Weekend Photos 12th and 13th May 2012

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A-10 Thunderbolt II Air Refueling Operations

An Idaho Air National Guard A-10, Thunderbolt II, from the 190th Fighter Squadron, Boise, Idaho fires off flares on departure from receiving fuel from a 151st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 during a training mission May 10 over southern Idaho.

An Idaho Air National Guard A-10, Thunderbolt II, from the 190th Fighter Squadron, Boise, Idaho fires off flares on departure from receiving fuel from a 151st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 during a training mission May 10 over southern Idaho.

An Idaho Air National Guard A-10, Thunderbolt II, from the 190th Fighter Squadron, Boise, Idaho fires off flares on departure from receiving fuel from a 151st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 during a training mission May 10 over southern Idaho.

An Idaho Air National Guard A-10, Thunderbolt II, from the 190th Fighter Squadron, Boise, Idaho fires off flares on departure from receiving fuel from a 151st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 during a training mission May 10 over southern Idaho

An Idaho Air National Guard A-10, Thunderbolt II, from the 190th Fighter Squadron, Boise, Idaho fires off flares on departure from receiving fuel from a 151st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 during a training mission May 10 over southern Idaho

An Idaho Air National Guard A-10, Thunderbolt II, from the 190th Fighter Squadron, Boise, Idaho departs after receiving fuel from a 151st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 during a training mission May 10 over southern Idaho.

A pair of Idaho Air National Guard A-10, Thunderbolt IIs, from the 190th Fighter Squadron, Boise, Idaho depart after receiving fuel from a 151st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 during a training mission May 10 over southern Idaho.

An Idaho Air National Guard A-10, Thunderbolt II, from the 190th Fighter Squadron, Boise, Idaho maneuvers into position to receive fuel from a 151st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 during a training operation May 10 in southern Idaho.

An Idaho Air National Guard A-10, Thunderbolt II, from the 190th Fighter Squadron, Boise, Idaho receives fuel from a 151st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 during a training operation May 10 in southern Idaho.

A pair of Idaho Air National Guard A-10, Thunderbolt IIs, from the 190th Fighter Squadron, Boise, Idaho depart after receiving fuel from a 151st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 during a training mission May 10 over southern Idaho.

A pair of Idaho Air National Guard A-10, Thunderbolt IIs, from the 190th Fighter Squadron, Boise, Idaho depart after receiving fuel from a 151st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 during a training mission May 10 over southern Idaho.

A pair of Idaho Air National Guard A-10, Thunderbolt IIs, from the 190th Fighter Squadron, Boise, Idaho depart after receiving fuel from a 151st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 during a training mission May 10 over southern Idaho.

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(Photos Released 10th May)

An HH-60 Pave Hawk assigned to the 55th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., flies over the Barry M. Goldwater Range Complex, Ariz., May 3, 2012, in support of the Cactus Starfighter exercise. The Pave Hawk's participated in the combat search and rescue portion of the exercise, rescuing a simulated downed pilot.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Torgerson, 116th Air Support Operations Squadron joint terminal attack controller, watches an airstrike he called in during the exercise at the Barry M. Goldwater Range Complex, Ariz., May 03, 2012. JTACs let the pilots know if the airstrike was successful or if they need to fly in to re-attack a target.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Troy Carle, 116th Air Support Operations Squadron joint terminal attack controller instructor, checks the time on target of a strike called by Staff Sgt. Jacob Torgerson, 116th ASOS, during the exercise at the Barry M. Goldwater Range Complex, Ariz., May 03, 2012.

U.S. Air Force 1st LT Trevor Kernes, 116th Air Support Operations Squadron joint terminal attack controller instructor/evaluator, and U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Troy Carle, 116 ASOS JTAC instructor, checks the settings of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Torgerson, 116th ASOS JTAC, during the exercise at the Barry M. Goldwater Range Complex, Ariz., May 03, 2012. JTACs must stay current on tasks and are reevaluated under the eye of an instructor on whichever tasks are needed.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Torgerson, 116th Air Support Operations Squadron joint terminal attack controller, scans the area for potential threats during the exercise at the Barry M. Goldwater Range Complex, Ariz., May 03, 2012. The 116th ASOS is an Air National Guard unit from Camp Murray, Wash.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Torgerson, 116th Air Support Operations Squadron joint terminal attack controller, calibrates his equipment prior to the start of the exercise at the Barry M. Goldwater Range Complex, Ariz., May 03, 2012. JTACs provide ground level guidance of munitions and help to deconflict aircraft.

