Photos from July, 2008

LANDSTUHL, Germany — Navy Petty Officer First Class Sean Godown turns over donations to Navy Hospital Corpsman Tim Prasser at the Navy-Marine Corps Liaison office at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center July 30. The items, donated by military personnel in Stuttgart, Germany, include clothing, books, games and personal hygiene items for injured Marines and Sailors coming here for medical treatment. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Lt. Cmdr. Corey Barker) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
VAZIANI TRAINING AREA, Georgia — Troops from Georgia, the United States, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Ukraine stood together, here, for the last time on July 30, at the closing ceremony of this year's Immediate Response exercise. During the exercise troops conducted hundreds of live-fire and situational training exercises; combat lifesaver classes; and Improvised Explosive Device training. Immediate Response is an annual bilateral security cooperation exercise conducted between the U.S. and NATO and coalition partners. The purpose of this year's exercise was to increase the cooperation and partnership between U.S. and Georgian forces while preparing the Georgian Military for operations in Iraq. (Department of Defense photo by Army Capt. Bryan Woods) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MOKEN, Bulgaria — Members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion-74 Seabees and Bulgarian General Maintenance Engineering Battalion soldiers gather with children at a July 24 ribbon-ceremony that marked the end of construction efforts at the kindergarten here. Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MK AIRFIELD ADMINISTRATION CENTER, Romania — Army Staff Sgt. Jonathon Ivie of the Medical Department Activities Heidelberg Germany measures an elderly woman for new glasses during the teammâ?s visit here. (Department of Defense Photo by JTF-E public affairs) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
USS MCFAUL, At Sea — Navy Chief Master at Arms Kevin Bell, leads a VBSS landing team from USS McFaul (DDG74) aboard Greek ship Hydra during search and seizure training exercises with partner nations as part of Sea Breeze 2008. Sea Breeze 08 is an invitational joint and combined maritime exercise with the goals of enhancing multinational interoperability, developing Black Sea-nation maritime security capabilities, and improving involvement in the larger Black Sea Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) strategy. Sixteen participating nations in the 11th anniversary exercise include the Ukrainian hosts and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Canada, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Macedonia, Norway, Romania, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 1st Anthony Dallas) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
ODESSA, Ukraine — A Danish dive instructor helps a Macedonian diver toward the water during an underwater lifting training aboard Ukrainian Search and Rescue (SAR) Tug UPN Krements. The evolution included U.S., Danish and Macedonian divers. This training is part of Sea Breeze 2008. Sea Breeze 08 is an invitational joint and combined maritime exercise with the goals of enhancing multinational interoperability, developing Black Sea-nation maritime security capabilities, and improving involvement in the larger Black Sea Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) strategy. Sixteen participating nations in the 11th anniversary exercise include the Ukrainian hosts and Armenia; Azerbaijan; Canada; Denmark; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Latvia; Macedonia; Norway; Romania; Turkey; the United Kingdom and the United States. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Eddie Harrison) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71), at sea — A French F-2 Rafale fighter performs a touch-and-go maneuver during combined French and American carrier qualifications aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier July 23. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sheldon Rowley) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MK AIRFIELD ADMINISTRATION CENTER, Romania — Soldiers from the New Mexico National Guard's Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry Brigade carry a "wounded" soldier into a vehicle to protect him from "gunfire" at the Babadag Training Area here, July 14. (Department of Defense photo by Sgt. Aimee Millham) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
VAZIANI TRAINING AREA, Georgia — U.S. soldiers from 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, Georgia Army National Guard, carry a simulated wounded Georgian army soldier to a waiting UH-60 Blackhawk medical evacuation helicopter, July 22, as a part of a situational training exercise at the Vaziani Training Area, near Tbilisi, Georgia. The training is a part of Exercise Immediate Response 2008, a bilateral security cooperation exercise conducted between U.S. and coalition partners: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine. (Department of Defense photo by Maj. John Alderman IV) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MK AIRFIELD ADMINISTRATION CENTER, Romania — U. S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Elijah Acklin, guides Romanian paratroopers through pre-jump training in preparation for airborne operations here, July 15, 2008. (Department of Defense photo by Maj. Jennifer Johnson) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MK AIRFIELD ADMINISTRATION CENTER, Romania — A Black Hawk helicopter deposits a squad of 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Battalion soldiers near a village known to house a high value Insurgent target. The training was held recently at Babadag Training Area in Romania, July 11, 2008. (Department of Defense photo by Pfc. Gerald Wilson) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
