Charlie Battery of the 145th Field Artillery build comrade together with an impromptu dance as a unit to Toto’s Africa as light rain falls on their first day of training in Tan-Tan, Morocco June 7, 2023. Eighteen nations and approximately 8,000 personnel will participate in African Lion 2023, U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual combined, joint exercise that will take place in Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia from May 13-June 18, 2023. A U.S. Army Soldier stands in the back of an m115 armored personnel carrier in Tantan, Morocco, 14 July, 2023. Eighteen nations and approximately 8,000 personnel will participate in African Lion 2023, U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual combined, joint exercise that will take place in Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia from May 13-June 18, 2023. Soldiers serving with Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Division, shoot a round down range from their M777A2 howitzer on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 22, 2014. The round was part of a shoot to register, or zero, the howitzers, which had just arrived on KAF from Forward Operating Base Pasab. The shoot also provided training for a fire support team from 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th IBCT, 4th Inf. Div. A gun crew, from the 1-145th Field Artillery Battalion, 65th Field Artillery Brigade, Utah National Guard, fires their first round at Orchard Combat Training Center during Western Strike 22, June 10, 2022. The first round in any live fire event is shot with the crews outside of the gun and fired with a 50 foot lanyard to ensure the gun is safe to shoot. Western Strike 22 is an eXportable Combat Training Capabilities exercise led by the 65th FAB that provides National Guard Soldiers immersed training similar to a combat training center and aims to increase participating unit’s readiness and lethality. U.S. East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare Operators (SEALs) clear a ship training module floating on a pier in Mangalia, Romania, as part of Trojan Footprint March 8, 2024. Trojan Footprint is a multinational training exercise that brings NATO and partner forces together and demonstrates their ability to respond seamlessly to any threat made against global freedom and stability.M109 Paladin crew wait between fire missions during Western Strike 22, June 11, 2022 at Orchard Combat Training Center. Western Strike 22 is an eXportable Combat Training Capabilities exercise led by the 65th Field Artillery Brigade, Utah National Guard, that provides National Guard Soldiers immersed training similar to a combat training center and aims to increase participating unit’s readiness and lethality. A cannon crewmember with the 1-145th Field Artillery, 65th Field Artillery Brigade, Utah National Guard, walks back to his M109 Paladin artillery after their gun’s initial test firing during Western Strike 22, June 10, 2022 held at Orchard Combat Training Center. The first round at a training site is shot with the crews outside of the gun and fired using a 50 yard lanyard to ensure the gun is safe to shoot. Western Strike 22 is an eXportable Combat Training Capabilities exercise led by the 65th FAB that provides National Guard Soldiers immersed training similar to a combat training center and aims to increase participating unit’s readiness and lethality. Special operations forces from the U.S., U.K., and Romania fast rope onto a ship trainer in the port of Mangalia, Romania from a Romanian Helicopter during Trojan Footprint, March 8, 2024. Trojan Footprint brings together NATO and partner special forces operators to train; Ensuring seamless cooperation and interoperability should a threat to global freedom and stability arise.Sgt. Keith Beverly, a power generator mechanic and native of Tulsa, Okla., passionately sings during the Soldier Show at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Oct. 22, 2014. This performance was the first time in its 30-year history that the Soldier Show was performed in a combat zone. Special Forces Soldiers from the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) train on the Carl-Gustaf recoilless rifle at Orchard Combat Training Center during Western Strike 22, June 12, 2022. Western Strike 22 is an eXportable Combat Training Capabilities exercise led by the 65th Field Artillery Brigade, Utah National Guard, that provides National Guard Soldiers immersed training similar to a combat training center and aims to increase participating unit’s readiness and lethality. Utah National Guard conducts the 2022 Best Warrior Competition on camp williams Nov. 11, 2021. Soldiers sight in their assigned M4, and are familiarized on m17 pistols and the mossberg 500 shotgun. Staff Sgt. Andrea Chica with the 97th Aviation Troop Command, touches the end of the pool to finish her swimming portion of the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, conducted at Camp Williams, Utah Oct. 16, 2022.This year’s competition offers an opportunity for competitors to earn the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.The Utah National Guard Best Warrior Competition is an annual event that brings together Soldiers and Airmen from the major commands to compete for the title of Soldier/Airman-of-the-Year, Noncommissioned Officer-of-the-Year and Senior NCO-of-the-Year. The Army winners of this competition will represent the Utah Army National Guard at the Region VII Best Warrior Competition next spring. Sgt. Maurice Manns II with the 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, emerges for a breath during the swimming portion of the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge , conducted at Camp Williams, Utah Oct. 16, 2022. This year’s competition offers an opportunity for competitors to earn the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge. The Utah National Guard Best Warrior Competition is an annual event that brings together Soldiers and Airmen from the major commands to compete for the title of Soldier/Airman-of-the-Year, Noncommissioned Officer-of-the-Year and Senior NCO-of-the-Year. The Army winners of this competition will represent the Utah Army National Guard at the Region VII Best Warrior Competition next spring. A multinational assembly of soldiers and civilians gather in La Cambe German Military Cemetery, Normandy, France June 5, 2024 to pay respects to the German dead who lost their lives during the liberation of France. Though the cemetery was established in 1944, it would be officially inaugurated in 1961 under the banner of reconciliation. Today Germany and France stand together as allies, prepared to defend each other should the need arise. Commemorative events such as these serve to honor the sacrifices made 80 years ago in securing peace and security, and inspiring future generations to value a collective vision of global peace.A multinational assembly of soldiers and civilians gather in La Cambe German Military Cemetery, Normandy, France June 5, 2024 to pay respects to the German dead who lost their lives during the liberation of France. Though the cemetery was established in 1944, it would be officially inaugurated in 1961 under the banner of reconciliation. Today Germany and France stand together as allies, prepared to defend each other should the need arise. Commemorative events such as these serve to honor the sacrifices made 80 years ago in securing peace and security, and inspiring future generations to value a collective vision of global peace.A multinational assembly of soldiers and civilians gather in La Cambe German Military Cemetery, Normandy, France June 5, 2024 to pay respects to the German dead who lost their lives during the liberation of France. Though the cemetery was established in 1944, it would be officially inaugurated in 1961 under the banner of reconciliation. Today Germany and France stand together as allies, prepared to defend each other should the need arise. Commemorative events such as these serve to honor the sacrifices made 80 years ago in securing peace and security, and inspiring future generations to value a collective vision of global peace.U.S. Marines, French Marines and U.S. Navy hold a ceremony to pay respect to U.S. service members buried at the Normandy American Cemetery, Collevillle-sur-Mer, France, June 2, 2024. Commemorative events such as these serve to honor the sacrifices U.S. service members made 80 years ago in securing peace and security, and inspiring future generations to value a collective vision of global peace.
Ariel J. Solomon 