Weekend Photos 7th and 8th July 2012

[vor033]

Afghanistan - Mizan Recon

Staff Sgt. Jon Hansen (left), a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard, surveys the valley below during an area recon in Mizan District, southern Afghanistan as 1st Lt. Tara Robertson (right), a member of the Minnesota Army National, looks on. They are both serving with the Zabul Agribusiness Development Team

Staff Sgt. Jon Hansen (left), a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard, surveys the valley below during an area recon in Mizan District, southern Afghanistan as 1st Lt. Tara Robertson (right), a member of the Minnesota Army National, looks on. They are both serving with the Zabul Agribusiness Development Team

Army 1st Lt. Tara Robertson (right), a member of the Minnesota Army National Guard and Staff Sgt. Jon Hansen (left), a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard, look out over a valley during an area recon in Mizan District, southern Afghanistan. They are both serving with the Zabul Agribusiness Development Team.

Staff Sgt. Jon Hansen, a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard serving with the Zabul Agribusiness Development Team, looks out over a valley during an area recon in Mizan District, southern Afghanistan.

Army 1st Lt. Tara Robertson (right), a member of the Minnesota Army National Guard points out an area of interest to Staff Sgt. Jon Hansen (left), a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard, during an area recon in Mizan District, southern Afghanistan. They are both serving with the Zabul Agribusiness Development Team.

Staff Sgt. Jon Hansen (right), a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard, surveys the valley below during an area recon in Mizan district, southern Afghanistan as 1st Lt. Tara Robertson (left), a member of the Minnesota Army National, looks on. They are both serving with the Zabul Agribusiness Development Team.

Army 1st Lt. Tara Robertson (left), a member of the Minnesota Army National Guard points out an area of interest to Staff Sgt. Jon Hansen (right), a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard, during an area recon in Mizan district, southern Afghanistan. They are both serving with the Zabul Agribusiness Development Team.

[vor033]

Private Ryan Buck, 7th Royal Australian Regiment, on patrol wearing an Australian Battle Group Personal Area Network (PAN) device during Exercise Hamel 2012.

Private Ryan Buck, 7th Royal Australian Regiment, on patrol wearing an Australian Battle Group Personal Area Network (PAN) device during Exercise Hamel 2012.

Private Luke Manhire, 7th Royal Australian Regiment, on patrol wearing an Australian Battle Group Personal Area Network (PAN) device during Exercise Hamel 2012.

L-R Private Ryan Buck and Private Luke Manhire, 7th Royal Australian Regiment, on patrol wearing an Australian Battle Group Personal Area Network (PAN) device during Exercise Hamel 2012.

[vor033]

(Photos from 22^nd June and released 5^th July)

The Royal Army of Oman on exercise with 2nd Battalion ‘The Parachute Regiment’ on Salisbury Plain. The Omani Western Frontier Regiment had spent two weeks on exercise with 2 Para, which concluded at the Military training village of Copehill Down – 22^nd June 2012

© MOD / Crown Copyright, 2011

[vor033]

This year’s official flag raising during Canada Day festivities on Parliament Hill, marks the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Coast Guard and the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

This year’s official flag raising during Canada Day festivities on Parliament Hill, marks the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Coast Guard and the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

The Changing of the Guard Ceremony takes place during Canada Day festivities held on Parliament Hill.

The Changing of the Guard Ceremony takes place during Canada Day festivities held on Parliament Hill.

His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada inspects the Ceremonial Guard as part of the Canada Day celebrations held on Parliament Hill.

[vor033]

Latest images of Estonian Soldiers during operations in Afghanistan while serving with ESTCOY-14 in June 2012 (Released 2^nd July)

Photos: leitnant Kristel Maasikmets

[vor033]

(Photos released 6^th July)

Two U.S. Army UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters from Detachment 2, Company C, 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment, drop soldiers from the 2nd Battalion 19th Special Forces Group June 21, 2012. The soldiers were flown from a nearby landing zone in the Black Hawks and jumped during both day and night conditions

A UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter from Detachment 2, Company C, 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment, land at the loading zone June 21, 2012. The Black Hawks were loaded with U.S. Army special forces and flown over a nearby drop zone where the soldiers performed low level jumps during both day and night conditions.