NORWEGIAN SEA — Navy Fire Controlman 2nd Class Gary Weaver scans his area before allowing USS Elrod's (FFG 55) visit, board, search and seizure team to move forward to the bridge of Russian anti-submarine warfare ship Severomorsk as part of Exercise Northern Eagle 2008. Northern Eagle is a 12-day trilateral exercise including the U.S., Russia and Norway beginning July 17. The exercise, held in the Norwegian and Barents seas, focuses on maritime interdiction operations, search and rescue and tactical interoperability to improve maritime safety and security in Northern Europe. This exercise marks the third time the Russian Federation Navy has hosted the exercise, and the first time the U.S. and Russian navies have invited Norway to participate. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chris Henry) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
AKROTIRI, Crete, Greece — U.S. Navy firefighters work to extinguish a brush fire near the Chania International Airport as a Greek M-26 firefighting helicopter drops water on the area from above. Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souday Bay responded to a request for assistance from local authorities and dispatched 21 firefighters and five emergency vehicles to the scene here, July 23, 2008, along with two Seabees and other personnel for ground support and liaison. (Department of Defense photo by Mr. Paul Farley) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
BOBLINGEN, Germany — Two soldiers from C Company 2nd Battalion, 10 Special Forces Group, train on mountaineering techniques on the Repel tower at the 7 Army Training Command's Range Complex here July 21, 2008. (Department of Defense photo by Martin Greeson) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
BWARI, Nigeria — U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Keith Ross, 1st Combat Communications Squadron (left), and Sister Tina of St. Therese Primary school (right), hand-out soccer balls to the top ten performers of the school July 17, 2008. Ross brought the balls to give out to children in between participating in the Africa Endeavor Exercise. AE-08, a U.S. European Command-sponsored exercise, brings the U.S. and African nations together to plan and execute interoperability testing of command, control, communications and computer systems from participant nations in preparation for future African humanitarian, peacekeeping and disaster relief operations. (Department of Defense photo by Air Force Airman 1st Class Nathan Lipscomb) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
ATLANTIC OCEAN — Navy Lt. Cmdr. Eric Hanks shoots a French F-2 Rafale during combined French and American carrier qualifications aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) July 20. This event marks the first integrated U.S. and French carrier qualifications aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Snyder) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
ODESSA, Ukraine — A German Primary Jumpmaster checks the parachute of a Ukrainian Paratrooper. This parachute is a German parachute and is being used by the paratroopers for the first time. This jump is a part of parachute familiarization training provided by the German jumpmasters aboard a German C160 Aircraft Transall. This instruction is a part of Sea Breeze 2008. Sea Breeze 08 is an invitational joint and combined maritime exercise with the goals of enhancing multinational interoperability, developing Black Sea-nation maritime security capabilities, and improving involvement in the larger Black Sea Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) strategy. Sixteen participating nations in the 11th anniversary exercise include the Ukrainian hosts and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Canada, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Macedonia, Norway, Romania, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Eddie Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
ODESSA, Ukraine — American divers attached to U.S. Naval Underwater Construction Team 1 assist Ukrainian Diver Lt. Leonid Rozhno out of the water during dive gear familiarization training as a part of Sea Breeze 2008. Sea Breeze 08 is an invitational joint and combined maritime exercise with the goal of enhancing multinational interoperability, developing Black Sea-nation maritime security capabilities, and improving involvement in the larger Black Sea Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) strategy. Sixteen participating nations in the 11th anniversary exercise include the Ukrainian hosts and Armenia; Azerbaijan; Canada; Denmark; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Latvia; Macedonia; Norway; Romania; Turkey; the United Kingdom and the United States. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Eddie Harrison) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
VAZIANI TRAINING AREA, Georgia — U.S. Army Brig. Gen. William B. Garrett U.S Southern European Task Force (Airborne) Commander and exercise director for Exercise Immediate Response 2008, leads Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili (second from right), Georgian Minister of Defense, Davit Kezerashvili (third from right) and Georgian Chief of Joint Defense Brig. Gen. Zaza Gogava on a tour of Vaziani Training Area. During the tour they received briefings from both U.S. and Georgian officers and observed a combined training event. Immediate Response is an annual, bilateral security cooperation exercise conducted between U.S. and coalition partners. The training is designed to implement combined interoperability, integrated live fire exercises, training on responsive medical aide in a combat environment, and bi-lateral cooperation with Georgian and other multinational defense forces. This is the first time that Immediate Response has been conducted in Georgia. (Department of Defe Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
