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Year in Photos 2025
A Marine fires a machine gun while crouched in the dirt

Dig In

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jacob Archer suppresses a simulated enemy position during an adversary force exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Feb. 4, 2025.

Credit: Marine Corps Cpl. Earik Barton

Restore The Warrior Ethos
Soldiers stand in formation underwater in a pool wearing gear while a soldier at the front of the formation receives a red flag from a diver.

Immersive Experience

Army divers assigned to the 7th Engineer Dive Detachment stand in formation underwater during a change of command ceremony at Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii, Feb. 21, 2025.

Credit: Army Staff Sgt. Dale Casagrande

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A helmeted and camouflaged soldier lays on grass and puts their hand on a blue mine with a wire running to the left while staring forward.

Mine All Mine

Army Spc. Daniel Momotic sets up a simulated M18 claymore mine as part of the Expert Infantry and Expert Soldier Badge test, which evaluates readiness and lethality, at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Sept. 15, 2025.

Credit: Army Sgt. Kammen Taylor

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An airman in boxing gear punches another airman in boxing gear in a boxing ring with a crowd in the background.

Ready to Rumble

Air Force Airman 1st Class Bradley Hoke, left, and Senior Airman Jason Santillana fight during the Rumble in the Deid IV boxing competition in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, March 7, 2025. All fighters wore protective headgear, mouth guards and approved sparring gloves to ensure their safety.

Credit: Air Force Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem

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A sailor in tactical gear aims a gun while under a red light.

Hall Security

A sailor clears a hallway during a visit, board, search and seizure drill aboard the USS George Washington while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 22, 2025.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class August Clawson

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Two Marines hold other Marines around their shoulders on a sandy beach.

Beach Buddies

Marines assigned to the 2nd Marine Logistics Group conduct buddy squats during a beach workout as part of the Corporals Course at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 19, 2025. The course provides Marines with the knowledge and skills to become successful small-unit leaders in the Marine Corps.

Credit: Marine Corps Cpl. Christian Salazar

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Two men raise their right hands while facing each other in front of a decorated wall.

Hero's Return

Defense Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reenlists Medal of Honor recipient Marine Corps Sgt. Dakota Meyer in the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon, April 17, 2025. Meyer, who received the medal in 2011 for heroic actions in Afghanistan, reenlisted into the Marine Corps Reserve following a 15-year break in service. The Defense Department was renamed the War Department on Sept. 5, 2025.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza, DOD

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Soldiers in silhouette surrounded by smoke fire a weapon creating an orangish blast against a starry sky illuminated by red streaks.

Blasting Bright Under Twinkling Lights

Soldiers participate in a night live-fire range event to certify crews on indirect fire missions using an M777 towed 155 mm howitzer at Yakima Training Center, Wash., July 22, 2025. The exercise was one of the culminating events of Raven Focus, a two-week collective training event.

Credit: Army Spc. Tristin Salisbury

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A sailor shown from behind fires a weapon from the open door of a helicopter flying near two ships at sea.

Titans of the Sea

An East Coast-based Navy SEAL aboard an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter fires at simulated opposing forces during the Titans of the Sea Presidential Review sea power demonstration in the Atlantic Ocean, Oct. 5, 2025. The event was one of many throughout the country showcasing maritime capabilities to commemorate the Navy's 250th birthday.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Trey Hutcheson

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The outlines of kneeling Marines and soldiers are illuminated in green by a night-vision device.

Tunnel Translucence

As seen through a night-vision device, Marines clear rooms during a simulated assault of an underground tunnel with soldiers during joint chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense training as part of Exercise Korea Viper 25 at Camp Stanley, South Korea, May 20, 2025. The recurring exercise demonstrates the U.S. and South Korean militaries' ability to respond as a unified force while strengthening relationships and trust between the allies.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Tucker Mocan

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth helps carry a soldier on a litter while running with a group of troops on a beach.

Stretcher Strides

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth participates in a physical training session on Omaha Beach with troops assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment in Normandy, France, June 6, 2025. Hegseth, in Normandy for the 81st anniversary of D-Day, frequently worked out with troops during the year, demonstrating firsthand the department's commitment to a fit, ready force. The Defense Department was renamed the War Department on Sept. 5, 2025.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza, DOD

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An airman slides down a rope attached to an aircraft as several other airmen kneel on the ground.

Ground Bound

Air Force pararescuemen conduct a fast-roping exercise from an MV-22B Osprey as part of a weapons and tactics instructor course at Auxiliary Airfield 2 near Yuma, Ariz., April 23, 2025. The seven-week course emphasizes operational integration of Marine Corps aviation supporting the Marine air-ground task force and joint and coalition forces.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Fabian Ortiz

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An Ammo shell flies up as service members shoot weapons outdoors with a blue sky and trees in the background.

TAG, You're It

National Guard soldiers and airmen compete in The Adjutant General's Match shooting competition at Fort Jackson, S.C., Feb. 23, 2025. The three-day TAG Match is designed to promote lethality and readiness through marksmanship training, testing skill and ability in a battle-focused environment.

Credit: Army Staff Sgt. Brian Calhoun

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Soldiers sit on top of a moving tank with an American flag as it drives and kicks up sand during the day.

Desert Drive

Soldiers maneuver an M2A3 Bradley fighting vehicle during a joint training event as part of Exercise Bright Star 25 at Mohamed Naguib Military Base, Egypt, Sept. 3, 2025. The multinational exercise fosters readiness, improves coordination and strengthens bonds between the U.S., Egypt and other partner nations.

Credit: Joseph Kumzak, Army

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An Air Force cadet trainee wearing a helmet and gloves and clenching an object in the mouth crawls through a tube obstacle.

Taking the Tube

An Air Force cadet trainee from the class of 2029 participates in an assault course during the second phase of basic training at the Jacks Valley complex of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 15, 2025. The second training phase is designed to push cadets to their physical limits to build self-confidence, teamwork and tactical skills.

Credit: Ray Bahner, Air Force

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A Marine in water pulls a rope attached to a craft to flip it over while another Marine hangs on to the other side of the craft as it flips.

Hang On

Marines practice flipping a combat rubber raiding craft during small-boat training at Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 23, 2025. The training focused on basic boat operations, handling and emergency procedures.

Credit: Marine Corps Sgt. Noah Masog

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A Marine fires a weapon from shoulder height creating a blast on either end of the weapon, while another Marine signals from in front.

Viking Spirit

A Marine fires a multirole antitank, antipersonnel weapon system during a live-fire range event in preparation for Exercise Joint Viking 25 in Setermoen, Norway, Feb. 27, 2025. The exercise focused on Arctic training and military-to-military engagements.

Credit: Marine Corps Cpl. Alexander Peterson

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A firefighter watches as four firefighters use a hose to put out a massive fire creating a smoky, orange background.

Feel the Heat

Army National Guard firefighters participate in a nighttime fire training scenario during Exercise Northern Strike 25-2 at Grayling Army Airfield, Mich., Aug. 4, 2025. The exercise was designed to build readiness and enhance interoperability with allied forces.

Credit: Army Sgt. Brayden Stephan

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A Coast Guard rugby player runs with the ball as opposing team members run behind them on a field against blurred background.

On the Run

Lt. Hollis Connick of the Coast Guard women's rugby team runs the ball downfield against the Navy women's rugby team during a match at the 2025 Armed Forces Women's Rugby Championship at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., Sept. 7, 2025. Armed Forces Sports fosters goodwill by promoting physical fitness, providing competitive opportunities for military athletes at national and international levels, enhancing recruitment and retention through sports diplomacy and building strategic partnerships with allied nations.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Colby A. Mothershead

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Three sailors in dive gear swim in blue water, one holding a long black device.

Underwater Warfighters

East Coast-based Navy SEALs conduct dive operations to increase maritime lethality during training off the coast of Key Largo, Fla., Feb. 18, 2025.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Katie Cox

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Three tanks with different flags fire weapons creating smoky bursts over a field.

Booming Plumes

U.S., Swiss and Italian tankers participate in the opening ceremony of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa International Tank Challenge at the 7th Army Training Command's Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Feb. 11, 2025. For the first time, a U.S. team won the challenge, which is designed to measure a tank crew's physical fitness, marksmanship and mental acuity.

Credit: Army Spc. Adrian Greenwood

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Soldiers stand in a group outdoors partly illuminated by red and blue lights under a dark sky.

Starry, Starry Night

U.S. soldiers conduct a safety brief before breach training as part of Exercise African Lion at Ben Ghilouf Training Area, Tunisia, April 25, 2025. The exercise enhances soldier readiness in breaching operations and overcoming battlefield obstacles.

Credit: Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth Rodriguez

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Marine Corps recruits march down a road on two sides while a drill instructor shouts from the middle of the dirt road during an overcast day.

A Marine's Road

Marine Corps Sgt. Angel Felix, a drill instructor, recites Marine Corps knowledge to recruits during a 2-kilometer introduction hike at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Feb. 27, 2025. During training, recruits go on a series of progressively longer hikes to physically and mentally condition themselves for future operations.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Janell B. Alvarez

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Service members in winter gear kneel on a snowfield as snow sprays them from a helicopter hovering nearby.

Battling the Elements

Participants in Special Operations Forces Arctic Medic 2025 shield themselves from the rotor wash of a departing Army UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter during training at Yukon Training Area, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Feb. 19, 2025. SOFAM 2025 was a Special Operations Command North training and validation event for unit medics that regularly conduct exercises and operations in the North American Arctic.

Credit: Alejandro Peña, Alaska National Guard

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A soldier in an aircraft fires a machine gun into the night sky.

Fire in the Sky

A Florida Army National Guardsman assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment, fires an M240H machine gun during aerial operations at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Fla., May 17, 2025. Soldiers conducted day and night training as both individual squadrons and as a joint task force.

Credit: Air Force Staff Sgt. Neysa Huertas Quinones

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Two soldiers run on a road, each with one arm around the other and the other holding a rifle in the air, while spectators cheer.

Leading the Way

Army 1st Lts. Kevin Moore, left, and Griffin Hokanson approach the finish line during a buddy run at the 41st Annual David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., April 13, 2025. Moore and Hokanson won the competition.