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Lithuanian Soldiers from the II Company Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanised Infantry Battalion along with Military Police and Engineers with Pontoon Bridging equipment during a river crossing exercise over the Neris River – 10^th May 2012

[Arg]

A pilot from the 35th Operations Group performs a flyby during the Diesel Weasel exercise at Draughon Range, Japan. The Diesel Weasel Exercise provided realistic Close Air Support scenarios for pilots in preparation for the Green Flag Exercise at Nellis Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Lipscomb/Released)

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Estonian Soldiers from the Scoutspataljon during a field training exercise as part of KEVADTORM (Spring Storm) 2012 – 11^th May 2012

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U.S. Marines from Security Cooperation Task Force (SCTF) Africa Partnership Station 12 (APS-12) ground combat element, conduct extraction training with members of U.S. Navy Riverine Squadron 3, May 10, 2012 aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. This training was designed to familiarize the Marines of APS-12 with specialized tactics that may be used during their upcoming deployment to Africa.

U.S. Marines from Security Cooperation Task Force (SCTF) Africa Partnership Station 12 (APS-12) ground combat element, conduct extraction training with members of U.S. Navy Riverine Squadron 3, May 10, 2012 aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C

U.S. Navy sailors with Riverine Squadron 3, throw a smoke grenade to signal for extraction, May 10, 2012 aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C.

U.S. Marines from Security Cooperation Task Force (SCTF) Africa Partnership Station 12 (APS-12) ground combat element, conduct extraction training with members of U.S. Navy Riverine Squadron 3, May 10, 2012 aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C.

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The mission was part of a three-****ged operation to search the area for homemade explosives factories, persons on a most-wanted list and weapons caches.

A CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter lands at Forward Operating Base Arian to pick up paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team for an air assault mission to clear villages May 4, 2012, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.

A CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter lands at Forward Operating Base Arian to pick up paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team for an air assault mission to clear villages May 4, 2012, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan

Paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team and Afghan National Army soldiers with 6th Kandak, 203rd Corps, travel aboard a CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter during an air assault mission May 4, 2012, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.

A paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team passes before the rising sun during a patrol into a village May 4, 2012, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. The equipment on his back is used to block remotely detonated improvised explosive devices.

Paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team enter a village through agricultural fields during a patrol May 4, 2012, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. The paratroopers helicoptered to the edge of the village before sunrise.

Afghan National Army Maj. Niyazi, a 13-year veteran who also fought the Russians, and Capt. Robert Gacke, a company commander with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, enter an Afghan village May 4, 2012, in Ghazni Province.

An Afghan boy shakes the hand of a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team May 4, 2012, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. The paratroopers are assigned to 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Staff Sgt. Miguel Alfaro, Spc. Alpesh Patel and Sgt. Nick Herrera prepare a mortar position during a patrol of an Afghan village May 4, 2012, in southern Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. Emplacing the mortar is a common practice to protect a force that will be semi-stationary for a length of time.

Staff Sgt. Mick Miller, a squad leader with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, tests soil samples for evidence of homemade explosives near a suspected HME factory May 4, 2012, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. The kit that Miller is using allows him to test for a wide variety of HME components.

An Afghan villager unlocks the door of a suspected homemade explosives factory for Spc. Timothy Rodgers, a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, May 4, 2012, southern Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. Pulling security for Rodgers are Afghan National Army soldiers with 6th Kandak, 203rd Corps.

Staff Sgt. Harry Dixon, a dog handler with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, leads a Belgian malinois into a suspected homemade explosives factory May 4, 2012, in southern Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. Dixon is on his third deployment, the dog, its second

First Lt. Geoffrey Dean, a platoon leader with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, photographs evidence collected during the search of a building for homemade explosives May 4, 2012, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. Every infantry company has soldiers trained in the gathering of evidence.

A Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, or MRAP, pauses below high mountains of Afghanistan’s southern Ghazni Province May 4, 2012. The vehicle is operated by paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team.

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Brazil's Army began Operation Agate with the Federal Police, Customs, the National Aviation Agency, and the government's environmental police force (IBAMA), along a large part of the northern border to combat smuggling and environmental crimes, according to an Army communique

Brazilian Army soldiers acknowledge a briefing by their commander General Madeira, before they begin patrolling the Oiapoque River that separates their country from French Guiana in search of drug and gold smugglers, in Vila Brasil in this picture taken May 8, 2012.

Brazilian Army General Madeira (L), speaks to his troops as they begin patrolling the Oiapoque River that separates their country from French Guiana, in search of drug and gold smugglers, in Vila Brasil in this picture taken May 8, 2012.

Brazilian soldiers patrol for drug and gold smugglers along the Oiapoque River that separates Brazil's northeastern border from French Guiana, in this picture taken May 8, 2012.

