Photos from November, 2009

KERMEN, Bulgaria — Deputy Governor Karabekirov performs the traditional water pouring with a copper vessel, decorated with crane's bill for good luck at the ribbon cutting for the Health Center here, Nov. 10. (U.S. Embassy photo by Plamen Ivanov) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
ZHERAVNA, Bulgaria — Army Lt. Col. Hartman, Vesi Terzievain (front), Governor Kavrakov and Navy Lt. Cmdr. Daystar speak at the ribbon cutting ceremony for a health center in the village here, Nov. 10. (U.S. Embassy photo by Plamen Ivanov) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
NAPLES, Italy — Navy Vice Adm. Harry B. Harris (left), renders honors to Vice Adm. Bruce W. Clingan during a change of command ceremony in which Clingan passed command of U.S. 6th Fleet to Harris on Naval Support Activity Naples. Clingan's next assignment is Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy. Harris takes command of 6th Fleet after serving as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Communication Networks and Deputy Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer. Harris will also take over the positions of Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa; Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander, Europe; and Commander, Striking and Support Forces NATO. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Gary Keen) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
KERMEN, Bulgaria — Deputy Governor, Sliven Region Mr. Karabekirov, Mayor of Kermen Mr. Nikolay Kolev and Army Lt.Col. Eric Hartman (left to right), speak at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the health center here, Nov. 10. (U.S. Embassy photo by Plamen Ivanov) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
KERMEN, Bulgaria — Army Lt. Col. Hartman (left), and Mayor Kolev cutting the ribbon at the opening of the health center here, Nov. 10. (U.S. Embassy photo by Plamen Ivanov) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
KRTSANISI, Georgia — Two Georgian soldiers communicate to a third after clearing a hardened aircraft structure during a company raid exercise here Nov. 13. The Georgia Deployment Program is a two-year training program with a goal to increase interoperability between the Georgian Army and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF). The training consists of four 6-month rotations designed to train four Georgian infantry battalions in counterinsurgency tactics, techniques and procedures in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan in support of ISAF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Grady T. Fontana) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
KRTSANISI, Georgia — Georgian Army Senior Lt. Gorgodze Zaza, Alpha company commander, 31st Light Infantry Battalion, gathers his men in a company school circle and issues his mission's orders here, Nov. 13. Zaza built a makeshift sand table on the ground using rocks, sticks and whatever else he could find to represent the terrain features. The Georgia Deployment Program is a two-year training program with a goal to increase interoperability between the Georgian Army and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF). The training consists of four 6-month rotations designed to train four Georgian infantry battalions in counterinsurgency tactics, techniques and procedures in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan in support of ISAF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Grady T. Fontana) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
KRTSANISI, Georgia — Corporal Peter B. Lang (left), an instructor with the Georgia Training Team, is rushed out of a building after being rescued by a Georgian soldier, Nov. 13. Lang role-played as a hostage during a company raid exercise. The Georgia Deployment Program is a two-year training program with a goal to increase interoperability between the Georgian Army and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF). The training consists of four 6-month rotations designed to train four Georgian infantry battalions in counterinsurgency tactics, techniques and procedures in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan in support of ISAF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Grady T. Fontana) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
KRTSANISI, Georgia — A team of Georgian soldiers takes cover behind a hardened aircraft structure as they inch closer to their objective during a company raid exercise, Nov. 13. The Georgia Deployment Program is a two-year training program with a goal to increase interoperability between the Georgian Army and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF). The training consists of four 6-month rotations designed to train four Georgian infantry battalions in counterinsurgency tactics, techniques and procedures in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan in support of ISAF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Grady T. Fontana) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
KRTSANISI, Georgia — Lance Cpl. Robert C. Wallisch, an instructor with the Georgia Training Team, gives a briefing to a company of Georgian soldiers prior to a company field exercise here, Nov. 13. The Georgia Deployment Program is a two-year training program with a goal to increase interoperability between the Georgian Army and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF). The training consists of four 6-month rotations designed to train four Georgian infantry battalions in counterinsurgency tactics, techniques and procedures in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan in support of ISAF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Grady T. Fontana) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