Credit: Army Sgt. Christopher Grey

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Sailors conduct helicopter casting training in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 21, 2025.

Sea Slog

Sailors conduct helicopter casting training in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 21, 2025.

Credit: Courtesy photo

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A soldier wearing ghillie suit-type camouflage holds up a drone in a field as another soldier sits nearby.

Hold for Launch

Army Spc. Benjamin Bell, left, and Sgt. Mackenzie Jones, both Washington National Guard snipers assigned to the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team's Long Range Surveillance Section, launch a drone during field-training exercise Raven Focus at Yakima Training Center, Wash., July 20, 2025. Soldiers assigned to the unit incorporated drone technology and surveillance tactics in preparation for its transition into a multifunctional reconnaissance company.

Credit: Army Staff Sgt. Adeline Witherspoon

Rebuild the Military
A B-2 bomber aircraft lifts off from a dark runway, trailing two fire-like contrails with lights in the background.

Midnight Hammer

An Air Force B-2 Spirit takes off at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., in support of Operation Midnight Hammer, June 21, 2025. The successful strike on Iranian nuclear facilities marked the first operational use of GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator "bunker buster" bombs.

Credit: Courtesy photo

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A guardsman in tactical gear and camouflage steps onto a wooden trench line as two others watch, surrounded by purple and green smoke.

Gimme Shelter

An Oklahoma Army National Guardsman maneuvers into a trench line as smoke obscures the simulated battlefield during Exercise Thunderstruck 2.0 at Camp Gruber Training Center, Okla., Sept. 13, 2025. The exercise highlighted the integration of emerging technologies to enhance lethality, improve survivability and sustain readiness for future conflicts.

Credit: Air Force Master Sgt. Amber Monio

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth looks at a hand-held device a soldier is holding outdoors as others stand in the background.

Drone Discussion

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth observes drone operations with troops assigned to the Army's 3rd Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, and the Foreign Legion Force Poland Battle Group in Powidz, Poland, Feb. 15, 2025. The Defense Department was renamed the War Department on Sept. 5, 2025.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander C. Kubitza, DOD

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Sailors stand in a row atop a moored submarine.

Commissioning Crew

Sailors attached to the fast-attack submarine USS Iowa man the newly commissioned sub during a ceremony in Groton, Conn., April 5, 2025. The Iowa operates under Submarine Squadron 4, which provides fast-attack submarines that are ready, prepared and committed to meet the unique challenges of undersea combat and deployed operations in unforgiving environments across the globe.

Credit: Navy Chief Petty Officer Joshua Karsten

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A military bomber aircraft flies over California. There is flat ground below the aircraft and mountains in the background.

Sly in the Sky

A B-21 Raider, the nation's sixth-generation stealth bomber, conducts flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 11, 2025. The program is a cornerstone of the Air Force's nuclear modernization strategy, designed to deliver both conventional and nuclear payloads.

Credit: Courtesy photo

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A tank fires in a field creating a smoky fireball under dark sky with orangish hues.

Explosive Beauty

Soldiers assigned to the Ohio National Guard's 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 145th Armor Regiment, conduct live-fire training with an M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams main battle tank at the Camp Ripley Training Center near Little Falls, Minn., July 28, 2025. The battalion was the first unit within the 34th Infantry Division to receive the modernized vehicles.

Credit: Tony Housey, Minnesota National Guard

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A rocket launches leaving a yellowish streak from a cloudy dark sky to a body of water as its reflection is seen in the foreground.

Radiant Reflection

A Falcon 9 rocket launches for a mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., July 2, 2025. The mission added 27 more satellites to the constellation, bringing the total to more than 7,000 currently in low Earth orbit.

Credit: Robert Mason, Space Force

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The president stands and holds a folder while speaking in an office with a "Golden Dome for America" poster displayed behind him.

Golden Dome Announcement

President Donald J. Trump speaks with officials and staff in the Oval Office at the White House before announcing the Golden Dome missile defense system, May 20, 2025. The initiative represents a historic investment in American security and in protecting the homeland from advanced missile threats.

Credit: Joyce N. Boghosian, White House

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A missile leaves a trail of flames and smoke as it rises from its launch equipment with trees and cliffs in the background.

Sabre Strike

Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force conduct the first midrange capability live-fire exercise outside of the continental U.S., successfully sinking a maritime target with a Standard Missile-6 during Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 in Australia's Northern Territory, July 16, 2025. Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the U.S., advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and partners while enhancing collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns.

Credit: Army Sgt. Perla Alfaro

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A welder in black protective gear uses a tool on a metal part, creating flames and billowing smoke.

Weld Done

A welder fuses metal components at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Hawaii, May 5, 2025. Welders contribute to the complex, mission-critical work at the facility to sustain and modernize the Navy's submarines and surface ships.

Credit: Kenny Jones, Navy

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Service members tour an aircraft as it sits on the flight line.

The Eagle Has Landed

An Air Force F-15EX Eagle II sits on the flight line at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., June 11, 2025. The aircraft visited the base as part of a site activation task force, an initial step to prepare the 127th Wing with the proper infrastructure, personnel and support for the incoming F-15EX and KC-46 Pegasus missions.

Credit: Air Force 1st Lt. Elise Wahlstrom

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A spacecraft with four extended parachutes lands in the ocean while two small boats move towards the spacecraft.

Down to Earth

NASA astronauts and retired Navy Capts. Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, astronaut and Space Force Col. Nick Hague and Russia's Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov land in a Dragon spacecraft off the coast of Tallahassee, Fla., March 18, 2025. Williams and Wilmore returned to Earth following nine months at the International Space Station.

Credit: Keegan Barber, NASA

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Civilians and service members sit in front of laptops at a table in a tent-like space lit by red light.

Red in to the Mission

Service members and civilian partners operate from a tactical command post during Exercise Arcane Thunder 25 at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., May 28, 2025. The environment supported real-time coordination, cyber integration and multidomain operations to enhance mission readiness and interoperability during the exercise, which highlighted advancements in drone technology and the Army's commitment to innovation.

Credit: Army Staff Sgt. Rajheem Dixon

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Smoke billows up from a flames shooting from a rectangular device sitting in a hilly, snowy area.

Sentinel Test

The Air Force and an industry partner conduct a full-scale qualification static fire test of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile stage-one solid rocket motor in Promontory, Utah, March 6, 2025. The Sentinel program is modernizing the land-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad — replacing the aging Minuteman III ICBM weapons system.

Credit: R. Nial Bradshaw, Air Force

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A civilian pulls a yellow craft from water aboard a small boat as a Coast Guardsman looks on and a cutter operates in the distance.

Healy Haul

Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Jared Vannoy, right, and Justin Burnett, an Arctic Mobile Observing System research engineer, pull a Seaglider autonomous underwater vehicle aboard a small boat while operating in the Arctic Ocean, Aug. 5, 2025. The Seaglider spent a year gliding through the Arctic Ocean collecting oceanographic data before being recovered and brought aboard the Coast Guard cutter Healy, the United States' largest and most technologically advanced polar icebreaker.

Credit: Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Zack Ledoux

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A rocket launches into a dark sky, creating an illuminating trail with stars in the background.

Above and Beyond

A Falcon 9 mission launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Jan. 24, 2025. Vandenberg, which hosts space launches for military, civil and commercial space entities, experienced a high launch tempo in 2025 and is projected to have an average of about one launch every three days by the late 2020s.

Credit: Jennifer Green-Lanchoney, Space Force

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An airman aims a large, black weapon upwards outside a building.

Aim High

Air Force Master Sgt. David Rogers aims a DroneDefender weapon at a small unmanned aircraft system during Exercise Nexus Forge at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Feb. 5, 2025. More than 30 Air Force Reserve defenders sharpened their ability to detect, track and neutralize small unmanned aircraft system threats during the exercise.

Credit: Air Force Master Sgt. Jeffrey Grossi

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Air Force Gen. Dan Caine points at a drone on an exhibit table while speaking with two Marines.

Tech Talk

Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks to Marine Corps Attack Drone Team members during the AI+ Expo in Washington, June 4, 2025. The expo serves as a forum for industry, government and academic research entities to exhibit some of the latest technological breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, energy, microelectronics, manufacturing, augmented reality and beyond, as well as to discuss their implications for U.S. and allied competitiveness.

Credit: Marine Corps Sgt. Matthew Romonoyske-Bean

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A small aircraft takes off from a flight line with mountains in the distance.

Flight of the Future

A YFQ-42A unmanned combat aerial vehicle prototype takes off during flight testing at a California test location, Aug. 27, 2025. The aircraft was developed as part of the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program to accelerate the delivery of affordable, semi-autonomous aircraft.

Credit: Courtesy photo

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A Marine retrieves a drone from a blue sky with concrete structures and mountains in the background.

Catch Up

Marine Corps Cpl. Daniela Chicastorres retrieves a drone during the Training and Leadership Development Summit at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 26, 2025. The summit was designed to enhance and build upon the capabilities, employability, development and readiness of Marines.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jeslianne Torres

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A weapon system sits in a dark field illuminated by green light with a mountain in the background.

Green Means Go

Marines conduct a simulated fire mission with the Navy-Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System during Exercise Balikatan in Basco, Philippines, April 26, 2025. The mission marked the inaugural deployment of the newly fielded Marine Corps weapons system to the Philippines. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the U.S. and Philippine militaries designed to strengthen the nations' alliance, showcase the capable combined force and demonstrate commitment to regional security and stability.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Maksim Masloboev

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A missile launches out of the ocean and leaves behind spray, smoke and fire during the day.

Making a Splash

An unarmed Navy Trident II D5 Life Extension missile launches from an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine off the coast of Florida, Sept. 17, 2025. The launch was part of a planned test event that demonstrated the continued readiness of the nation's sea-based deterrent.

Credit: Navy

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Two airmen stand back-to-back in a large metal tube structure bathed in yellow light while facing opposite sides.