U.S. Army soldiers from the 2nd Battalion 19th Special Forces Group jump from UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters June 21, 2012. The Black Hawks were loaded with U.S. Army special forces and flown over a nearby drop zone where the soldiers performed low level jumps.

Two soldiers from the 2nd Battalion 19th Special Forces Group load equipment into a UH-60L Black Hawk Helicopter June 21, 2012. The Black Hawks were loaded with palettes of supplies and were flown over a nearby drop zone where the crew from Detachment 2, Company C, 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment perform low level drops

A U.S. Army soldier from the 2nd Battalion 19th Special Forces Group returns to the landing zone from a nearby drop zone June 21, 2012. The exercise provided soldiers the opportunity to jump from UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters during both day and night conditions

Staff Sgt. Adam Roy, 2nd Battalion 19th Special Forces Group, packs his parachute following his jump from a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter June 21, 2012. Roy and his teammates safely completed multiple successful jumps from the helicopters during both day and night operations.

Pfc. Jesse McCaskill, 2nd Battalion 19th Special Forces Group, checks the wind conditions at the designated drop zone June 21, 2012. McCaskill regularly checked the wind conditions and reported direction, velocity and gusts to the Black Hawks loaded with U.S. Army special forces.

Sgt. Maj. Moises Moniz, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, calls in airfield conditions for two UH-60L Black Hawk Helicopters from Detachment 2, Company C, 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment, June 21, 2012. Moniz monitored wind conditions, tracked jumpers status's and regulated the airfield operations tempo through two-way radio communication with the Black Hawk pilots.

U.S. Army soldiers from the 2nd Battalion 19 Special Forces Group, line up to board a UH-60L Black Hawk Helicopter from Detachment 2, Company C, 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment, June 21, 2012. The Black Hawks were loaded with special forces and flown over a nearby drop zone where the soldiers performed low level jumps, equipment drops and night operations.

Two UH-60L Black Hawk Helicopters from Detachment 2, Company C, 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment, approach the landing zone, June 21, 2012. The Black Hawks were loaded with U.S. Army special forces and flown over a nearby drop zone where the soldiers performed low level jumps.

A U.S. Army Special Forces airborne Ranger prepares to land following his jump from a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter, June 21, 2012. The soldiers use the helicopters to perform jumps, equipment drops and prepare for unconventional warfare.

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer John Smith (left), 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, performs an equipment check for a special forces airborne jumper, June 21, 2012. Smith assisted the jumpers by checking their equipment prior to them boarding the UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters

[vor033]

Tynwald Day ceremony, Isle of Man: Territorial Army soldiers today played a part in one of the most important days in the Isle of Man’s calendar. Soldiers were in the Irish Sea Crown Dependency to participate in the annual Tynwald Day - the island’s equivalent to the UK’s state opening of Parliament. Tynwald, the Government of the Isle of Man, has its roots in the ancient Norse tradition of law making, and so the Tynwald Day ceremony has taken place on the same spot each year in mid summer for hundreds of years. This year, soldiers drawn from the 4th Battalion of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, led by The Band of the Royal Corps of Signals, were invited to provide the Guard of Honour to dignitaries attending the event at the historic Tynwald Hill.

[vor033]

(Photos released 6^th July)

Airmen from the 563rd Rescue Group practiced and certified members on alternate insertion and extractions from a helicopter

Air Force 1st Lt. Paul Fry and Tech. Sgt. Joshua Brown look out of an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter during a routine training mission on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., June 27, 2012.