NAVAL STATION AMFIALIS, Greece — Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Rouhgead (left), tours different ship classes of the Hellenic Navy with Vice Adm. Loannis Karaiskos, Chief of the Hellenic Fleet (right), at Naval Station Amfialis in Greece, Nov. 13. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tiffini Jones Vanderwyst) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt — Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead (middle), speaks with the commanding officer of the Egyptian navy frigate ENS Sharm El Sheikh (F 901) while meeting with his counterpart, Commander-in-Chief of Egyptian Naval Forces Vice Adm. Mohab Mameesh, and other senior Egyptian leadership during a visit to Alexandria Naval Base, Nov. 11. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tiffini Jones Vanderwyst) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt — Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead (middle), receives a tour of the Egyptian naval fleet stationed at Alexandria Naval Base while meeting with his counterpart, Vice Adm. Mohab Mameesh, Commander in Chief of the Egyptian Naval Forces, Nov. 11. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tiffini Jones Vanderwyst) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MARGRATEN, Netherlands — U.S. Army Col. Francis Caponio (left), salutes wreaths presented on behalf of the American Battle Monuments Commission and USAG Schinnen as students who assisted in the presentation observe a moment of silence to honor all Veterans during a Veterans Day Ceremony held at the American Netherlands Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Netherlands Nov. 11, 2009. (Photo by Tom Budzyna) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
INCIRLIK, Turkey — Members of the 39th Air Base Wing file by and salute the monument of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk during the Ataturk Memorial Day Ceremony, Nov. 10, 2009 in front of the 10th Tanker Base Command Headquarters. The ceremony was open to all members of the Incirlik community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amber Ashcraft) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MARGRATEN, Netherlands — Students from the AFNORTH International High School and the Geilenkirchen Elementary School sing a song called "We Honor Those Who Serve" during a Veterans Day Ceremony held at the American Netherlands Cemetery and Memorial here, Nov. 11, 2009. (Photo by Tom Budzyna) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MARGRATEN, Netherlands — Music Director Liz Nuits leads students from the AFNORTH International High School and the Geilenkirchen Elementary School in singing a song called "We Honor Those Who Serve" during a Veterans Day Ceremony held at the American Netherlands Cemetery and Memorial here, Nov. 11, 2009. (Photo by Tom Budzyna) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MARGRATEN, Netherlands — The AFNORTH International High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps present the Colors during a Veterans Day Ceremony held at the American Netherlands Cemetery and Memorial here, Nov. 11, 2009. (Photo by Tom Budzyna) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
INCIRLIK, Turkey — Turkish Air Force members stand at attention during the Ataturk Memorial Day Ceremony, Nov. 10, 2009 in front of the 10th Tanker Base Command Headquarters. The ceremony was open to all members of the Incirlik community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amber Ashcraft) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
INCIRLIK, Turkey — Members from the 39th Air Base Wing Honor Guard, present a wreath in honor of the 71st anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's death during the Ataturk Memorial Day Ceremony, Nov. 10, 2009 in front of the 10th Tanker Base Command Headquarters. The ceremony was open to all members of the Incirlik community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amber Ashcraft) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
INCIRLIK, Turkey — Turkish and American Air Force members salute during a moment of silence during the Ataturk Memorial Day Ceremony, Nov. 10, 2009 in front of the 10th Tanker Base Command Headquarters. The ceremony was open to all members of the Incirlik community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amber Ashcraft) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
BERLIN — Dr. Harold E. Raugh Jr. of the V Corps command history office walks along the remains of the former Berlin Wall, Nov. 6. In the 1970s, as platoon leader of a scout platoon, Raugh led patrols along the infamous barrier, just meters away from his East German counterparts in the city's Soviet sector. (U.S. Army Europe photo) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
A crowd of West German citizens gathers at the newly created opening in the Berlin Wall at Potsdamer Platz. (Photo by Staff Sgt. F. Lee Corkran) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
(Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement graphic) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
NAPLES, Italy — Ukrainian Navy Vice Adm. Viktor Maksimov, first deputy commander-in-chief, formally arrives at the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet headquarters on Naval Support Activity Capodichino. Maksimov is in Naples as part of a visit with Naples-based U.S. Navy leadership and to attend a Sea Breeze Exercise concept development conference. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Holmes) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
NAPLES, Italy — Ukrainian Navy Vice Adm. Viktor Maksimov, first deputy commander-in-chief, talks with U.S. Navy Captain John W. Moore, Commander, Task Force 67, and Naples-based U.S. Navy leadership during a Sea Breeze Exercise concept development conference at U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet headquarters on Naval Support Activity Capodichino, Nov. 4. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Gary Keen) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