Totally Tubular

Air Force Senior Airman Samuel Griego, left, and Airman 1st Class Tavi Carter-Smith, both aerospace propulsion journeymen assigned to the 509th Maintenance Squadron, inspect an exhaust tube in the test cell at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., Aug. 20, 2025, during testing of a B-2 Spirit aircraft engine. The squadron's propulsion flight delivers safe, reliable engines for B-2s, ensuring the aircraft is ready to fly at a moment's notice.

Credit: Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua Hastings

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Two flames shoot from an unmanned aircraft ascending in blue sky.

Flight of the Valkyrie

An Air Force XQ-58A Valkyrie, an autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned aircraft, flies over the Gulf Test and Training Range at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 16, 2025, to advance human-machine teaming.

Credit: Ilka Cole, Air Force

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Three soldiers, one pointing, look toward a brown wall bisecting hilly terrain with buildings in the distance.

Close Surveillance

Soldiers monitor the barrier near Chula Vista, Calif., March 1, 2025, as part of U.S. Northern Command's work with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border and carry out President Donald J. Trump's executive orders on protecting the territorial integrity of the U.S. (This photo has been altered for security purposes by blurring out identification badges.)

Army Sgt. Crist Joseph

Reestablish Deterrence
A sailor uses a neon baton to signal to a moving aircraft illuminated by bright lights as it prepares to launch from a ship in the dark.

Jet Stream

A Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet launches from the USS Carl Vinson in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 12, 2025. The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group was part of Operation Rough Rider, a sustained campaign targeting the Houthi terrorist organization in Yemen to restore freedom of navigation and American deterrence.

Credit: Navy

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Guardsmen stand on a sidewalk and in a paved roundabout as three tactical vehicles pull to the side of the roundabout, with buildings, flags on tall poles and trees in the background on a sunny day.

In Union

District of Columbia National Guardsmen supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force stand guard at Union Station in Washington, Aug. 15, 2025. About 800 D.C. National Guard members provided support to law enforcement, including crowd management, presence patrols and perimeter control.

Credit: Air Force Staff Sgt. Natalie Filzen

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A civilian stands in front of a line of sailors on the flight line of a military naval ship.

Destroyer Visit

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth meets with sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner during a visit to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 25, 2025. The Defense Department was renamed the War Department on Sept. 5, 2025.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander C. Kubitza, DOD

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Five aircraft fly in front of three columns of ships traveling in blue water.

Trilateral Travel

U.S. and French naval aircraft fly in formation with ships assigned to the U.S. Navy's Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, the U.S. Military Sealift Command, the French Carrier Strike Group and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in the Philippine Sea during Exercise Pacific Stellar 2025, Feb. 12, 2025. The exercise was designed to advance coordination and cooperation among French, Japanese and U.S. maritime forces and to foster maritime security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Credit: Navy Seaman Apprentice Pablo Chavez

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U.S. soldiers and Panamanian security forces carrying gear ruck through a wooded area surrounded by clouds of orange smoke.

Ruck and Roll

U.S. soldiers and Panamanian security forces ruck to the combined jungle orientation course site at Aeronaval Base Cristóbal Colón, Panama, Aug. 16, 2025. The pilot course integrates jungle instructors and trainees from both nations.

Credit: Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kaylee Clark

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A Marine uses a tool to tie concertina wire together in rolls on a sunny, cloudless day, with a tall security wall and vehicles in the background.

Concertina Connections

Marine Corps Cpl. Jacob Shonk, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, ties concertina wire together before placing it on the border barrier in Yuma, Ariz., July 29, 2025.

Credit: Marine Corps Sgt. Mary Torres

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Two soldiers wearing helmets with face shields stand and watch a crowd of people gathered outdoors on a sunny day.

On Guard

Soldiers watch a crowd of people gathered near a federal building in Los Angeles, June 9, 2025. About 2,000 National Guardsmen were helping protect federal property in the area.

Credit: Army Capt. Alexander Werden

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A projectile shoots from a gun on ship, creating a smoke cloud over blue water.

Big-Gun Blast

The guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale fires an MK 45 5-inch gun during a live-fire exercise in the Pacific Ocean, May 10, 2025. The Stockdale was employed under U.S. Northern Command's maritime homeland defense authorities with a Coast Guard law enforcement detachment embarked to enable maritime interdiction missions to prevent the flow of illegal drugs and other illegal activity.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jerome D. Johnson

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A Marine behind the wheel of a vehicle watches as another stands under an adjacent aircraft parked on a flight line.

Munition Mission

Marines load a GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition into a Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Puerto Rico, Oct. 16, 2025. U.S. military forces were deployed to the Caribbean to support the U.S. Southern Command mission, War Department-directed operations and President Donald J. Trump's priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Michael Gavin

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A ship illuminated by white and blue lights sails under a starry sky.

Cosmic Cruise

The USS George Washington transits the Philippine Sea, Dec. 10, 2025. The George Washington is the Navy's premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States' commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Crowley

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Four Air Force jets fly in cloud-streaked blue sky over snowy terrain.

Over Greenland

North American Aerospace Defense Command F-35 Lightning II aircraft assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing, along with F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing, fly over Greenland, Oct. 7, 2025. U.S. Air Forces Northern, in partnership with Denmark and coordinated by NORAD, conducted a dynamic operational exercise that highlighted Greenland’s critical role in the defense of North America and underscored the importance of enhanced Arctic operational readiness.

Credit: Air Force 2nd Lt. Cameron Lewis

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Airmen work around several metal docks atop wooden pallets in a wide area against a partly cloudy sky.

Dock of the Bay

Airmen assigned to the 821st Contingency Response Element build a high-line dock to unload multipallet trains at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 12, 2025.

Credit: Army Staff Sgt. ShaTyra Cox

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Three soldiers in tactical gear move through a field in the dark illuminated by green light as seen through a night vision lens.

Patrol Perspective

Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border patrol along the southern border in Arizona, March 23, 2025.

Credit: Army Sgt. Chase Murray

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A soldier stands on a rope spanning a mountainous area while holding a second rope directly overhead.

High Achiever

Army Spc. Rosa Ibarra crosses a two-rope bridge under the supervision of Chilean army mountain instructors during Exercise Southern Vanguard 25 in Antuco, Chile, Aug. 16, 2025. The exercise underscores the Army's enduring commitment to regional partnership, security and cooperation across the Western Hemisphere.

Credit: Army Capt. Danielle Dias

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A guardsman stands on a balcony overlooking two trains in a station, as crowds of people walk below to the right.

Steadfast Sentinel

A South Carolina Army National Guardsman patrols Dupont Circle Metro station while supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force mission in Washington, Aug. 25, 2025.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Natalie Filzen

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A low sun in an orange sky creates a silhouetted view of Marines standing between three vehicles.

Philippine Scene

Marines complete the live-fire portion of an integrated air and missile defense event during Exercise Balikatan 25 at Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui, Philippines, April 25, 2025. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the U.S. and Philippine militaries designed to strengthen the nations' alliance, showcase the capable combined force and demonstrate commitment to regional security and stability.

Credit: Marine Corps Cpl. Iyer Ramakrishna

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Six aircraft fly over a green and gold statue in a blue sky with clouds as seen from the ground.

Free as a Bird

Air Force B-1B Lancer aircraft fly in formation with allied fighter jets over the Monument of Freedom in Riga, Latvia, during a Bomber Task Force Europe exercise, Aug. 19, 2025. The exercise demonstrated NATO air forces' ability to operate together.

Credit: Courtesy photo

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Soldiers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents ride in a small boat in a body of water on a gloomy day.

Border Boating

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents conduct maritime operations with soldiers to share insights about tactics and strategies used to safeguard the nation's southern border in Del Rio, Texas, March 7, 2025.

Credit: Army

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Soldiers drive armored military vehicle on a dusty road next to a tall fence.

Stryking Convoy

An Army Stryker armored vehicle operates along the southern border in Santa Teresa, N.M., March 26, 2025.

Credit: Army Sgt. Griffin Payne

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A Marine standing on a helicopter platform and holding a line looks down at a person in floatable device attached to the line as the sea below them ripples.

Making Waves

A Marine in an MV-22B Osprey pulls up a simulated diver during training in the Philippine Sea, June 3, 2025. Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit were deployed to ships of the USS America Amphibious Ready Group in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to help preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Credit: Marine Corps Sgt. Peter Rawlins

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A guardsmen fist-bumps a person wearing civilian clothes on an outdoor brick patio, with another person and a building in the background.

Friendly Fist Bump

A District of Columbia National Guard soldier fist-bumps a citizen outside Union Station in Washington, Aug. 14, 2025, while supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force.

Credit: Air Force Master Sgt. Amber Monio

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Airmen in silhouette talk in a snowfield with a satellite dish and round white structures in the distance.

Northern Network

Air Force personnel walk around the North Warning System Site FOX-M in Sanirajak, Nunavut, Canada, April 9, 2025. The North Warning System is a radar network designed to provide aerospace surveillance and early warning of potential threats approaching North American airspace.

Credit: Air Force Staff Sgt. Madeline Herzog

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A landing craft approaches a ship's well deck in blue water under a blue sky with a horizontal rainbow.

Rainbow Ride

A Navy air-cushioned landing craft approaches the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima underway in the Caribbean Sea, Oct. 15, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean to support the U.S. Southern Command mission, War Department-directed operations and President Donald J. Trump's priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland.

Credit: Navy Seaman Logan Goins

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Three men sit at a table and sign documents.

Signing Table

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, Panama's President José Raúl Mulino, center, and Panama's Public Security Minister Frank Alexis Ábrego, sign a memorandum of understanding in Panama City, April 9, 2025, regarding cooperative security activities. The Defense Department was renamed the War Department on Sept. 5, 2025.

Credit: Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech, DOD

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A Marine uses a tool to secure a sign to a post in a desert-like area as another Marine looks on, with a hill and blue sky in the background.

Warning Sign

Marine Corps Cpl. Manuel Cruz, left, and Lance Cpl. Ayden Aguirre, both assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, place National Defense Area warning signs near Yuma, Ariz., July 31, 2025.

Marine Corps Sgt. Mary Torres

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A sailor holds two children and a bouquet while a person hugs all of them.