Air Force pararescuemen look out the side door of an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter during a routine training mission on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., June 27, 2012

Air Force airmen participate in a tactical training flight mission in Tucson, Ariz., June 27, 2012. The airmen are assigned to the 563rd Rescue Group. The training was conducted for both aerial gunners and pararescuemen

Air Force pararescuemen survey their location during a tactical training mission in Tucson, Ariz., June 27, 2012.

Air Force pararescuemen prepare a rope for extraction after assessing their location during a tactical training mission in Tucson, Ariz., June 27, 2012

Air Force pararescuemen help each other climb a rope ladder back into an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter during a tactical training mission in Tucson, Ariz., June 27, 2012

An Air Force pararescueman climbs a rope ladder back into an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter during a tactical training mission in Tucson, Ariz., June 27, 2012.

An Air Force pararescueman holds onto a rope as an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter flies back to base after a tactical training mission in Tucson, Ariz., June 27, 2012

[Ronguild]

Thanks a lot, vor033, for your pictures and efforts.
Glad to see something else than USN (very) boring photos.

[Dave76]

Glad to see something else than USN (very) boring photos.

Much easier to complain instead of contributing, right?

-----

Men place slippers on an image U.S. President Barack Obama during an anti-U.S. demonstration in Quetta July 6, 2012. About 120 demonstrators from political group Awami Majlis Amal Pakistan gathered on Friday to protest against the resumption of NATO supplies transiting into Afghanistan through Pakistan. A pair of trucks carrying NATO supplies crossed into Afghanistan on Thursday, Pakistani customs officials said, the first time in more than seven months that Pakistan has allowed Western nations to use its roads to supply troops in Afghanistan *******/Naseer Ahmed

Activists of Awami Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan burn a banner of US President Barack Obama during a protest in Quetta on July 6, 2012, to denounce the resumption of NATO supplies into Afghanistan. Islamabad reopened overland routes to NATO convoys earlier this week after closing them in protest at a US air raid that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at a border post in November. AFP PHOTO/Banaras KHAN

Dog der Juden. LOL

Supporters of Awami Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan burn U.S. and NATO flags during a rally in Quetta July 6, 2012. About 120 demonstrators gathered on Friday to protest against the resumption of NATO supplies transiting into Afghanistan through Pakistan. A pair of trucks carrying NATO supplies crossed into Afghanistan on Thursday, Pakistani customs officials said, the first time in more than seven months that Pakistan has allowed Western nations to use its roads to supply troops in Afghanistan. *******/Naseer Ahmed

Supporters of Awami Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan stand next to a burning image of U.S. President Barack Obama during an anti-American rally in Quetta July 6, 2012. About 120 demonstrators gathered on Friday to protest against the resumption of NATO supplies transiting into Afghanistan through Pakistan. A pair of trucks carrying NATO supplies crossed into Afghanistan on Thursday, Pakistani customs officials said, the first time in more than seven months that Pakistan has allowed Western nations to use its roads to supply troops in Afghanistan. *******/Naseer Ahmed

Supporters of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa Islamic organization shout anti-American slogans during a rally in Karachi on July 6, 2012. About 150 protesters gathered on Friday to protest against the reopening of NATO supplies to Afghanistan. A pair of trucks carrying NATO supplies crossed into Afghanistan on Thursday, Pakistani customs officials said, the first time in more than seven months that Pakistan has allowed Western nations to use its roads to supply troops in Afghanistan. *******/Athar Hussain

Supporters of the Pakistani religious political party Jamaat-e-Islami hold party flags as they chant anti-American slogans during a rally in Karachi July 6, 2012. About 500 protesters gathered on Friday to protest against the reopening of NATO supplies to Afghanistan. A pair of trucks carrying NATO supplies crossed into Afghanistan on Thursday, Pakistani customs officials said, the first time in more than seven months that Pakistan has allowed Western nations to use its roads to supply troops in Afghanistan. *******/Athar Hussain