Brazilian soldiers patrol for drug and gold smugglers along the Oiapoque River that separates Brazil's northeastern border from French Guiana, in this picture taken May 8, 2012.

Brazilian soldiers search a boat for drugs and gold from illegal mining, along the Oiapoque River that separates Brazil's northeastern border from French Guiana, in this picture taken May 8, 2012.

Brazilian soldiers search a boat for drugs and gold from illegal mining, along the Oiapoque River that separates Brazil's northeastern border from French Guiana, May 8, 2012.

Brazilian soldiers patrol for drug and gold smugglers in a helicopter along Brazil's northeastern border with French Guiana, in this picture taken May 8, 2012.

Brazilian soldiers patrol for drug and gold smugglers in a helicopter along Brazil's northeastern border with French Guiana, in this picture taken May 8, 2012.

Wildcat miners are questioned by Brazilian Army soldiers and Federal Police officers about their activities, during a patrol for drug smugglers and illegal gold mines along the Cassipore River near the border with French Guiana, in this picture taken May 9, 2012

Wildcat miners are questioned by Brazilian Army soldiers and Federal Police officers about their activities, during a patrol for drug smugglers and illegal gold mines along the Cassipore River near the border with French Guiana, in this picture taken May 9, 2012

Wildcat miners are questioned by Brazilian Army soldiers and Federal Police officers about their activities, during a patrol for drug smugglers and illegal gold mines along the Cassipore River near the border with French Guiana, in this picture taken May 9, 2012

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Soldiers from the Bermuda Regiment during a gruelling two-week annual training exercise in the mountains of Jamaica. Troops taking part in Exercise Rum Runner will put their on-island training to use in the testing environment of the Caribbean island's Blue Mountains. April/May 2012 (released 10^th May)

[santana]

Hey Vor any chance of High Res of the A-10s?????

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Israeli soldiers take part in a military drill at the army's Urban Warfare Training Center in Tzeelim, southern Israel, on May 7, 2012.

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This is part of a large-scale training mission on how to react to a Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear or high-yield Explosives (CBRNE) attack, taking place at Yakima Training Center.

A soldier from 1st platoon, 181st Chemical Company, protected inside the vehicle fires a .50-caliber machine gun using the Remote Weapon Station on a Nuclear Biological Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle, NBC RV Stryker during the gunnery range May 9.

Sgt. Rachel Ettesvold, a team leader from 1st platoon, 181st Chemical Company based out of Fort Hood, Texas, performs final checks and loads ammunition into an M2 .50-caliber machine gun mounted on the Remote Weapon System of a Nuclear Biological Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle, NBC RV Stryker, preparing for the gunnery range May 9.

Soldiers from 1st platoon, 181st Chemical Company, load M2 .50-caliber ammunition into the Remote Weapon Station of a Nuclear Biological Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle, NBC RV Stryker, for the gunnery range May 9.

Ammunition for an M2 .50-caliber machine gun is in place to be loaded into the Remote Weapon Station of a Nuclear Biological Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle, NBC RV Stryker for the gunnery range May 9.

Soldiers from 1st platoon, 181st Chemical Company configure an M2 .50-caliber machine gun in the Remote Weapon Station of a Nuclear Biological Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle, NBC RV Stryker, for the gunnery range May 9.

Spc. Philip D. Justice, a team leader in the 63rd Chemical Company based out of Fort Campbell, Ky., performs the final checks of an M2 .50-caliber machine gun mounted on the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS II) of his M93 “Fox” vehicle, used as a Nuclear Biological Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle, prepares for the gunnery range May 9.

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More than 750 Royal Marines and supporting units, together with three warships and Sea King and Chinook helicopters, have waged war in and around Galloway Forest Park in a week-long exercise to prepare 45 Commando for front line duties.

The Arbroath-based Royal Marines are now the nation's 'Lead Commando Group', ready to deploy around the globe if required, having successfully completed Exercise Scottish Lion.

Fresh from taking part in one of the biggest war games exercises in Europe this year, Joint Warrior, 45 Commando were thrust immediately into Scottish Lion, which saw the entire unit - more than 750 troops - put ashore south of Stranraer.

Scottish Lion covered ground from the ranges of West Freugh in the west to the ruins of 16th century Edingham Castle, near Dalbeattie, more than 40 miles (64km) to the east.

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Estonian Soldiers from the Scoutspataljon during a field training exercise as part of KEVADTORM (Spring Storm) 2012 -- 11th May 2012

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Belgian Soldiers serving in Afghanistan with BELU ISAF 12/02: During the visit by a Belgian Government Minister 4^th/5^th May 2012