Holding the World

A sailor hugs family members upon returning to Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., May 30, 2025, following an eight-month deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Noah J. Eidson

Families and Communities
Two veterans are escorted by service members in uniform while crowds to their left and right look on.

Honor and Respect

Medal of Honor recipients former Army Pfc. Kenneth David, left, and former Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Allan Kellogg Jr. render honors during a wreath-laying ceremony in commemoration of National Medal of Honor Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, March 25, 2025.

Credit: Elizabeth Fraser, Army

Families and Communities
Four men scream into microphones. One is wearing casual attire, and the other three are wearing military uniforms.

Start Your Engines!

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joins service members to deliver the iconic "start your engines" line for the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., May 25, 2025. The Defense Department was renamed the War Department on Sept. 5, 2025.

Credit: Dan Lee, DOD

Families and Communities
A Marine's wife applies camouflage paint to their face in a wooded area.

Paint Partners

Marine Corps Sgt. Jordan Touchet and his wife apply camouflage paint during a family day celebration at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 12, 2025. Marines and sailors showed family members a glimpse of their day-to-day duties during the event.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Judith Ann Lazaro

Families and Communities
A sailor gestures while conducting a seated band in front of a seated audience.

Conductor's Crescendo

Navy Ensign Kyle Beltram conducts the U.S. Navy Band in Elon, N.C., during its 2025 national tour, March 12, 2025.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Anastasia Bonotto

Families and Communities
An airman carries up a child up a metal ramp into a parked aircraft as another service member helps civilians on the flight line.

After the Storm

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Annie Kilborn, a C-17 Globemaster III loadmaster assigned to the Alaska National Guard's 144th Airlift Squadron, carries a child while helping to evacuate approximately 300 displaced Alaskans out of Bethel, Alaska, Oct. 15, 2025, in the aftermath of Typhoon Halong.

Credit: Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph Moon

Families and Communities
Hundreds of cadets in ceremonial dress cheer while tossing their caps at graduation at a stadium.

Class Dismissed

The U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2025 graduates toss their hats at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 29, 2025. The 909 cadets received their commissions as second lieutenants in the Air Force and Space Force.

Credit: Adalyn Greene, Air Force

Families and Communities
An airman shines a hand-held light into the left eye of a civilian sitting in a chair facing an eye chart taped to a wall.

'E' Is for Expert

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cassandra Milligan, an optometry technician assigned to the 934th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, examines a patient's eyes during Operation Healthy Delta in Sikeston, Mo., May 1, 2025. The operation was part of the Department of War's Innovative Readiness Training program, which delivers military training opportunities to increase deployment readiness while simultaneously providing key services to American communities. The Defense Department was renamed the War Department on Sept. 5, 2025.

Credit: Air Force Senior Airman Matthew S. Domingos

Families and Communities
A soldier holds out an artillery shell casing while facing a seated civilian at an outdoor ceremony.

Ceremonial Honor

Army Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Rodick, the 2025 Cyber Center of Excellence Drill Sergeant of the Year, presents a cannon shell casing to Carmen Drake-Owens, the widow of Army Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon, during a redesignation ceremony at Fort Gordon, Ga., Sept. 26, 2025. The installation's restored name honors the late soldier, who received a Medal of Honor for his valor during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia.

Credit: David Logsdon, Army

Families and Communities
An airman in a wheelchair next to an indoor pool instructs a swimmer.

Going Swimmingly

Retired Air Force Maj. Heather Sealover coaches an athlete practicing for the Air Force and Marine Corps Trials, a Paralympic-style competitive event open to U.S. service members and international partners in San Antonio, March 12, 2025.

Credit: Ahna Waarvik, Air Force Wounded Warrior Program

Families and Communities
A Marine sitting in grass holds up a book while four children laugh and one points.

Laugh Lines

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Cameron Morris reads to students during a volunteer event at Doris Miller Elementary School in San Diego, April 15, 2025. The event allowed Marines and sailors to interact with students and strengthen community ties.

Credit: Marine Corps Cpl. Renee Gray

Families and Communities
A Coast Guardsman holds a toy up while a dog jumps to get it on a beach under cloudy skies.

Air Ani

Coast Guard K-9 Ani plays with her handler at Jones Beach State Park, N.Y., during the FourLeaf Air Show, May 25, 2025. The annual event showcases military and civilian aviation excellence and pays tribute to the brave men and women, past and present, who have served the country.

Credit: Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Sydney Phoenix

Families and Communities
Service members wearing headsets and seated at a large desk with computer keyboards and monitors work in an office environment.

Always There

Service members assigned to the Permanent Change of Station Joint Task Force call center help military families at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., July 21, 2025. The 24/7 center supports complex household goods issues by offering guidance when standard systems fall short.

Credit: Air Force Senior Airman Iain Stanley

Families and Communities
Guardsmen hold a giant flag on a baseball field with crowds in the stands and aircraft flying above.

Opening Day

District of Columbia Air National Guardsmen perform a flyover in F-16 Fighting Falcons above Nationals Park in Washington while guard and active-duty troops hold an American flag on the field during pregame ceremonies for opening day, March 28, 2025.

Credit: Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Craig Clapper

Families and Communities
A man and a woman place flowers on a stone plaque outside.

Reverent Return

Walter LaSota, right, a Marine Corps veteran who served in World War II, and his daughter, Cynthia LaSota, place flowers on the monument plaque at Sugar Loaf Hill in Okinawa, Japan, April 1, 2025. LaSota, a two-time Purple Heart recipient, returned to the island through an Eagle Society program that helps WWII veterans return to the sites where they once battled.

Credit: Marine Corps Cpl. Jesse Davis

Families and Communities
A soldier shown from behind while standing in the turret of a tank salutes the president, who returns the salute while sitting in elevated reviewing stand with other dignitaries.

Birthday Tribute

A soldier salutes President Donald J. Trump from the turret of an M1A2 Abrams tank during the pass in review portion of the Army's 250th birthday parade in Washington, June 14, 2025.

Credit: Bernardo Fuller, Army

Families and Communities
A child in a winter hat and sweatshirt runs with open arms toward an airman in a flight suit and with a backpack on a runway with people in the background.

Happy Homecoming

A child runs to hug a loved one as Air National Guardsmen assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing return to South Burlington, Vt., April 22, 2025, following a deployment to Okinawa, Japan.

Credit: Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Rob Trubia

Families and Communities
A sailor takes a selfie with a giraffe at a zoo.

Get My Good Side

Navy Lt. j.g. Samantha Prewitt spends time with a giraffe during a community outreach event at Dickerson Park Zoo as part of Springfield-Branson Navy Week in Missouri, Aug. 29, 2025. It was one of 15 Navy Weeks during the service's 250th birthday celebration, which brought a variety of assets, equipment and personnel to cities for engagements designed to bring America's Navy closer to the people it protects.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Brittney Camacho-Pietri

Families and Communities
A soldier walks down a hallway backwards while speaking to youth walking forwards.

Above and Beyond

Junior ROTC students from Bibb County Schools in Georgia tour the Pentagon as part of the Defense Department's "Beyond the Battlefield" program, which aims to build public understanding and trust in the department while highlighting its mission, April 16, 2025. The Defense Department was renamed the War Department on Sept. 5, 2025.

Credit: Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech, DOD

Families and Communities
People in white dresses, some with bowed heads and one hand over their hearts, hold white flowers while standing near a tree in a cemetery.

A Mother's Love

Gold Star mothers participate in a ceremony to place flowers at the Mother of the Unknown Soldier Memorial Tree at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, Sept. 28, 2025. The event was part of the cemetery's annual commemoration of Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, which honors surviving relatives of service members who died in the line of duty.

Credit: Elizabeth Fraser, Army

Families and Communities
A kneeling sailor, shown in silhouette, handles a piece of drywall resting against a wall in a hallway.

Home Improvement

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Dickerson, a steelworker assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalion 1, measures drywall for repairs at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 9, 2025, while supporting an initiative of I Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Installations West aimed at revitalizing barracks infrastructure and improving operational readiness for Marines and sailors. In October, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the launch of a barracks task force charged with developing a departmentwide barracks investment plan.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Yoselin Isidoro

Families and Communities
A running child, shown from behind, high-fives a Marine playing trombone with fellow Corps musicians on a roadside.

Marathon Music

Marine Corps Cpl. Tyren Davis, a trombone player with the Quantico Marine Band, high-fives a runner during the Marine Corps Marathon Kids Run at the Pentagon, Oct. 25, 2025. The 1-mile fun run gave kids an opportunity to run with Marines as part of the 50th Marine Corps Marathon weekend.

Credit: Marine Corps Cpl. Braydon Rogers

Families and Communities
A veteran wearing a hat and jacket salutes while in front of other people.

Ever Resolute

World War II veteran Fred Nungesser salutes during a ceremony honoring the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy, France, June 1, 2025.

Credit: Army Staff Sgt. Reece Heck

Families and Communities
Three civilians watch an event and emote while standing in front of a crowd – one wiping away tears and two others smiling.

Pride and Joy

Guests of graduating sailors cheer during a U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command pass in review at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill., Feb. 13, 2025. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy's only boot camp.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher M. O'Grady

Families and Communities
A Marine in ceremonial dress smiles while handing a Barbie doll box to a child.

Toys for Tots

A Marine sorts toys with a child during First Lady Melania Trump's visit to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Dec. 8, 2025.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David Brandes

Families and Communities
A dozen people stand near or behind a camera as it films two soldiers raising their right hands while facing each other on the beach in front of an American flag.

Patriotic Promotion

Army Col. Jeffrey S. Palazzini administers the oath of office to Army 1st Lt. Spencer J. Myers during a ceremony promoting him to the rank of captain in Pacific Palisades, Calif., May 1, 2025. Fellow members of the Army Corps of Engineers Emergency Field Office-Palisades Fire recognized Myers for his leadership and dedication to the Los Angeles wildfire debris removal mission.

Credit: Christopher Rosario, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Families and Communities
A Marine fires a machine gun while crouched in the dirt

Dig In

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jacob Archer suppresses a simulated enemy position during an adversary force exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Feb. 4, 2025.