Supporters of a Pakistani religious party, Jammat-Ud-Dawa, shout slogans condemning the movement of NATO supplies to Afghanistan through Pakistan at a rally following Friday prayers in Islamabad, Pakistan, July 6, 2012. Trucks carrying NATO supplies rolled into Afghanistan for the first time in more than seven months ending a painful chapter in U.S.-Pakistan relations that saw the border closed until Washington apologized for an airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

Activists of Jamaat-ud- Dawa Pakistan shout slogans at a rally in Karachi on July 6, 2012, to denounce the resumption of NATO supplies into Afghanistan. Islamabad reopened overland routes to NATO convoys earlier this week after closing them in protest at a US air raid that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at a border post in November. AFP PHOTO/Asif HASSAN

Activists of Jamaat-ud-Dawa Pakistan march during a rally following congregational Friday prayers in Islamabad on July 6, 2012, to denounce the resumption of NATO supplies from the country into Afghanistan. Islamabad reopened overland routes to NATO convoys earlier this week after closing them in protest at a US air raid that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at a border post in November. AFP PHOTO/Farooq NAEEM

Protesters from the religious tribal party Awami Majlis-e-Amal chant slogans and place their shoes on a banner showing an image of U.S. President Barack Obama, protestors chant slogans at a protest to condemn the movement of NATO supplies to Afghanistan through Pakistan, in Quetta, Pakistan, Friday, July 6, 2012. Trucks carrying NATO supplies rolled into Afghanistan for the first time in more than seven months ending a painful chapter in U.S.-Pakistan relations that saw the border closed until Washington apologized for an airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)

[santana]

(Photos released 6^th July)

Hey Vor awesome pictures as always!!! btw any chance of high resolution on the PJs Pictures????

[Dave76]

A police agent mans a checkpoint in Tripoli July 6, 2012. Libyans head to the polls on July 7 to elect a national assembly in the nation's first election in a generation almost a year after ousting Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed rebellion..*******/Zohra Bensemra

A man waves while driving past a member of security forces at a checkpoint in Tripoli July 6, 2012. Libyans head to the polls on July 7 to elect a national assembly in the nation's first election in a generation almost a year after ousting Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed rebellion..*******/Zohra Bensemra

PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 06: A U.S. Secret Service officer watches from above as President Barack Obama delivers remarks during a campaign event on the College of Fine Arts Lawn at Carnegie Mellon University July 5, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Obama campaign wrapped up its "Betting On America" bus tour through Northern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania on Friday. The president continued to highlight his administration?s efforts to improve the economy by creating manufacturing jobs and rescuing the American auto industry while taking swings at the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/***** Images)

US Secret Service agents stand watch as US President Barack Obama prepares to walk off his campaign bus in Beaver, Pennsylvania, on July 6, 2012, during an unannounced visit to Kretchmar Bakery while on a bus tour of Ohio and Pennsylvania. AFP PHOTO/Jim Watson

US President Barack Obama (L) talks as he crosses the street in Beaver, Pennsylvania, on July 6, 2012, during an unannounced visit to Kretchmar Bakery while on a bus tour of Ohio and Pennsylvania. AFPPHOTO/Jim Watson

A Secret Service agent perspires as he keeps watch on U.S. President Barack Obama during a campaign event at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania July 6, 2012. Obama is on a two-day campaign bus tour of Ohio and Pennsylvania. *******/Kevin Lamarque

A Secret Service agent keeps watch in an alley as U.S. President Barack Obama visits a bakery in Beaver, Ohio July 6, 2012. Obama is on a two-day campaign bus tour of Ohio and Pennsylvania. *******/Kevin Lamarque

POLAND, OH - JULY 06: Flanked by U.S. Secret Service agents, President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign event at Dobbins Elementary School July 5, 2012 in Poland, Ohio. This is the second day of Obama's ''Betting On America'' campaign through Northern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania by bus. The president highlighted his administration?s efforts to improve the economy by creating manufacturing jobs and rescuing the American auto industry and also taking swings at the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/***** Images)

Two Secret Service agents guard the doors to a limousine before President Barack Obama exits the vehicle on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Thursday, July 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

