Master Sgt. Edgar Rodriguez of the 146th ASOS, Oklahoma Air National Guard, prepares to conduct search and rescue operations in Moore, Okla., in response to the May 20, 2013, EF-4 tornado that ripped through th More
A piece of meat lays in the ground as Airmen from the 380th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron train on search and recovery procedures at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia July 23, 2013. The training More
Airmen from the 184th Force Support Squadron Sustainment Services performed a weeklong annual training. The airmen experienced the very slow and meticulous procedures involved in search and recovery.
Jon Donnison, left, a journalist with "BBC News," and Nicolas Perpitch, right, a journalist with The Australian, speak with U.S. Navy Naval Aircrewman (Operator) 2nd Class Julio Cerpa, assigned to Patrol Squadr More
USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) gets underway from Singapore to support AirAsia flight QZ8501 search efforts at the request of the Indonesian government. Currently on a 16-month rotational deployment in support of the A More
Soldiers with the 54th Quartermaster Mortuary Affairs Company, conduct search and recovery operations on a downed helicopter during the 2015 Mortuary Affairs Exercise at Fort Pickett, Va., May 28, 2015. The Mor More
U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers take part in airborne operations with active duty Soldiers as part of a new multi-component program, integrating Reserve Soldiers with the 18th Airborne Corps and 101st Airborne Divis More
Members of the National Commission on the future of the Army, a non-discretionary Federal advisory committee that shall undertake a comprehensive study of the structure of the Army, and policy assumptions, spea More
A U.S. Army Reserve Soldier in a hazardous material suit goes through simulated decontamination after being exposed to chemicals during Operation Guardian 15, June 25, near Ocala, Fla. More than 500 Army Reserv More
U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the 493rd Engineer Detachment, 412th Theater Engineer Command, from Pascagoula, Miss., work to breach and enter a confined space in order to recover simulated victims from a coll More
The 108th Force Support Squadron Airmen line up to perform a search and recovery exercise for the unit's annual home-station training at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., July 7, 2015. The training helped More
Soldiers and civilians with the U.S. Army Reserve Command and the U.S. Army Forces Command participate in an educational awareness day of safety, hosted by the USARC Safety directorate at FORSCOM/USARC headquar More
Gov. Gary Herbert activated the Utah National Guard to assist local first responders in search and rescue efforts after flash floods hit the border town of Hildale, Utah. Soldiers from the Utah Guard 2-222nd Fi More
Staff Sgt. Jason Prescott, 28th Medical Support Squadron medical war reserve material NCO in charge, prepares to place a flag on a casket during Honor Guard training at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Feb. 22, More
1st Lt. Lenton Johnson helps Tech. Sgt. Edmin Bello secure his chemical protective suit during a training exercise at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, April 10, 2016. These airmen are members of the 149th Force S More
Airman 1st Class Brooks Anderton, an aerospace medical technician assigned to the 151st Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) treats a simulated casualty ins More
Airman 1st Class Brooks Anderton, an aerospace medical technician assigned to the 151st Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) dons his protective mask during More
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Adams, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), walks through a wheat field to survey the possible aircraft crash from World War II in Graefentona, Germany, July 14, 2016. The More
Members of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) excavate during the recovery process in search of tank crewmen who were killed in action during World War II in Le Mesnil-Tove, France, July 31, 2016. DPA More
Senior Master Sgt. Shawn Osburn, the 149th Fighter Wing’s Command Post superintendent, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, takes an elevator to the senior enlisted advisory council’s confer More
Firefighter David Guerra, a flight medic with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department (MDFR), explains how to cap a valve leak on a gas cylinder to Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to the 329th Chemical, Biological More
U.S. Army Reserve 1st Lt. Alexander T. Pokorny, a platoon leader with the 329th Chemical Company, receives a safety briefing during a joint hazard material exercise with the U.S. Army and the Miami-Dade Fire Re More
Firefighter David Guerra, a flight medic with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department (MDFR), begins the decontamination process at the Port of Miami during a joint hazard material exercise with the Army Reserve’ More