Credit: Marine Corps Cpl. Earik Barton

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Soldiers stand in formation underwater in a pool wearing gear while a soldier at the front of the formation receives a red flag from a diver.

Immersive Experience

Army divers assigned to the 7th Engineer Dive Detachment stand in formation underwater during a change of command ceremony at Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii, Feb. 21, 2025.

Credit: Army Staff Sgt. Dale Casagrande

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A helmeted and camouflaged soldier lays on grass and puts their hand on a blue mine with a wire running to the left while staring forward.

Mine All Mine

Army Spc. Daniel Momotic sets up a simulated M18 claymore mine as part of the Expert Infantry and Expert Soldier Badge test, which evaluates readiness and lethality, at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Sept. 15, 2025.

Credit: Army Sgt. Kammen Taylor

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An airman in boxing gear punches another airman in boxing gear in a boxing ring with a crowd in the background.

Ready to Rumble

Air Force Airman 1st Class Bradley Hoke, left, and Senior Airman Jason Santillana fight during the Rumble in the Deid IV boxing competition in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, March 7, 2025. All fighters wore protective headgear, mouth guards and approved sparring gloves to ensure their safety.

Credit: Air Force Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem

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A sailor in tactical gear aims a gun while under a red light.

Hall Security

A sailor clears a hallway during a visit, board, search and seizure drill aboard the USS George Washington while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 22, 2025.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class August Clawson

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Two Marines hold other Marines around their shoulders on a sandy beach.

Beach Buddies

Marines assigned to the 2nd Marine Logistics Group conduct buddy squats during a beach workout as part of the Corporals Course at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 19, 2025. The course provides Marines with the knowledge and skills to become successful small-unit leaders in the Marine Corps.

Credit: Marine Corps Cpl. Christian Salazar

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Two men raise their right hands while facing each other in front of a decorated wall.

Hero's Return

Defense Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reenlists Medal of Honor recipient Marine Corps Sgt. Dakota Meyer in the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon, April 17, 2025. Meyer, who received the medal in 2011 for heroic actions in Afghanistan, reenlisted into the Marine Corps Reserve following a 15-year break in service. The Defense Department was renamed the War Department on Sept. 5, 2025.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza, DOD

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Soldiers in silhouette surrounded by smoke fire a weapon creating an orangish blast against a starry sky illuminated by red streaks.

Blasting Bright Under Twinkling Lights

Soldiers participate in a night live-fire range event to certify crews on indirect fire missions using an M777 towed 155 mm howitzer at Yakima Training Center, Wash., July 22, 2025. The exercise was one of the culminating events of Raven Focus, a two-week collective training event.

Credit: Army Spc. Tristin Salisbury

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A sailor shown from behind fires a weapon from the open door of a helicopter flying near two ships at sea.

Titans of the Sea

An East Coast-based Navy SEAL aboard an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter fires at simulated opposing forces during the Titans of the Sea Presidential Review sea power demonstration in the Atlantic Ocean, Oct. 5, 2025. The event was one of many throughout the country showcasing maritime capabilities to commemorate the Navy's 250th birthday.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Trey Hutcheson

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The outlines of kneeling Marines and soldiers are illuminated in green by a night-vision device.

Tunnel Translucence

As seen through a night-vision device, Marines clear rooms during a simulated assault of an underground tunnel with soldiers during joint chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense training as part of Exercise Korea Viper 25 at Camp Stanley, South Korea, May 20, 2025. The recurring exercise demonstrates the U.S. and South Korean militaries' ability to respond as a unified force while strengthening relationships and trust between the allies.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Tucker Mocan

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth helps carry a soldier on a litter while running with a group of troops on a beach.

Stretcher Strides

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth participates in a physical training session on Omaha Beach with troops assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment in Normandy, France, June 6, 2025. Hegseth, in Normandy for the 81st anniversary of D-Day, frequently worked out with troops during the year, demonstrating firsthand the department's commitment to a fit, ready force. The Defense Department was renamed the War Department on Sept. 5, 2025.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza, DOD

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An airman slides down a rope attached to an aircraft as several other airmen kneel on the ground.

Ground Bound

Air Force pararescuemen conduct a fast-roping exercise from an MV-22B Osprey as part of a weapons and tactics instructor course at Auxiliary Airfield 2 near Yuma, Ariz., April 23, 2025. The seven-week course emphasizes operational integration of Marine Corps aviation supporting the Marine air-ground task force and joint and coalition forces.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Fabian Ortiz

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An Ammo shell flies up as service members shoot weapons outdoors with a blue sky and trees in the background.

TAG, You're It

National Guard soldiers and airmen compete in The Adjutant General's Match shooting competition at Fort Jackson, S.C., Feb. 23, 2025. The three-day TAG Match is designed to promote lethality and readiness through marksmanship training, testing skill and ability in a battle-focused environment.

Credit: Army Staff Sgt. Brian Calhoun

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Soldiers sit on top of a moving tank with an American flag as it drives and kicks up sand during the day.

Desert Drive

Soldiers maneuver an M2A3 Bradley fighting vehicle during a joint training event as part of Exercise Bright Star 25 at Mohamed Naguib Military Base, Egypt, Sept. 3, 2025. The multinational exercise fosters readiness, improves coordination and strengthens bonds between the U.S., Egypt and other partner nations.

Credit: Joseph Kumzak, Army

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An Air Force cadet trainee wearing a helmet and gloves and clenching an object in the mouth crawls through a tube obstacle.

Taking the Tube

An Air Force cadet trainee from the class of 2029 participates in an assault course during the second phase of basic training at the Jacks Valley complex of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 15, 2025. The second training phase is designed to push cadets to their physical limits to build self-confidence, teamwork and tactical skills.

Credit: Ray Bahner, Air Force

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A Marine in water pulls a rope attached to a craft to flip it over while another Marine hangs on to the other side of the craft as it flips.

Hang On

Marines practice flipping a combat rubber raiding craft during small-boat training at Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 23, 2025. The training focused on basic boat operations, handling and emergency procedures.

Credit: Marine Corps Sgt. Noah Masog

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A Marine fires a weapon from shoulder height creating a blast on either end of the weapon, while another Marine signals from in front.

Viking Spirit

A Marine fires a multirole antitank, antipersonnel weapon system during a live-fire range event in preparation for Exercise Joint Viking 25 in Setermoen, Norway, Feb. 27, 2025. The exercise focused on Arctic training and military-to-military engagements.

Credit: Marine Corps Cpl. Alexander Peterson

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A firefighter watches as four firefighters use a hose to put out a massive fire creating a smoky, orange background.

Feel the Heat

Army National Guard firefighters participate in a nighttime fire training scenario during Exercise Northern Strike 25-2 at Grayling Army Airfield, Mich., Aug. 4, 2025. The exercise was designed to build readiness and enhance interoperability with allied forces.

Credit: Army Sgt. Brayden Stephan

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A Coast Guard rugby player runs with the ball as opposing team members run behind them on a field against blurred background.

On the Run

Lt. Hollis Connick of the Coast Guard women's rugby team runs the ball downfield against the Navy women's rugby team during a match at the 2025 Armed Forces Women's Rugby Championship at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., Sept. 7, 2025. Armed Forces Sports fosters goodwill by promoting physical fitness, providing competitive opportunities for military athletes at national and international levels, enhancing recruitment and retention through sports diplomacy and building strategic partnerships with allied nations.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Colby A. Mothershead

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Three sailors in dive gear swim in blue water, one holding a long black device.

Underwater Warfighters

East Coast-based Navy SEALs conduct dive operations to increase maritime lethality during training off the coast of Key Largo, Fla., Feb. 18, 2025.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Katie Cox

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Three tanks with different flags fire weapons creating smoky bursts over a field.

Booming Plumes

U.S., Swiss and Italian tankers participate in the opening ceremony of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa International Tank Challenge at the 7th Army Training Command's Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Feb. 11, 2025. For the first time, a U.S. team won the challenge, which is designed to measure a tank crew's physical fitness, marksmanship and mental acuity.

Credit: Army Spc. Adrian Greenwood

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Soldiers stand in a group outdoors partly illuminated by red and blue lights under a dark sky.

Starry, Starry Night

U.S. soldiers conduct a safety brief before breach training as part of Exercise African Lion at Ben Ghilouf Training Area, Tunisia, April 25, 2025. The exercise enhances soldier readiness in breaching operations and overcoming battlefield obstacles.

Credit: Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth Rodriguez

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Marine Corps recruits march down a road on two sides while a drill instructor shouts from the middle of the dirt road during an overcast day.

A Marine's Road

Marine Corps Sgt. Angel Felix, a drill instructor, recites Marine Corps knowledge to recruits during a 2-kilometer introduction hike at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Feb. 27, 2025. During training, recruits go on a series of progressively longer hikes to physically and mentally condition themselves for future operations.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Janell B. Alvarez

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Service members in winter gear kneel on a snowfield as snow sprays them from a helicopter hovering nearby.

Battling the Elements

Participants in Special Operations Forces Arctic Medic 2025 shield themselves from the rotor wash of a departing Army UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter during training at Yukon Training Area, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Feb. 19, 2025. SOFAM 2025 was a Special Operations Command North training and validation event for unit medics that regularly conduct exercises and operations in the North American Arctic.

Credit: Alejandro Peña, Alaska National Guard

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A soldier in an aircraft fires a machine gun into the night sky.

Fire in the Sky

A Florida Army National Guardsman assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment, fires an M240H machine gun during aerial operations at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Fla., May 17, 2025. Soldiers conducted day and night training as both individual squadrons and as a joint task force.

Credit: Air Force Staff Sgt. Neysa Huertas Quinones

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Two soldiers run on a road, each with one arm around the other and the other holding a rifle in the air, while spectators cheer.

Leading the Way

Army 1st Lts. Kevin Moore, left, and Griffin Hokanson approach the finish line during a buddy run at the 41st Annual David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., April 13, 2025. Moore and Hokanson won the competition.

Credit: Army Sgt. Christopher Grey

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Sailors conduct helicopter casting training in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 21, 2025.

Sea Slog

Sailors conduct helicopter casting training in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 21, 2025.