ABUJA, Nigeria — Gen. A.O. Azazi, Nigerian Chief of Defense Staff, inspects the troops during the opening ceremony of Africa Endeavor 2008 on Nigerian Air Force Base, Abuja, July 16, 2008. Africa Endeavor 2008, a U.S. European Command-sponsored exercise, brings the U.S. and African nations together to plan and execute interoperability testing of command, control, communications, and computer systems from participant nations in preparation for future African humanitarian, peacekeeping, and disaster relief operations. (Department of Defense photo) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW, United Kingdom — Air Force Maj. Roland Hillier explains that a piece of equipment that the company makes for his aircraft gives the pilots increased situation awareness, to Joe McCarthy (left), and Joe Senftle of BAE Systems July 14. Hillier is deployed here with the F-15 Eagle from Royal Air Force Lakenheath to support the trade show and airshow July 14-20. U.S. military presence at the event helps to promote standardization and interoperability of equipment with NATO allies, as well as demonstrate that U.S. industry is producing equipment critical to the success of current and future military operations. (Department of Defense photo) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
ODESSA, Ukraine — The USS McFaul (DDG 74) damage control team demonstrates emergency actions aboard the ship here as part of Multinational Sea Breeze 2008 exercise July 15. Sea Breeze, in its 11th year, is a joint and combined maritime exercise with the goals of enhancing interoperability, developing Black Sea-nation maritime security capabilities, and improving involvement in the larger Black Sea Theater Security Cooperation strategy. (Department of Defense photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Anthony Dallas) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MALABO, Equatorial Guinea — U.S. Coast Guard Ensign Charles Arena, a boarding-team member aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas, explains law-enforcement boarding procedures to several Equatorial Guinea Naval Officers during a mock boarding here, July 10. Dallas is deployed to the region under the direction of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS). APS is an initiative aimed at strengthening global-maritime partnerships through training and other collaborative activities in order to improve global maritime safety and security. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Tasha Tully) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
ODESSA, Ukraine — US Navy Commodore John Moore, Deputy Commander Sea Breeze 2008, exchange greetings with Vice Admiral Igor Tenyukh, Commander Naval Forces, Ukraine and Vice Admiral Viktor Maximov, First Deputy Commander of Ukrainian Naval Forces during opening ceremonies of exercise Sea Breeze 2008, an invitational joint and combined maritime exercise with the goals of enhancing multinational interoperability, developing Black Sea-nation maritime security capabilities, and improving involvement in the larger Black Sea Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) strategy. (Department of Defense photos by Navy Mass Communications Specialist First Class Anthony Dallas) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
STUTTGART-VAIHINGEN, Germany — The United States European Command commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift July 12 at the Stuttgart Army Air Field in Leinfelden, Germany. The reception celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift and the strong relationship between the United States and Germany. Left to right: Vice Adm. Richard Gallagher, Deputy Commander, United States European Command, Mercedes Wild, author of "Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot," Gen. John Craddock, Commander, USEUCOM, and Dr. Wolfgang Schuster, Lord Mayor of Stuttgart. (Department of Defense photo by Matthew J. Thomas) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
RAMSTEIN, Germany — U.S. Soldiers help load a UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter into an Antanov An-124 Ruslan (Condor) aircraft here for transport to the Republic of Georgia for Immediate Response 2008, a training exercise with participants from U.S., Armenian, and Georgian forces. (Department of Defense photo by Airman 1st Class Heidi Holston) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
STUTTGART-VAIHINGEN, Germany - U.S. Army Gen. John Craddock, Commander, U.S. European Command, interviews with Armed Forces Network and local media about the 60th anniversary celebration of the Berlin Airlift July 12 at the Stuttgart Army Air Field in Leinfelden, Germany. The reception celebrated the 60th anniversary celebration of the Berlin Airlift and the strong relationship between the United States and Germany. (Department of Defense Photo by Navy Lt. Cmdr. Corey Barker) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
STUTTGART-VAIHINGEN, Germany — Army Specialist Christine Oberholtzer explains the cockpit of the HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter to Bernie Bernthaler, a special guest during the European Command's 60th anniversary celebration of the Berlin Airlift July 12 at the Stuttgart Army Air Field in Leinfelden, Germany. (Department of Defense Photo by Navy Lt. Cmdr. Corey Barker) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
STUTTGART-VAIHINGEN, Germany - U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Richard Gallagher, Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command, welcomes guests to a summer reception July 12 at the Stuttgart Army Air Field in Leinfelden, Germany. The reception celebrated the 60th anniversary celebration of the Berlin Airlift and the strong relationship between the United States and Germany. (Department of Defense Photo by Navy Lt. Cmdr. Corey Barker) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