Staff Sgt. Gregory Johnson, NCOIC of the Fatality Search and Rescue Team, Colorado National Guard, double checks equipment before sending his team members out on a simulated collapsed structure exercise in Lake More
Props simulate an aircraft incident during the search and recovery team’s training event on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Oct. 27, 2017. The search and recovery team is tasked with recovering human re More
U.S. Airmen practice walking in a search and recovery line during an exercise at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., May 23, 2018. During search and recovery, Airmen take a synchronized step and then search their surrou More
Soldiers with the 387th Quartermaster Company conducted a search and recovery operation at a “downed helicopter” site as part of the Mortuary Affairs Exercise in Fort Pickett, Va., Aug. 19, 2018. More than 300 More
From left, U.S. Army Pfc. Melissa Headen of Pocono, Penn., and 2nd Lt. Jocelyn E. Lamb of Alexandria, Va., with the 673rd Quartermaster Company, prepared to conduct search and recovery operations in a mock urba More
U.S. Army Jonathan B. Marmorale of Brooklyn, N.Y., a squad leader with the 1019th Quartermaster Company checks on his Soldiers during a search and recovery mission as part of the Mortuary Affairs Exercise at Fo More
From left, U.S. Army Spc. Andrew J. Bibb of Norfolk, Va., a cook with the 642nd Regional Support Group, Pvt. Opeyemi I. Olorunfemi of Lagos, Nigeria, a cook with the 1019th Quartermaster Company and Spc. Adita More
Services members from the 179th Airlift Wing conduct a search and recovery exercise May 18, 2019, at the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio. Services members that conduct search and recovery are responsible fo More
Airmen from the 436th Force Support Squadron conduct a search during a search-and-recovery exercise June 28, 2019, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The team of 11 was tasked with surveying a field as part of an ai More
Airmen from the 15th Medical Group flight medicine clinic practice walking in a search and recovery line during an exercise at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Sept. 19, 2019. During search and recovery, More
Staff Sgt. Kyle Doran, 104th Fighter Wing Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician, explains placement of an Improvised Explosive Device to Senior Airman Kyle Tracey, 104 FW EOD technician, during a simulated IED More
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Brad Coddington, 31st Force Support Squadron food service superintendent, briefs during search and recovery training at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Oct. 15, 2020. Maintaining currency thr More
U.S. Soldiers with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade's mortuary affairs team train on search and recovery. Search and recovery is a tactical task that includes the search and recovery, tentative id More
Oklahoma National Guard soldiers and airmen respond to a devastating tornado that ripped through the Plaza Tower elementary school in Moore, Okla., May 20, 2013. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class More
A simulated casualty waits to be located by airmen of the 380th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron during search and recovery training at an undiscovered location in Southwest Asia July 23, 2013. Even though More
U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Brent Nelsen, a naval aviator assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 16, scans the water while flying a P-8A Poseidon aircraft over the Indian Ocean April 4, 2014, during a mission in support of th More
A transfer case draped in the American flag sits in a tent at the theatre mortuary evacuation point where the simulated remains of a fallen Soldier are prepped for departure back home during the 2015 Mortuary A More
Members of the National Commission on the Future of the Army, a non-discretionary Federal advisory committee that shall undertake a comprehensive study of the structure of the Army, and policy assumptions, spea More
A U.S. Army Reserve Soldier from the 493rd Engineer Detachment, 412th Theater Engineer Command, from Pascagoula, Miss., rappels down a training tower to recover a simulated victim during Operation Guardian 15, More
U.S. Army Reserve medics from the 331st Medical Detachment, 3rd Medical Command Deployment Support, from Perrine, Fla., wait to receive a decontaminated patient from a collapsed parking garage during Operation More
The 108th Force Support Squadron Airmen walk in a line to search for remains during an exercise at the unit's annual home-station training at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., July 7, 2015. The training h More
A folded flag sits on a casket during ceremonial funeral training at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Feb. 22, 2016. Search and recovery teams are in charge of finding, identifying and recovering remains of thos More