Credit: Courtesy photo

Restore The Warrior Ethos
A soldier wearing ghillie suit-type camouflage holds up a drone in a field as another soldier sits nearby.

Hold for Launch

Army Spc. Benjamin Bell, left, and Sgt. Mackenzie Jones, both Washington National Guard snipers assigned to the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team's Long Range Surveillance Section, launch a drone during field-training exercise Raven Focus at Yakima Training Center, Wash., July 20, 2025. Soldiers assigned to the unit incorporated drone technology and surveillance tactics in preparation for its transition into a multifunctional reconnaissance company.

Credit: Army Staff Sgt. Adeline Witherspoon

Rebuild the Military
A B-2 bomber aircraft lifts off from a dark runway, trailing two fire-like contrails with lights in the background.

Midnight Hammer

An Air Force B-2 Spirit takes off at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., in support of Operation Midnight Hammer, June 21, 2025. The successful strike on Iranian nuclear facilities marked the first operational use of GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator "bunker buster" bombs.

Credit: Courtesy photo

Rebuild the Military
A guardsman in tactical gear and camouflage steps onto a wooden trench line as two others watch, surrounded by purple and green smoke.

Gimme Shelter

An Oklahoma Army National Guardsman maneuvers into a trench line as smoke obscures the simulated battlefield during Exercise Thunderstruck 2.0 at Camp Gruber Training Center, Okla., Sept. 13, 2025. The exercise highlighted the integration of emerging technologies to enhance lethality, improve survivability and sustain readiness for future conflicts.

Credit: Air Force Master Sgt. Amber Monio

Rebuild the Military
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth looks at a hand-held device a soldier is holding outdoors as others stand in the background.

Drone Discussion

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth observes drone operations with troops assigned to the Army's 3rd Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, and the Foreign Legion Force Poland Battle Group in Powidz, Poland, Feb. 15, 2025. The Defense Department was renamed the War Department on Sept. 5, 2025.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander C. Kubitza, DOD

Rebuild the Military
Sailors stand in a row atop a moored submarine.

Commissioning Crew

Sailors attached to the fast-attack submarine USS Iowa man the newly commissioned sub during a ceremony in Groton, Conn., April 5, 2025. The Iowa operates under Submarine Squadron 4, which provides fast-attack submarines that are ready, prepared and committed to meet the unique challenges of undersea combat and deployed operations in unforgiving environments across the globe.

Credit: Navy Chief Petty Officer Joshua Karsten

Rebuild the Military
A military bomber aircraft flies over California. There is flat ground below the aircraft and mountains in the background.

Sly in the Sky

A B-21 Raider, the nation's sixth-generation stealth bomber, conducts flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 11, 2025. The program is a cornerstone of the Air Force's nuclear modernization strategy, designed to deliver both conventional and nuclear payloads.

Credit: Courtesy photo

Rebuild the Military
A tank fires in a field creating a smoky fireball under dark sky with orangish hues.

Explosive Beauty

Soldiers assigned to the Ohio National Guard's 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 145th Armor Regiment, conduct live-fire training with an M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams main battle tank at the Camp Ripley Training Center near Little Falls, Minn., July 28, 2025. The battalion was the first unit within the 34th Infantry Division to receive the modernized vehicles.

Credit: Tony Housey, Minnesota National Guard

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A rocket launches leaving a yellowish streak from a cloudy dark sky to a body of water as its reflection is seen in the foreground.

Radiant Reflection

A Falcon 9 rocket launches for a mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., July 2, 2025. The mission added 27 more satellites to the constellation, bringing the total to more than 7,000 currently in low Earth orbit.

Credit: Robert Mason, Space Force

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The president stands and holds a folder while speaking in an office with a "Golden Dome for America" poster displayed behind him.

Golden Dome Announcement

President Donald J. Trump speaks with officials and staff in the Oval Office at the White House before announcing the Golden Dome missile defense system, May 20, 2025. The initiative represents a historic investment in American security and in protecting the homeland from advanced missile threats.

Credit: Joyce N. Boghosian, White House

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A missile leaves a trail of flames and smoke as it rises from its launch equipment with trees and cliffs in the background.

Sabre Strike

Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force conduct the first midrange capability live-fire exercise outside of the continental U.S., successfully sinking a maritime target with a Standard Missile-6 during Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 in Australia's Northern Territory, July 16, 2025. Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the U.S., advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and partners while enhancing collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns.

Credit: Army Sgt. Perla Alfaro

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A welder in black protective gear uses a tool on a metal part, creating flames and billowing smoke.

Weld Done

A welder fuses metal components at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Hawaii, May 5, 2025. Welders contribute to the complex, mission-critical work at the facility to sustain and modernize the Navy's submarines and surface ships.

Credit: Kenny Jones, Navy

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Service members tour an aircraft as it sits on the flight line.

The Eagle Has Landed

An Air Force F-15EX Eagle II sits on the flight line at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., June 11, 2025. The aircraft visited the base as part of a site activation task force, an initial step to prepare the 127th Wing with the proper infrastructure, personnel and support for the incoming F-15EX and KC-46 Pegasus missions.

Credit: Air Force 1st Lt. Elise Wahlstrom

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A spacecraft with four extended parachutes lands in the ocean while two small boats move towards the spacecraft.

Down to Earth

NASA astronauts and retired Navy Capts. Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, astronaut and Space Force Col. Nick Hague and Russia's Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov land in a Dragon spacecraft off the coast of Tallahassee, Fla., March 18, 2025. Williams and Wilmore returned to Earth following nine months at the International Space Station.

Credit: Keegan Barber, NASA

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Civilians and service members sit in front of laptops at a table in a tent-like space lit by red light.

Red in to the Mission

Service members and civilian partners operate from a tactical command post during Exercise Arcane Thunder 25 at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., May 28, 2025. The environment supported real-time coordination, cyber integration and multidomain operations to enhance mission readiness and interoperability during the exercise, which highlighted advancements in drone technology and the Army's commitment to innovation.

Credit: Army Staff Sgt. Rajheem Dixon

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Smoke billows up from a flames shooting from a rectangular device sitting in a hilly, snowy area.

Sentinel Test

The Air Force and an industry partner conduct a full-scale qualification static fire test of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile stage-one solid rocket motor in Promontory, Utah, March 6, 2025. The Sentinel program is modernizing the land-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad — replacing the aging Minuteman III ICBM weapons system.

Credit: R. Nial Bradshaw, Air Force

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A civilian pulls a yellow craft from water aboard a small boat as a Coast Guardsman looks on and a cutter operates in the distance.

Healy Haul

Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Jared Vannoy, right, and Justin Burnett, an Arctic Mobile Observing System research engineer, pull a Seaglider autonomous underwater vehicle aboard a small boat while operating in the Arctic Ocean, Aug. 5, 2025. The Seaglider spent a year gliding through the Arctic Ocean collecting oceanographic data before being recovered and brought aboard the Coast Guard cutter Healy, the United States' largest and most technologically advanced polar icebreaker.

Credit: Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Zack Ledoux

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A rocket launches into a dark sky, creating an illuminating trail with stars in the background.

Above and Beyond

A Falcon 9 mission launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Jan. 24, 2025. Vandenberg, which hosts space launches for military, civil and commercial space entities, experienced a high launch tempo in 2025 and is projected to have an average of about one launch every three days by the late 2020s.

Credit: Jennifer Green-Lanchoney, Space Force

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An airman aims a large, black weapon upwards outside a building.

Aim High

Air Force Master Sgt. David Rogers aims a DroneDefender weapon at a small unmanned aircraft system during Exercise Nexus Forge at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Feb. 5, 2025. More than 30 Air Force Reserve defenders sharpened their ability to detect, track and neutralize small unmanned aircraft system threats during the exercise.

Credit: Air Force Master Sgt. Jeffrey Grossi

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Air Force Gen. Dan Caine points at a drone on an exhibit table while speaking with two Marines.

Tech Talk

Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks to Marine Corps Attack Drone Team members during the AI+ Expo in Washington, June 4, 2025. The expo serves as a forum for industry, government and academic research entities to exhibit some of the latest technological breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, energy, microelectronics, manufacturing, augmented reality and beyond, as well as to discuss their implications for U.S. and allied competitiveness.

Credit: Marine Corps Sgt. Matthew Romonoyske-Bean

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A small aircraft takes off from a flight line with mountains in the distance.

Flight of the Future

A YFQ-42A unmanned combat aerial vehicle prototype takes off during flight testing at a California test location, Aug. 27, 2025. The aircraft was developed as part of the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program to accelerate the delivery of affordable, semi-autonomous aircraft.

Credit: Courtesy photo

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A Marine retrieves a drone from a blue sky with concrete structures and mountains in the background.

Catch Up

Marine Corps Cpl. Daniela Chicastorres retrieves a drone during the Training and Leadership Development Summit at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 26, 2025. The summit was designed to enhance and build upon the capabilities, employability, development and readiness of Marines.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jeslianne Torres

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A weapon system sits in a dark field illuminated by green light with a mountain in the background.

Green Means Go

Marines conduct a simulated fire mission with the Navy-Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System during Exercise Balikatan in Basco, Philippines, April 26, 2025. The mission marked the inaugural deployment of the newly fielded Marine Corps weapons system to the Philippines. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the U.S. and Philippine militaries designed to strengthen the nations' alliance, showcase the capable combined force and demonstrate commitment to regional security and stability.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Maksim Masloboev

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A missile launches out of the ocean and leaves behind spray, smoke and fire during the day.

Making a Splash

An unarmed Navy Trident II D5 Life Extension missile launches from an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine off the coast of Florida, Sept. 17, 2025. The launch was part of a planned test event that demonstrated the continued readiness of the nation's sea-based deterrent.

Credit: Navy

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Two airmen stand back-to-back in a large metal tube structure bathed in yellow light while facing opposite sides.

Totally Tubular

Air Force Senior Airman Samuel Griego, left, and Airman 1st Class Tavi Carter-Smith, both aerospace propulsion journeymen assigned to the 509th Maintenance Squadron, inspect an exhaust tube in the test cell at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., Aug. 20, 2025, during testing of a B-2 Spirit aircraft engine. The squadron's propulsion flight delivers safe, reliable engines for B-2s, ensuring the aircraft is ready to fly at a moment's notice.