STUTTGART-VAIHINGEN, Germany - Mercedes Wild, author of "Mercedes and the Chocolate pilot" presents her book to U.S. Army Gen. John Craddock, Commander, United States European Command, and U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Richard Gallagher, Deputy Commander USEUCOM, at the 60th anniversary celebration of the Berlin Airlift July 12 at the Stuttgart Army Air Field in Leinfelden, Germany. Her book recalls her experiences during the Berlin Airlift and an American pilot who tied mini-parachutes onto chocolate bars and threw them to children during crisis humanitarian operations in Berlin following WWII. Wild was the guest of honor at the reception. (Department of Defense Photo by Navy Lt. Cmdr. Corey Barker) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MK AIRFIELD ADMINISTRATION CENTER, Romania — Lt. Col. Dexel Peters, HMEDDAC chief of optometry, fits a Romanian child for glasses during a humanitarian civic assistance in a local Romanian village. (Department of Defense photo by Army Sgt. David Chapman) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
TBLISI, Georgia — U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jose Carmona, the assistant operations sergeant, assists Georgian soldiers in setting up a deployable rapid assembly shelter here on July 10 in preparation for the Immediate Response 2008 multi-national exercise to be conducted until July 30, 2008. (Department of Defense photo by Army Spc. Crystal Abbott) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
TBLISI, Georgia — Ghanturia Kahra, a soldier in the Goergian Army, moves into position to participate in entry control point training during Immediate Response 2008 exercise here. (Department of Defense photo by Army apt. Bryan Woods) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
Nigerian Brig. Gen. J.S. Kwabe, Chairman, Exercise Planning Committee, GEN O.A. ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, Army Gen. O.A. Azazi and Army Lt. Col. Richard Dollesin, African Endeavor 2008 Exercise Director, discuss the the value of the exercise for the African continent and the 22 participating nations. (Department of Defense Photo by Navy Capt. Christine Miller) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany - Marine Maj. Gen. William D. Catto retired from 35 years of military service in a ceremony here July 9. Catto took over as the U.S. European Command Chief of Staff on July 4, 2006. As the chief of staff, he oversaw the day to day operations of the command staff. Army Gen. William "Kip" Ward (seated), commander of U.S. Africa Command, presided over the retirement ceremony. (Dept. of Defense photo by Matthew J. Thomas) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
SOUDA BAY, Crete — The guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) arrived here on July 8 for a brief port visit. McFaul is on a scheduled deployment to the 6th Fleet area of responsibility and will support theater security cooperation by participating in regional exercises with allies, making deplomatic port calls and responding to any contingency. (Department of Defense photo by Paul Farley) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
MK AIRFIELD ADMINISTRATION CENTER, Romania — Soldiers from Task Force Vampire and Romanian Land Forces' 21st Mountain Battalion stand in formation during the opening ceremony for Joint Task Force East's 2008 rotation here on June 30. (Department of Defense Photo) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
STUTTGART, GERMANY - Left to right: U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Jack Egginton, Vice Commander, 3rd Air Force, Ramstein Air Base, U.S. Army Major Gen. P.K. Keen, Director European Plans and Operations Center, U.S. European Command, and U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Richard Gallagher, Deputy Commander, USEUCOM, visited Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, during a VIP day hosted by U.S. Army, Europe and the Ambassador to Romania, Nicholas F. Taubman. Mihail Kogalniceanu AB, is the main airport of Dobrogea region and is utilized by Romanian and U.S. forces for joint training as part of Joint Task Force East. (Courtesy photo) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
STUTTGART, GERMANY - Distinguished veterans of the Berlin Airlift visited Patch Barracks July 1 to share their experiences with members of U.S. European Command and to meet with Vice Adm. Richard Gallagher, Deputy Commander United States European Command. The veterans included retired U.S. Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen, second from right, who became known as the "Candy Bomber" during the airlift. Halvorsen was accompanied by his wife, Lorraine, and William "Bill" Morrissey, a radar operator during the airlift. They were invited to Germany to help commemorate the 60th anniversary of the start of the airlift, which took place June 25, 1948 - Sept. 30, 1949. Halvorsen, who pioneered the idea of dropping candy bars and bubble gum to children with handmade miniature parachutes from his C-54 Skymaster, was part of what later became known as "Operation Little Vittles" during the Berlin Airlift. During the airlift, 25 plane crews dropped more than 23 tons of chocolate, Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
Col. Ray Graham, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, Germany, salutes during the playing of the national anthem for ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. Graham, wearing a 1940s-era Army uniform, shared the stage with the city of Wiesbaden's Lord Mayor Helmet Mueller during a flightline observance June 26, 2008, on Wiesbaden Army Airfield. (Photo by Ray Johnson) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...
To celebrate the Berlin Airlift's 60th anniversary, a ceremony was held on Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Germany, June 26, 2008, marking the first sortie to be flown out of WAAF in support of the airlift. (Photo by Kelli Bland) Hi-res / Details / Comments ...