIAN SEA (April 25, 2012) Engineman 2nd Class Sam Housey operates a rigid-hull inflatable boat during a man overboard drill aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94). Nitze is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeff Atherton/Released)

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WASHINGTON (May 1, 2012) Australian Ambassador to the United States Kim Beazley delivers remarks during the 70th anniversary ceremony commemorating the Battle of the Coral Sea at the U.S. Navy Memorial. The Australian wreath is laid near the Lone Sailor statue at the U.S. Navy Memorial to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea. The battle took place in early May of 1942 and was a major air and naval engagement of World War II.(U.S. Navy photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kiona Miller/Released)

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ARABIAN SEA (April 30, 2012) The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) test fires an MK-15 close-in weapon system (CIWS) during a pre-action aim calibration fire exercise. Cape St. George is deployed as part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christopher S. Johnson/Released)

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ARABIAN SEA (April 30, 2012) A plane captain signals to the pilot of an F/A-18C assigned to the Vigilantes of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151 during pre-flight checks on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Tim D. Godbee/Released)

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ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 1, 2012) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Steven P. Lilly and Lt. Kent Davis direct an MV-22 Osprey landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is in the Atlantic Ocean conducting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kasey Krall/Released)

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ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 1, 2012) Quatermaster 3rd Class Courtney Hursey plots the ship's course on the bridge aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is in the Atlantic Ocean conducting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman K. Ashley Lawrence/Released)

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ARABIAN SEA (April 30, 2012) Aviation ordnancemen assigned to the Vigilantes of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151 remove ordnance from an F/A-18C Hornet on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Tim D. Godbee/Released)

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GULF OF ADEN (April 24, 2012) Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class O'Bryant directs an SH-60B Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Vipers of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 48, Detachment 9, as it delivers supplies to the guided-missile frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50). Taylor is assigned to Commander, NATO Task Force 508, supporting Operation Ocean Shield, maritime interception operations and counter-piracy missions in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter Santini/Released)

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CHARLESTOWN, Mass. (April 30, 2012) Sailors assigned to USS Constitution furl the topsail on the main mast of the ship. Sailors assigned to Constitution routinely work to improve seamanship skills in preparation for possibly sailing the ship for the bicentennial of the War of 1812. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist William J. Clark/Released)

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INDIAN OCEAN (May 1, 2012) Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman Andre Payne, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22, carries tie-down chains to an aircraft on the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of resonsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans/Released)

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NAVAL BASE KITSAP-BREMERTON, Wash. (April 27, 2012) Sailors and government contractors turn hand cranks to raise a steam-powered catapult chamber from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The catapult is being refurbished in order to maintain operational effectiveness. Ronald Reagan is homeported in Bremerton, Wash., while undergoing a docked planned incremental availability maintenance period at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexander Tidd/Released)

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WAIPIO PENINSULA, Hawaii (April 27, 2012) The Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Texas (SSN 775) is moored in the state-of-the-art submarine magnetic silencing facility at Beckoning Point at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam during a ribbon cutting ceremony. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker/Released)

[santana]

The complete IED detection team

Ace, an improvised explosive device detection dog, sniffs out a possible IED while Cpl. Sean Grady, a dog handler and pointman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, sweeps a chokepoint during a patrol here, April 27, 2012. Grady, a 27-year-old native of Otho, Iowa, and Ace have successfully located 16 IEDs, the most of any team in their battalion, since arriving in southern Helmand on October 2011.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Sean Grady, an IDD handler and pointman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and Ace, an improvised explosive device detection dog, pause for a break to look toward a roving convoy while sweeping a chokepoint during a patrol here, April 27, 2012.

Ace, an improvised explosive device detection dog, sniffs out a possible IED while Cpl. Sean Grady, a dog handler and pointman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, sweeps a chokepoint during a patrol here, April 27, 2012.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Sean Grady, a dog handler and pointman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, sends Ace, an improvised explosive device detection dog, to sniff out a possible IED while he sweeps a chokepoint during a patrol here, April 27, 2012. Grady, a 27-year-old native of Otho, Iowa, and Ace have successfully located 16 IEDs, the most of any team in their battalion, since arriving in southern Helmand on October 2011.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Sean Grady, a dog handler and pointman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and Ace, an improvised explosive device detection dog, post security during a dismounted patrol here, April 27, 2012. Grady, a 27-year-old native of Otho, Iowa, and Ace have successfully located 16 IEDs, the most of any team in their battalion, since arriving in southern Helmand on October 2011.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Sean Grady, a dog handler and pointman with Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and Ace, an improvised explosive device detection dog, post security during a dismounted patrol here, April 27, 2012. Grady, a 27-year-old native of Otho, Iowa, and Ace have successfully located 16 IEDs, the most of any team in their battalion, since arriving in southern Helmand on October 2011.

[hogdriver]

French-made Mirage 2000 and US-made F-16 (R) fighter jets of the UAE forces take part in joint military manoeuvres with the French army in the desert of Abu Dhabi May 2, 2012.

Smoke is seen after United Arab Emirates F-16 fighter jets fired missiles during joint military manoeuvres with the French army in the desert of Abu Dhabi May 2, 2012.