Credit: Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua Hastings

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Two flames shoot from an unmanned aircraft ascending in blue sky.

Flight of the Valkyrie

An Air Force XQ-58A Valkyrie, an autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned aircraft, flies over the Gulf Test and Training Range at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 16, 2025, to advance human-machine teaming.

Credit: Ilka Cole, Air Force

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Three soldiers, one pointing, look toward a brown wall bisecting hilly terrain with buildings in the distance.

Close Surveillance

Soldiers monitor the barrier near Chula Vista, Calif., March 1, 2025, as part of U.S. Northern Command's work with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border and carry out President Donald J. Trump's executive orders on protecting the territorial integrity of the U.S. (This photo has been altered for security purposes by blurring out identification badges.)

Army Sgt. Crist Joseph

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A sailor uses a neon baton to signal to a moving aircraft illuminated by bright lights as it prepares to launch from a ship in the dark.

Jet Stream

A Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet launches from the USS Carl Vinson in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 12, 2025. The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group was part of Operation Rough Rider, a sustained campaign targeting the Houthi terrorist organization in Yemen to restore freedom of navigation and American deterrence.

Credit: Navy

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Guardsmen stand on a sidewalk and in a paved roundabout as three tactical vehicles pull to the side of the roundabout, with buildings, flags on tall poles and trees in the background on a sunny day.

In Union

District of Columbia National Guardsmen supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force stand guard at Union Station in Washington, Aug. 15, 2025. About 800 D.C. National Guard members provided support to law enforcement, including crowd management, presence patrols and perimeter control.

Credit: Air Force Staff Sgt. Natalie Filzen

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A civilian stands in front of a line of sailors on the flight line of a military naval ship.

Destroyer Visit

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth meets with sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner during a visit to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 25, 2025. The Defense Department was renamed the War Department on Sept. 5, 2025.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander C. Kubitza, DOD

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Five aircraft fly in front of three columns of ships traveling in blue water.

Trilateral Travel

U.S. and French naval aircraft fly in formation with ships assigned to the U.S. Navy's Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, the U.S. Military Sealift Command, the French Carrier Strike Group and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in the Philippine Sea during Exercise Pacific Stellar 2025, Feb. 12, 2025. The exercise was designed to advance coordination and cooperation among French, Japanese and U.S. maritime forces and to foster maritime security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Credit: Navy Seaman Apprentice Pablo Chavez

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U.S. soldiers and Panamanian security forces carrying gear ruck through a wooded area surrounded by clouds of orange smoke.

Ruck and Roll

U.S. soldiers and Panamanian security forces ruck to the combined jungle orientation course site at Aeronaval Base Cristóbal Colón, Panama, Aug. 16, 2025. The pilot course integrates jungle instructors and trainees from both nations.

Credit: Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kaylee Clark

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A Marine uses a tool to tie concertina wire together in rolls on a sunny, cloudless day, with a tall security wall and vehicles in the background.

Concertina Connections

Marine Corps Cpl. Jacob Shonk, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, ties concertina wire together before placing it on the border barrier in Yuma, Ariz., July 29, 2025.

Credit: Marine Corps Sgt. Mary Torres

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Two soldiers wearing helmets with face shields stand and watch a crowd of people gathered outdoors on a sunny day.

On Guard

Soldiers watch a crowd of people gathered near a federal building in Los Angeles, June 9, 2025. About 2,000 National Guardsmen were helping protect federal property in the area.

Credit: Army Capt. Alexander Werden

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A projectile shoots from a gun on ship, creating a smoke cloud over blue water.

Big-Gun Blast

The guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale fires an MK 45 5-inch gun during a live-fire exercise in the Pacific Ocean, May 10, 2025. The Stockdale was employed under U.S. Northern Command's maritime homeland defense authorities with a Coast Guard law enforcement detachment embarked to enable maritime interdiction missions to prevent the flow of illegal drugs and other illegal activity.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jerome D. Johnson

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A Marine behind the wheel of a vehicle watches as another stands under an adjacent aircraft parked on a flight line.

Munition Mission

Marines load a GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition into a Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Puerto Rico, Oct. 16, 2025. U.S. military forces were deployed to the Caribbean to support the U.S. Southern Command mission, War Department-directed operations and President Donald J. Trump's priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Michael Gavin

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A ship illuminated by white and blue lights sails under a starry sky.

Cosmic Cruise

The USS George Washington transits the Philippine Sea, Dec. 10, 2025. The George Washington is the Navy's premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States' commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Crowley

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Four Air Force jets fly in cloud-streaked blue sky over snowy terrain.

Over Greenland

North American Aerospace Defense Command F-35 Lightning II aircraft assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing, along with F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing, fly over Greenland, Oct. 7, 2025. U.S. Air Forces Northern, in partnership with Denmark and coordinated by NORAD, conducted a dynamic operational exercise that highlighted Greenland’s critical role in the defense of North America and underscored the importance of enhanced Arctic operational readiness.

Credit: Air Force 2nd Lt. Cameron Lewis

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Airmen work around several metal docks atop wooden pallets in a wide area against a partly cloudy sky.

Dock of the Bay

Airmen assigned to the 821st Contingency Response Element build a high-line dock to unload multipallet trains at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 12, 2025.

Credit: Army Staff Sgt. ShaTyra Cox

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Three soldiers in tactical gear move through a field in the dark illuminated by green light as seen through a night vision lens.

Patrol Perspective

Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border patrol along the southern border in Arizona, March 23, 2025.

Credit: Army Sgt. Chase Murray

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A soldier stands on a rope spanning a mountainous area while holding a second rope directly overhead.

High Achiever

Army Spc. Rosa Ibarra crosses a two-rope bridge under the supervision of Chilean army mountain instructors during Exercise Southern Vanguard 25 in Antuco, Chile, Aug. 16, 2025. The exercise underscores the Army's enduring commitment to regional partnership, security and cooperation across the Western Hemisphere.

Credit: Army Capt. Danielle Dias

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A guardsman stands on a balcony overlooking two trains in a station, as crowds of people walk below to the right.

Steadfast Sentinel

A South Carolina Army National Guardsman patrols Dupont Circle Metro station while supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force mission in Washington, Aug. 25, 2025.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Natalie Filzen

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A low sun in an orange sky creates a silhouetted view of Marines standing between three vehicles.

Philippine Scene

Marines complete the live-fire portion of an integrated air and missile defense event during Exercise Balikatan 25 at Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui, Philippines, April 25, 2025. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the U.S. and Philippine militaries designed to strengthen the nations' alliance, showcase the capable combined force and demonstrate commitment to regional security and stability.

Credit: Marine Corps Cpl. Iyer Ramakrishna

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Six aircraft fly over a green and gold statue in a blue sky with clouds as seen from the ground.

Free as a Bird

Air Force B-1B Lancer aircraft fly in formation with allied fighter jets over the Monument of Freedom in Riga, Latvia, during a Bomber Task Force Europe exercise, Aug. 19, 2025. The exercise demonstrated NATO air forces' ability to operate together.

Credit: Courtesy photo

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Soldiers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents ride in a small boat in a body of water on a gloomy day.

Border Boating

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents conduct maritime operations with soldiers to share insights about tactics and strategies used to safeguard the nation's southern border in Del Rio, Texas, March 7, 2025.

Credit: Army

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Soldiers drive armored military vehicle on a dusty road next to a tall fence.

Stryking Convoy

An Army Stryker armored vehicle operates along the southern border in Santa Teresa, N.M., March 26, 2025.

Credit: Army Sgt. Griffin Payne

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A Marine standing on a helicopter platform and holding a line looks down at a person in floatable device attached to the line as the sea below them ripples.

Making Waves

A Marine in an MV-22B Osprey pulls up a simulated diver during training in the Philippine Sea, June 3, 2025. Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit were deployed to ships of the USS America Amphibious Ready Group in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to help preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Credit: Marine Corps Sgt. Peter Rawlins

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A guardsmen fist-bumps a person wearing civilian clothes on an outdoor brick patio, with another person and a building in the background.

Friendly Fist Bump

A District of Columbia National Guard soldier fist-bumps a citizen outside Union Station in Washington, Aug. 14, 2025, while supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force.

Credit: Air Force Master Sgt. Amber Monio

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Airmen in silhouette talk in a snowfield with a satellite dish and round white structures in the distance.

Northern Network

Air Force personnel walk around the North Warning System Site FOX-M in Sanirajak, Nunavut, Canada, April 9, 2025. The North Warning System is a radar network designed to provide aerospace surveillance and early warning of potential threats approaching North American airspace.

Credit: Air Force Staff Sgt. Madeline Herzog

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A landing craft approaches a ship's well deck in blue water under a blue sky with a horizontal rainbow.

Rainbow Ride

A Navy air-cushioned landing craft approaches the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima underway in the Caribbean Sea, Oct. 15, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean to support the U.S. Southern Command mission, War Department-directed operations and President Donald J. Trump's priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland.

Credit: Navy Seaman Logan Goins

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Three men sit at a table and sign documents.

Signing Table

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, Panama's President José Raúl Mulino, center, and Panama's Public Security Minister Frank Alexis Ábrego, sign a memorandum of understanding in Panama City, April 9, 2025, regarding cooperative security activities. The Defense Department was renamed the War Department on Sept. 5, 2025.

Credit: Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech, DOD

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A Marine uses a tool to secure a sign to a post in a desert-like area as another Marine looks on, with a hill and blue sky in the background.

Warning Sign

Marine Corps Cpl. Manuel Cruz, left, and Lance Cpl. Ayden Aguirre, both assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, place National Defense Area warning signs near Yuma, Ariz., July 31, 2025.

Marine Corps Sgt. Mary Torres

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A sailor holds two children and a bouquet while a person hugs all of them.

Holding the World

A sailor hugs family members upon returning to Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., May 30, 2025, following an eight-month deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Noah J. Eidson

Families and Communities
Two veterans are escorted by service members in uniform while crowds to their left and right look on.