Members of the Texas Air National Guard recognize Chief Master Sgt. Christopher P. Castle, 136th Airlift Wing command chief, Naval Air Station-Fort Worth, Texas (left) and Chief Master Sgt. George B. Longoria, More
Tech. Sgt. Cory Johnson takes notes during a training event at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, April 10, 2016. Johnson is a member of the 149th Force Support Squadron's Fatality Search and Recovery Team. They ar More
U.S. Army Capt. Mike Ellis, an augmentee Interpreter for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) speaks to the owner of the land in preparation to start excavation of a downed pilot during World War II in More
Firefighter David Guerra, a flight medic with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department (MDFR), assists Army Reserve Cpl. Shalandis Johnson on how to cap a gas cylinder during training at the MDFR training facility More
An Army Reserve Soldier uses a multiple gas monitor near suspected hazardous material inside a large shipping container during joint training with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department (MDFR), at the Port of Mi More
Firefighters with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department response to a scenario at a joint hazard material exercise at the Port of Miami, Feb. 18, 2017. The Defense Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nucle More
Colorado National Guard Soldiers and Airman with the CONG Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Enhanced Response Force Package work with simulated injured role-players, in Lakewood, Colo., June 3, 201 More
Airman 1st Class Asia Andrews, 647th Force Support Squadron search and recovery team member, dons her personal protective equipment during the search and recovery team’s training event on Joint Base Pearl Harbo More
A U.S. Airman assigned to the 20th Force Support Squadron explains how search and recovery tags work prior to an exercise at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., May 23, 2018. Upon finding an item after an aircraft accid More
U.S. Army Pfc. Melissa Headen of Pocono, Penn., a mortuary affairs specialist with the 673rd Quartermaster Company, pulls security while a group role plays local nationals as part of the Mortuary Affairs Exerci More
At left, U.S. Army Jonathan B. Marmorale of Brooklyn, N.Y., of the 1019th Quartermaster Company gives instructions to Sgt. Leroy Hamilton of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Spc. Courtney D. Chapman of Bronx, N.Y., during a More
U.S. Army Sgt. Guillermo J. Ortiz of San Juan, Puerto Rico, a platoon sergeant with the 246th Quartermaster Company directs a search and recovery mission as part of the Mortuary Affairs Exercise at Fort Pickett More
Senior Airman Taiyon Perkins, 436th Force Support Squadron fitness support supervisor, marks a newfound item during a search-and-recovery exercise June 28, 2019, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Perkins labeled ea More
Airmen from the 15th Medical Group flight medicine clinic participate in an aircraft recovery exercise at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Sept. 19, 2019. During the exercise the Airmen formed a line to More
Staff Sgt. Kyle Doran, 104th Fighter Wing Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician, prepares to run through simulated Improvised Explosive Device drills during a four day readiness exercise. Airmen spent the four More
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brandon Johnson, 31st Force Support Squadron dining facility assistant manager, identifies remains during search and recovery training at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Oct. 15, 2020. Maintai More
Oklahoma National Guard soldiers and airmen respond to a devastating tornado that ripped through Moore, Okla., May 20, 2013. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kendall James)
Airman 1st Class Caitlyn Iliff, 380th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron services apprentice, plots the location of a simulated portion of remains found as Airman 1st Class Kristyn Grabendike, 380th EFSS appr More
U.S. Navy Lt. Kenneth Savage, a naval aviator assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 16, performs preflight checks in the flight station of a P-8A Poseidon aircraft in Perth, Australia, April 4, 2014, before going on More
Airmen attending an Air National Guard Mortuary Affairs Class at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., practice search and recovery operations June 19, 2014. Airmen from across the country took part in the More
Lt. Col. Gabriel Barton, 18th Airborne Corps Headquarters & Headquarters Battalion Commander, leaves airborne training exercise for U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers as they take part in airborne operations with activ More