President Barack Obama, left, exits his limousine while a Secret Service agent guards the door as he prepares to board Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Thursday, July 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

President Barack Obama exits his limousine while a Secret Service agent stands guard at the door, before boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Thursday, July 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (C) speaks as President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai (R) listens during a press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on July 7, 2012. The United States has designated Afghanistan a major non-NATO ally, giving the war-torn country special privileges as the US prepares to pull its troops out in 2014, Clinton said during a visit to Kabul where she held talks with President Hamid Karzai. AFP PHOTO / POOL / Brendan SMIALOWSKI

Taylor Rudd of Lubbock, Texas, kneels to pray with his horse, White Horse, during the funeral services for Marine Lance Cpl. Hunter Hogan Friday, July 6, 2012 in York, Neb. Hunter died June 23, 2012 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. (AP Photo/The Omaha World-Herald, Alyssa Schukar)

RIP

[m4rs75]

Glad to see something else than USN (very) boring photos.

STFU

The United States Navy Blue Angels and world-renowned aerobatic pilot Michael Goulian form up for a flight over Vandalia, Ohio, on Thursday, July 5, 2012, as the Vectren Dayton Air Show prepares to get underway this weekend. The Vectren Dayton Air Show is an annual event held at the Dayton International Airport.

The United States Navy Blue Angels and world-renowned aerobatic pilot Michael Goulian form up for a flight over Dayton Municipal Airport in Vandalia, Ohio on Thursday, July 5, 2012 as the 2012 Vectren Dayton Airshow prepares to get underway this weekend. The Vectren Dayton Air Show is an annual event held at the Dayton International Airport.

A U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) from the USS Carter Hall makes its way across Niantic Bay en-route to the Hole in the Wall Beach in East Lyme, Conn. , Friday, July 6, 2012 to kick off festivities in OpSail 2012CT. The USS Carter Hall will join a Parade of Sail into New London Harbor Saturday morning as part of the OpSail event commemorating the 200th Anniversary to the War of 1812 and the penning of the U.S. National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner.

A crowd gathers on the bluff at McCook Point Park in East Lyme, Conn. , to watch U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) from the USS Carter Hall land on the Hole in the Wall Beach Friday, July 6, 2012 to kick off festivities in OpSail 2012. The USS Carter Hall will join a Parade of Sail into New London Harbor Saturday morning as part of the OpSail event commemorating the 200th Anniversary to the War of 1812 and the penning of the U.S. National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner during that war.

U.S. and Philippine Marines participate during a live fire drill in Sarangani province, southern Philippines July 7, 2012. Some 800 U.S. Navy and Coast Guard personnel are taking part in the nine-day joint exercises of the Philippines-U.S. Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) program to strengthen maritime defense, port security and resource protection, local media reported.

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SEA LYNX Bordhubschrauber auf der Fregatte SACHSEN bei schwerer See. ©2012 Bundeswehr/Björn Wilke.

[hogdriver]

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Phillip Taber, USAF Weapons School senior scientist and instructor, paints an inert guided bomb unit during MIDWAY WHITE III June 20, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The bombs are painted bright colors to track the rate of descent. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jason Couillard)

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Julius Anglin, 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron munitions systems craftsman, performs pre-flight checks on a live guided bomb unit version 4 during MIDWAY WHITE III June 28, 2012 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. MIDWAY WHITE III is designed to standardize cave characterization methods and universal cave weaponeering procedures that consistently result in the successful prosecution of enemy forces operating from cave environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Hughes)

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U.S. Air Force Capt. Aaron Reid, 17th Weapons Squadron pilot and Capt. Joshua Blakeman, 17th Weapons Squadron weapons systems officer, go through a pre-flight checklist before taking part in MIDWAY WHITE III June 28, 2012, on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. MIDWAY WHITE III demonstrates the weapon-aircraft interaction, weapon capabilities, aircraft stores management systems, and bomb release units of existing weapon systems utilized in cave attack environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Hughes)