Honor and Respect

Medal of Honor recipients former Army Pfc. Kenneth David, left, and former Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Allan Kellogg Jr. render honors during a wreath-laying ceremony in commemoration of National Medal of Honor Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, March 25, 2025.

Credit: Elizabeth Fraser, Army

Families and Communities
Four men scream into microphones. One is wearing casual attire, and the other three are wearing military uniforms.

Start Your Engines!

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joins service members to deliver the iconic "start your engines" line for the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., May 25, 2025. The Defense Department was renamed the War Department on Sept. 5, 2025.

Credit: Dan Lee, DOD

Families and Communities
A Marine's wife applies camouflage paint to their face in a wooded area.

Paint Partners

Marine Corps Sgt. Jordan Touchet and his wife apply camouflage paint during a family day celebration at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 12, 2025. Marines and sailors showed family members a glimpse of their day-to-day duties during the event.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Judith Ann Lazaro

Families and Communities
A sailor gestures while conducting a seated band in front of a seated audience.

Conductor's Crescendo

Navy Ensign Kyle Beltram conducts the U.S. Navy Band in Elon, N.C., during its 2025 national tour, March 12, 2025.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Anastasia Bonotto

Families and Communities
An airman carries up a child up a metal ramp into a parked aircraft as another service member helps civilians on the flight line.

After the Storm

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Annie Kilborn, a C-17 Globemaster III loadmaster assigned to the Alaska National Guard's 144th Airlift Squadron, carries a child while helping to evacuate approximately 300 displaced Alaskans out of Bethel, Alaska, Oct. 15, 2025, in the aftermath of Typhoon Halong.

Credit: Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph Moon

Families and Communities
Hundreds of cadets in ceremonial dress cheer while tossing their caps at graduation at a stadium.

Class Dismissed

The U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2025 graduates toss their hats at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 29, 2025. The 909 cadets received their commissions as second lieutenants in the Air Force and Space Force.

Credit: Adalyn Greene, Air Force

Families and Communities
An airman shines a hand-held light into the left eye of a civilian sitting in a chair facing an eye chart taped to a wall.

'E' Is for Expert

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cassandra Milligan, an optometry technician assigned to the 934th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, examines a patient's eyes during Operation Healthy Delta in Sikeston, Mo., May 1, 2025. The operation was part of the Department of War's Innovative Readiness Training program, which delivers military training opportunities to increase deployment readiness while simultaneously providing key services to American communities. The Defense Department was renamed the War Department on Sept. 5, 2025.

Credit: Air Force Senior Airman Matthew S. Domingos

Families and Communities
A soldier holds out an artillery shell casing while facing a seated civilian at an outdoor ceremony.

Ceremonial Honor

Army Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Rodick, the 2025 Cyber Center of Excellence Drill Sergeant of the Year, presents a cannon shell casing to Carmen Drake-Owens, the widow of Army Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon, during a redesignation ceremony at Fort Gordon, Ga., Sept. 26, 2025. The installation's restored name honors the late soldier, who received a Medal of Honor for his valor during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia.

Credit: David Logsdon, Army

Families and Communities
An airman in a wheelchair next to an indoor pool instructs a swimmer.

Going Swimmingly

Retired Air Force Maj. Heather Sealover coaches an athlete practicing for the Air Force and Marine Corps Trials, a Paralympic-style competitive event open to U.S. service members and international partners in San Antonio, March 12, 2025.

Credit: Ahna Waarvik, Air Force Wounded Warrior Program

Families and Communities
A Marine sitting in grass holds up a book while four children laugh and one points.

Laugh Lines

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Cameron Morris reads to students during a volunteer event at Doris Miller Elementary School in San Diego, April 15, 2025. The event allowed Marines and sailors to interact with students and strengthen community ties.

Credit: Marine Corps Cpl. Renee Gray

Families and Communities
A Coast Guardsman holds a toy up while a dog jumps to get it on a beach under cloudy skies.

Air Ani

Coast Guard K-9 Ani plays with her handler at Jones Beach State Park, N.Y., during the FourLeaf Air Show, May 25, 2025. The annual event showcases military and civilian aviation excellence and pays tribute to the brave men and women, past and present, who have served the country.

Credit: Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Sydney Phoenix

Families and Communities
Service members wearing headsets and seated at a large desk with computer keyboards and monitors work in an office environment.

Always There

Service members assigned to the Permanent Change of Station Joint Task Force call center help military families at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., July 21, 2025. The 24/7 center supports complex household goods issues by offering guidance when standard systems fall short.

Credit: Air Force Senior Airman Iain Stanley

Families and Communities
Guardsmen hold a giant flag on a baseball field with crowds in the stands and aircraft flying above.

Opening Day

District of Columbia Air National Guardsmen perform a flyover in F-16 Fighting Falcons above Nationals Park in Washington while guard and active-duty troops hold an American flag on the field during pregame ceremonies for opening day, March 28, 2025.

Credit: Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Craig Clapper

Families and Communities
A man and a woman place flowers on a stone plaque outside.

Reverent Return

Walter LaSota, right, a Marine Corps veteran who served in World War II, and his daughter, Cynthia LaSota, place flowers on the monument plaque at Sugar Loaf Hill in Okinawa, Japan, April 1, 2025. LaSota, a two-time Purple Heart recipient, returned to the island through an Eagle Society program that helps WWII veterans return to the sites where they once battled.

Credit: Marine Corps Cpl. Jesse Davis

Families and Communities
A soldier shown from behind while standing in the turret of a tank salutes the president, who returns the salute while sitting in elevated reviewing stand with other dignitaries.

Birthday Tribute

A soldier salutes President Donald J. Trump from the turret of an M1A2 Abrams tank during the pass in review portion of the Army's 250th birthday parade in Washington, June 14, 2025.

Credit: Bernardo Fuller, Army

Families and Communities
A child in a winter hat and sweatshirt runs with open arms toward an airman in a flight suit and with a backpack on a runway with people in the background.

Happy Homecoming

A child runs to hug a loved one as Air National Guardsmen assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing return to South Burlington, Vt., April 22, 2025, following a deployment to Okinawa, Japan.

Credit: Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Rob Trubia

Families and Communities
A sailor takes a selfie with a giraffe at a zoo.

Get My Good Side

Navy Lt. j.g. Samantha Prewitt spends time with a giraffe during a community outreach event at Dickerson Park Zoo as part of Springfield-Branson Navy Week in Missouri, Aug. 29, 2025. It was one of 15 Navy Weeks during the service's 250th birthday celebration, which brought a variety of assets, equipment and personnel to cities for engagements designed to bring America's Navy closer to the people it protects.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Brittney Camacho-Pietri

Families and Communities
A soldier walks down a hallway backwards while speaking to youth walking forwards.

Above and Beyond

Junior ROTC students from Bibb County Schools in Georgia tour the Pentagon as part of the Defense Department's "Beyond the Battlefield" program, which aims to build public understanding and trust in the department while highlighting its mission, April 16, 2025. The Defense Department was renamed the War Department on Sept. 5, 2025.

Credit: Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech, DOD

Families and Communities
People in white dresses, some with bowed heads and one hand over their hearts, hold white flowers while standing near a tree in a cemetery.

A Mother's Love

Gold Star mothers participate in a ceremony to place flowers at the Mother of the Unknown Soldier Memorial Tree at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, Sept. 28, 2025. The event was part of the cemetery's annual commemoration of Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, which honors surviving relatives of service members who died in the line of duty.

Credit: Elizabeth Fraser, Army

Families and Communities
A kneeling sailor, shown in silhouette, handles a piece of drywall resting against a wall in a hallway.

Home Improvement

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Dickerson, a steelworker assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalion 1, measures drywall for repairs at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 9, 2025, while supporting an initiative of I Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Installations West aimed at revitalizing barracks infrastructure and improving operational readiness for Marines and sailors. In October, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the launch of a barracks task force charged with developing a departmentwide barracks investment plan.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Yoselin Isidoro

Families and Communities
A running child, shown from behind, high-fives a Marine playing trombone with fellow Corps musicians on a roadside.

Marathon Music

Marine Corps Cpl. Tyren Davis, a trombone player with the Quantico Marine Band, high-fives a runner during the Marine Corps Marathon Kids Run at the Pentagon, Oct. 25, 2025. The 1-mile fun run gave kids an opportunity to run with Marines as part of the 50th Marine Corps Marathon weekend.

Credit: Marine Corps Cpl. Braydon Rogers

Families and Communities
A veteran wearing a hat and jacket salutes while in front of other people.

Ever Resolute

World War II veteran Fred Nungesser salutes during a ceremony honoring the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy, France, June 1, 2025.

Credit: Army Staff Sgt. Reece Heck

Families and Communities
Three civilians watch an event and emote while standing in front of a crowd – one wiping away tears and two others smiling.

Pride and Joy

Guests of graduating sailors cheer during a U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command pass in review at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill., Feb. 13, 2025. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy's only boot camp.

Credit: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher M. O'Grady

Families and Communities
A Marine in ceremonial dress smiles while handing a Barbie doll box to a child.

Toys for Tots

A Marine sorts toys with a child during First Lady Melania Trump's visit to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Dec. 8, 2025.

Credit: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David Brandes

Families and Communities
A dozen people stand near or behind a camera as it films two soldiers raising their right hands while facing each other on the beach in front of an American flag.

Patriotic Promotion

Army Col. Jeffrey S. Palazzini administers the oath of office to Army 1st Lt. Spencer J. Myers during a ceremony promoting him to the rank of captain in Pacific Palisades, Calif., May 1, 2025. Fellow members of the Army Corps of Engineers Emergency Field Office-Palisades Fire recognized Myers for his leadership and dedication to the Los Angeles wildfire debris removal mission.

Credit: Christopher Rosario, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Families and Communities
A Marine fires a machine gun while crouched in the dirt

Dig In

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jacob Archer suppresses a simulated enemy position during an adversary force exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Feb. 4, 2025.

Credit: Marine Corps Cpl. Earik Barton

Restore The Warrior Ethos
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