Soldiers from the U.S. Army Berlin Command face off against police from the former East Germany during one of several standoffs at Checkpoint Charlie in 1961. On several occasions that year, a U.S. quick reaction force of tanks and infantry Soldiers stood watch as armed military policemen escorted U.S. personnel across the border into East Berlin. (U.S. Army Photo) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
HATZOR, Israel — Dr. (Maj.) Sean Fortson, the doctor for the joint task force participating in exercise Juniper Cobra 2010 and an emergency room physician at the Landstuhl (Germany) Regional Medical Center, gets a good look at an Israeli military ambulance at Israel's Hatzor Air Base. While deployed to Israel in support of JC 10, Fortson has been coordinating medical support with Israeli hospitals and clinics in the area. (U.S. Navy photo) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
RAMSTEIN, Germany — Escorting the last H-model C-130 for its official departure from the air base here, Nov. 2, mission navigator, Capt. Matthieu Rigollet (left), flight engineer, Staff Sgt. Eric Kleser (center), and instructor navigator, Capt. Ryan Donohoe (2nd from right) assist aircraft commander Capt. Tyler Robertson (right), and co-pilot Capt. Matt Schoomaker (not shown) in taxiing for departure. As the last in a series of H-model C-130's to depart Ramstein, making way for the 86th Airlift Wing's newer J-model Hercules fleet, the traditional crew positions of navigator and flight engineer will no longer be required for the newer J-model that uses newer navigation and engine system technology. (U.S. Air Forces in Europe photo) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
RAMSTEIN, Germany — C-130 aircrew and aircraft maintainers attend an official ceremony at the air base here, Nov. 2, to bid farewell to the last in a series of H-model C-130s to officially depart the 86th Airlift Wing to make way for the newer J-model Hercules fleet. The 38-yr-old cargo plane, known as tail number 1299, was the last H-model Hercules to roll off the Lockheed Martin assembly line in 1971 and entered service for the U.S. Air Force in 1973 where it has since supported every major airlift campaign from Vietnam to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Now on its last day in service to the U.S. Air Force, it will fly to Poland where it will begin service for the Polish Air Force's 14th Air Transport Squadron at Powidz Air Base as part of a program for building partnership capacities between the United States and Poland. (U.S. Air Forces in Europe photo by Master Sgt. Scott Wagers) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
ABOVE GERMANY — After its official departure from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, November 2, as the last in a series of H-model C-130's making way for the 86th Airlift Wing's newer J-model Hercules fleet, the 38-yr-old cargo plane, known as tail number 1299, tipped its wing's over the Ramstein tower and runway before vectoring eastwards towards Poland where it will begin service for the Polish Air Force's 14th Air Transport Squadron at Powidz Air Base as part of a program for building partnership capacities between the United States and Poland. Tail 1299 was the last H-model Hercules to roll off the Lockheed Martin assembly line in 1971 and entered service for the U.S. Air Force in 1973 where it has since supported every major airlift campaign from Vietnam to Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Forces in Europe photo by Master Sgt. Scott Wagers) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
ASHKELON, Israel — Lea Malul, public affairs director for the Barzilai Medical Center here, explains the layout of the hospital to Lt. Col. John Sanders, the U.S. Army Europe medical planner serving as surgeon for the joint task force participating in exercise Juniper Cobra 2010 (right), and Maj. Sean Fortson of the Landstuhl (Germany) Regional Medical Center, Oct. 28. Juniper Cobra is a combined air defense exercise designed to improve interoperability between the United States and Israeli forces. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Fay Conroy) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
POWIDZ AIR BASE, Poland — After flying a U.S. Air Force H-model C-130 Hercules to its final destination here, aircraft commander, Capt. Tyler Robertson, navigator, Capt. Ryan Donohoe and flight engineer, Staff Sgt. Eric Kleser are greeted by Polish Air Force's 33rd Air Base Commander, Brig. General Tadeusz Mikutel (4th from right), and 14th Air Transport Squadron Commander, Lt. Col. Mieczyslaw Gaudyn (5th from right). The aircraft and crew, from Ramstein Air Base, Germany's 37th Airlift Squadron, are delivering the second U.S. Air Force C-130H Hercules to the country of Poland as part of a program for building partnership capacities between the United States and Poland. The 38-yr-old plane was the last H-model C-130 produced by Lockheed Martin in 1971 and was the final H-model C-130 to officially depart Ramstein as the 86th Airlift Wing upgrades to the J-model Hercules. (U.S. Air Forces in Europe photo by Master Sgt. Scott Wagers) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
ATLANTIC OCEAN — Ensign Francis Dore, the navigator aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67), reviews navigational charts with commanding officer Cmdr. Edward Devinney. Cole recently completed Exercise Joint Warrior 09-2 and is continuing routine operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matthew Bookwalter) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...