Members of the National Commission on the future of the Army, a non-discretionary Federal advisory committee that shall undertake a comprehensive study of the structure of the Army, and policy assumptions, visi More
A U.S. Army Reserve Soldier in a hazardous material suits go through simulated decontamination procedures on mannequins after being exposed to chemicals during Operation Guardian 15, June 25, near Ocala, Fla. More
U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the 493rd Engineer Detachment, 412th Theater Engineer Command, from Pascagoula, Miss., set up a decontamination site before going into a collapsed parking garage during Operation More
Airman 1st Class John Adams picks up a limb when Staff Sgt. Vincent Del Priore raises his hand after locating it during an exercise at the 108th Force Support Squadron's annual home-station training at Joint Ba More
Tech. Sgt. Edmin Bello adjusts 1st Lt. Lenton Johnson's protective mask during a training exercise at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, April 10, 2016. These airmen are members of the 149th Force Support Squadron' More
Members of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), put in stakes to identify the boundary for the excavation site in search of a downed pilot during World War II in Graefentona, Germany, July 18, 2016. Th More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Lorena Contreras, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), excavates through the roots of a tree during the recovery process in search of tank crewmen who were killed in action during Worl More
Brig. Gen. David McMinn, right, commander of the Texas Air National Guard, and Chief Master Sgt. Marlon Nation, left, command chief for the Texas Air National Guard, congratulate Capt. Anthony Acosta, assigned More
Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to the 329th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Company (Reconnaissance and Surveillance) learn to use a common firefighter tool called a “Come Along” to move More
Army Reserve Soldiers discuss courses of actions after hazardous material was located inside shipping containers during joint training with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department (MDFR), at the Port of Miami dur More
A U.S. Army Reserve Soldier with the 329th Chemical Company based in Orlando, Fla., dons on his Level A personal protective equipment in preparation for a joint hazard material exercise with the U.S. Army and t More
Airman 1st Class Hope Lockwood, 647th Force Support Squadron search and recovery team member, lines up with her teammates for a sweep during the search and recovery training event on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hic More
U.S. Airmen assigned to the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron mark the coordinates of a found object during a search and recovery exercise at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., May 23, 2018. By pinpointing the location of f More
U.S. Army Pvt. Rodrigo J. Gutierrez of Los Angeles, a mortuary affairs specialist with the 387th Quartermaster Company conducted a search and recovery operation at a “downed helicopter” site as part of the Mort More
U.S. Army Brandyn M. Flamer of Dover, Del., a mortuary affairs specialist with the 673rd Quartermaster Company, conducts search and recovery operations in a mock urban area as part of the Mortuary Affairs Exerc More
U.S. Army Spc. Dario Alvaravo of Dover, N.J., a mortuary affairs specialist with the 1019th Quartermaster Company moves from concealment during a search and recovery mission as part of the Mortuary Affairs Exer More
U.S. Army Pvt. Jeremy Morales of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, a mortuary affairs specialist with the 246th Quartermaster Company pulls security during a search and recovery mission as part of the Mortuary Affairs Ex More
Airmen from the 436th Force Support Squadron conduct a search during a search-and-recovery exercise June 28, 2019, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The team swept the field in a horizontal line – arm’s length apar More
Airmen from the 15th Medical Group flight medicine clinic mark the location of objects found during an aircraft recovery exercise at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Sept. 19, 2019. Pinpointing the locat More
Six 104th Fighter Wing F-15 Eagles take off during a four day readiness exercise Nov. 2, 2019, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. Airmen spent the four days doing their jobs wearing Mission Orien More
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brandon Johnson, 31st Force Support Squadron dining facility assistant manager, labels a card during search and recovery training at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Oct. 15, 2020. The 31st FSS More
Air Force Staff Sgt. Emily Fuqua, 380th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron services journeyman, marks a portion of simulated remains with a “P4” marker during search and rescue recovery training at an undiscl More