Gen. Mark Welsh, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, presented the United States Air Forces Europe Medal of Distinction to Professor Dr. Kai Zacharowski during a ceremony here March 2, 2012. Professor Dr. Zacharowski was honored for his role in saving the lives of two Airmen who were critically injured during a shooting at the Frankfurt International Airport one year ago. In attendance was the Honorable Philip D. Murphy, U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany (pictured) along with the Dr. Zacharowski's family and military members directly affected by the shooting.

Two leaders from the Europe Regional Medical Command were awarded the Polish Armed Forces Medal at a ceremony here, December 15.

Col. Stefan Walowski, the Polish Senior National Representative for Ramstein, Lt. Col. Rachele Smith, the Mannheim Army Health Center and Coleman Troop Medical Center commander, Col. John M. Cho, the 30th Medical Command commander, and Lt. Col. Zenon Pilat, Polish Liaison Team Chief at Ramstein, speak together following the Polish Armed Forced Medal presentation December 15. Cho and Smith were presented Polish Armed Forces Medals (Silver) on behalf of the Polish Minister of Defense for their work while serving at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and their support to the wounded Polish service members receiving treatment there.

Col. John M. Cho, commander of the 30th Medical Command, shakes hands with Col. Stefan Walowski, the Polish Senior National Representative for Ramstein, after being presented the Polish Armed Forces Medal December 15. He was presented the medal on behalf of the Polish Minister of Defense for his work while serving as the commander of Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and his support to the wounded Polish service members receiving treatment there.

Lt. Col. Rachele Smith, the Mannheim Army Health Center and Coleman Troop Medical Center commander, was awarded the Polish Armed Forces Medal (Silver) by Col. Stefan Walowski, the Polish Senior National Representative for Ramstein, December 15. She was presented the medal on behalf of the Polish Minister of Defense for her work while serving at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and her support to the wounded Polish service members receiving treatment there.

Four members of the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), received awards during a ceremony held at the Panzer Community Club Jan. 19, for their valorous actions over the course of their last deployment to Afghanistan in support of International Security Assistance Forces Special Operations Forces (ISAF-SOF) and Task Force -10.

Maj. Gen. Michael Repass pins the Army Commendation Medal for valor on the chest of Staff Sgt. Robert Murray during a valor ceremony Jan. 19 at the Panzer Community Center. Murray earned the award while deployed to Afghanistan as a member of International Security Assistance Forces Special Operations Forces (ISAF-SOF) Task Force -10. Photo by Angeline Hoffmann, USAG-Stuttgart Training and Support Center.

Master Sgt. Joe Dickinson received the Bronze Star Medal for valor during a ceremony Jan. 19 at the Panzer Community Center. Dickinson will also receive the Silver Star for separate acts of heroism in Afghanistan at a ceremony yet to be scheduled. Photo by Angeline Hoffmann, USAG-Stuttgart Training and Support Center.

Maj. Gen. Michael Repass pins the Bronze Star Medal for valor on the chest of Master Sgt. Joe Dickinson during a valor ceremony Jan. 19 at the Panzer Community Center. The Bronze Star Medal for valor is the fourth-highest combat award within the U.S. Armed Forces. Photo by Angeline Hoffmann, USAG-Stuttgart Training and Support Center.

As Maria Rodriguez-Torres listened to the reading of narrative to accompany the award of the Bronze Star medal highlighting her husband’s accomplishments from his tour in Afghanistan, her facial expression displayed a look of astonishment.

Sgt. Javier Rodriguez-Torres, left, a food service specialist assigned to Headquarters Support Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), proudly smiles following his award ceremony in which he was presented the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Action Badge for his courageous actions on the battlefield while actively engaging the enemy during his tour in Afghanistan serving with Special Operations Task Unit 0112, Task Force 10. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Donald Sparks approved for public release by MAJ James Gregory, SOCEUR PAO)

Sgt. Javier Rodriguez-Torres, left, a food service specialist assigned to Headquarters Support Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), reads his certificate awarding him the Combat Action Badge following his award ceremony in which he was presented the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Action Badge for his courageous actions on the battlefield while actively engaging the enemy during his tour in Afghanistan serving with Special Operations Task Unit 0112, Task Force 10. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Donald Sparks approved for public release by MAJ James Gregory, SOCEUR PAO)

Sgt. Javier Rodriguez-Torres, left, a food service specialist assigned to Headquarters Support Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and his wife Maria are all smiles following his award ceremony in which he was presented the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Action Badge for his courageous actions on the battlefield while actively engaging the enemy during his tour in Afghanistan serving with Special Operations Task Unit 0112, Task Force 10. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Donald Sparks approved for public release by MAJ James Gregory, SOCEUR PAO)

Sgt. Javier Rodriguez-Torres, left, a food service specialist assigned to Headquarters Support Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), is presented the Combat Action Badge by Lt. Col. Isaac Peltier, commander, 1-10 SFG(A), for his courageous actions on the battlefield while actively engaging the enemy during his tour in Afghanistan serving with Special Operations Task Unit 0112, Task Force 10. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Donald Sparks approved for public release by MAJ James Gregory, SOCEUR PAO)

Sgt. Javier Rodriguez-Torres, left, a food service specialist assigned to Headquarters Support Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), is presented the Bronze Star Medal by Maj. Gen. Michael Repass, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command Europe for his courageous and meritorious performance during his tour in Afghanistan serving with Special Operations Task Unit 0112, Task Force 10. (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Donald Sparks approved for public release by MAJ James Gregory, SOCEUR PAO)

During their time in the military most service members will become familiar with a specific group of weapons, and fire these same weapons year after year, to maintain and improve their marksmanship skills with these weapons.

While talking about his deployments, he shifted slightly in his seat and had difficulty speaking to me. When he spoke, his voice was soft and shaky, and when I looked into his eyes, I could tell they held memories that he wished he didn’t have.

Lt. Dorina Petre was the only female standing in formation with nearly 200 U.S. and Romanian Special Forces soldiers. Her small framed stature stood out amongst the men with green, burgundy and blue berets even though she was wearing a green beret herself. She did not feel out of place however, since she was surrounded by the men who knew her plight and the legacy of her last name, so much so that they fought for her to be assigned to their ranks.

Medal of Honor recipient, Capt.(ret) Thomas G. Kelley paid a visit toSailors at Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet (CNE-CNA/C6F) headquarters on Naval Support Activity, Naples, Aug. 27.

KUNDUZ, Afghanistan — 14 American soldiers made history May 12, becoming the first foreigners to ever receive Germany’s Gold Cross medal, one of the nation’s highest awards for valor.

KUNDUZ, Afghanistan -- 14 U.S. Medical Evacuation crewmen are awarded the German Gold Cross May 12 for risking their lives to come to the rescue of German soldiers during a firefight in Kunduz, Afghanistan April 2. Germany's Gold Cross medal is one of the nation's highest awards for valor and this is the first time in history foreigners have ever received the award.

BOBLINGEN, Gemany -- Within the fraternity of Army Special Forces, the brotherhood formed during the Qualification Course in the woods of Camp Mackall, North Carolina can only be sealed in one way – through combat.

SKOPJE, Macedonia - Navy Rear Adm. Andy Brown, director of logistics at U.S. European Command, recognized Macedonian soldiers Dec. 14 for their distinguished service during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -Maj. Daniel Manning, Airpower Capabilities Team - Baltics chief at Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, received the Lithuanian Armed Forces Medal of Merit for his team's work during the past year with Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.