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Noah Putman, 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, walks away after marshalling an F-15 Eagle during MIDWAY WHITE III June 28, 2012 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The Joint exercise is designed to provide urgently needed data to the warfighter at a fraction of the time and cost of a traditional Defense Threat Reduction Agency test or experiment series. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Hughes)

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A U.S. Air Force F-15D Eagle, 433rd Weapons School, flies next to a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, during MIDWAY WHITE III June 26, 2012, over the Nevada Test and Training Range. MIDWAY WHITE is a joint demonstration involving Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the USAF Weapons School, and elements of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

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A U.S. Air Force F-15D Eagle, 433rd Weapons School, flies next to a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, during MIDWAY WHITE III June 26, 2012, over the Nevada Test and Training Range. MIDWAY WHITE III is designed to quantify and improve cave characterization, standardize attack planning processes, and increase weapons employment consistency and lethality. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

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A U.S. Air Force F-15D Eagle, 433rd Weapons School, flies next to a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, during MIDWAY WHITE III June 26, 2012, over the Nevada Test and Training Range. MIDWAY WHITE III is designed to quantify and improve cave characterization, standardize attack planning processes, and increase weapons employment consistency and lethality. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

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A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, 340th Weapons Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., participates in MIDWAY WHITE III June 26, 2012, over the Nevada Test and Training Range. MIDWAY WHITE III is designed to improve consistency and lethality against vertical targets within a cave attack arena. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

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A U.S. Air Force F-15D Eagle, 433rd Weapons School, flies next to a B-52 Stratofortress, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., during MIDWAY WHITE III June 28, 2012, over the Nevada Test and Training Range. MIDWAY WHITE III serves to further establish a new paradigm for quick response demonstrations to meet immediate non-forecasted warfighter needs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

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A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, 340th Weapons School, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., drops live guided bomb units during the MIDWAY WHTE III training exercise as an F-15D Eagle, 433rd Weapons School, follows June 28, 2012, over the Nevada Test and Training Range. The data gathered from the training attacks executed in MIDWAY WHITE III is utilized to aid or enhance ongoing Defense Threat Reduction Agency programs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

[vor033]

Approximately 1100 Australian sailors, soldiers, airmen and women are participating on Exercise RIM-OF-THE-PACIFIC (RIMPAC 12) from 27 Jun 12 to 2 Aug 12 in the Islands of Hawaii.

Australian Army personnel from the Alpha Company, the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) are working with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines in Hawaii. Engineers from 3 Combat Engineer Regiment (3 CER) and 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (4 REGT, RAA) are supporting the infantry along with medical specialists.

During the exercise, the soldiers will conduct training in urban operations at the Marine Corps Training Area-Bellows, live fire exercises and training onboard the United States Ship Essex (USS Essex).

RIMPAC 12 is the world’s largest multilateral live-fire maritime training exercise held around the Islands of Hawaii. There are 22 participating nations including Australia, Canada, France and Russia. The US sponsored exercise is aimed to enhance the interoperability of the combined forces and involves war-fighting exercises, Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) and maritime security operations.

Photo : 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) enter a building during urban operations training at the Marine Corps Training Area - Bellows.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) during urban operations training at the Marine Corps Training Area - Bellows.

Infantrymen from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) conducting urban operations training at the Marine Corps Training Area - Bellows.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) during urban operations training at the Marine Corps Training Area - Bellows.

Sapper Ben Schalk, a combat engineer with 3 Combat Engineer Regiment (3 CER) looks on during a clearance operation at the Marine Corps Training Area - Bellows.

Sappers from 3 Combat Engineer Regiment (3 CER) conduct a remote pull operation at the Marine Corps Training Area - Bellows.

Corporal Aaron Kime, section commander in Mortar Platoon, 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) at the urban operations training facility, Marine Corps Training Area - Bellows.

Corporal Aaron Kime, Section Commander of Mortar Platoon, the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) at the urban operations training facility, Marine Corps Training Area - Bellows.