First Sgt. Tommy Daigle, B Company, 5th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, cracks jokes in his office at Forward Operating Base Fenty, Afghanistan, Dec. 11, 2012. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Duncan Brennan)
82nd Combat Aviation Brigade Executive Officer Maj. Kenric Smith presents the colors during the brigade change of command ceremony on Pike Field, Dec. 13. Col. T.J. Jamison, 82nd CAB commander, relinquished com More
Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters land on a Forward Operating Base, Laghman province, Afghanistan, Dec. 20, 2012. The helicopters are carrying members of the Jordanian Engagement Team. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. A More
Crew chiefs on the night shift with 6th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Shadow, pose with a CH-47 Chinook helicopter after pulling it into a hangar during a snowstorm at Bagram Air Field, A More
A recreation of a historic sign which hung at Camp Eagle during the Vietnam War stands on display above the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade headquarters building on Bagram AirFfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 27, 2012. S More
Afghan National Army soldiers look out the window of a UH-60 Black Hawk in Laghman province, Afghanistan, Jan. 9, 2013. They are heading to Combat Outpost Najil. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Andrew Claire Baker/Released)
Soldiers from B Company, 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, California National Guard, Task Force Shadow, sweep snow from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter’s rear rotor blade on the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade More
U.S. Army soldiers serving with 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, walk toward a UH-60 "Black hawk" helicopter on Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Laghman province, Afghanistan, Jan. 14, 2013. The Bl More
U.S. Army soldiers serving with 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, walk toward a UH-60 Black hawk helicopter on Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Laghman province, Afghanistan, Jan. 14, 2013. The Blac More
U.S. Army Sgt. James Cottrell, a mechanic with Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, unwraps UH-60 Black Hawk rotor blades at Forward Operating Base Salerno in Khost province, Afghanistan More
Six UH-60L Black Hawks and two CH-47F Chinooks, assigned to Task Force Brawler, 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, Task Force Falcon, simultaneously launch a daytime mission Jan. 18 from Multinational Base Tarin Kowt.
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Maurice Terry, right, the senior enlisted advisor to the commander of the 1st Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, speaks with a passenger outside a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter More
The 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, receives its first UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters at Butts Army Airfield on Fort Carson, Colo., Jan. 20, 2013. The helicopters were the first to arrive to t More
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter prepares to land near Forward Operating Base Naghlu High, Kapisa province, Afghanistan, Jan. 22, 2013. Black Hawk helicopters transport troops and supplies to various bases through More
First Lt. Matt Alexander, a Georgia Army National Guard Aero Medical Evacuation pilot in Charlie Company, 1-111th General Support Aviation Battalion traveled from Georgia to Massachusetts in January 2013 to com More
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter drops U.S. Soldiers with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, into a drop zone during an air assault mission near Rodriguez Live Fire R More
U.S. soldiers serving with 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, prepare to board a UH-60 "Black Hawk" helicopter on Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam, Lagham province, Afghanistan, Feb. 7, 2013. The s More
Chief Warrant Officer Andy Lovejoy, a pilot from Detachment 2, Company C, 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment, Utah National Guard, preflights a UH-60 Black Hawk before a local train More
The cantonment area is seen during a night aerial image of Fort Bragg, N.C., Feb. 21, 2013. The image shows vehicles in a brightly lit motor pool after normal duty hours. The post's Directorate of Public Works More
Spc. Zachariah Kreger and Spc. Ross Phillips, with the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, 412th Aviation Support Battalion crew chiefs, work on repairing a tail rotor de-icing bracket on a UH-60 Black Hawk Feb. 25, More
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maneuvers into position to begin helocast training for the 7th Special Forces Group(Airborne) at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 28, 2013. Green Berets participated in a training More
During a blizzard that struck Germany March 12, 2013, the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters assigned to the 214th Aviation Regiment were safe and secure. (Photo by Dee Crawford, VI Specialist, TSC Wiesbaden)
U.S. Soldiers with Distribution Platoon, Company D, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, practice loading a simulated casualty into a medical evacuation U More
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flies over Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 21, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Duus/Released)
In this photo taken from a District of Columbia National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, ornamental cherry trees are seen along Hains Point in southwest Washington, D.C., April 9, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by More
Members of Alpha Company, 2-238th Aviation Squadron, from Los Alamitos, Calif., fly UH-60 Black Hawks April 10, 2013 near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., during Angel Thunder 2013. Angel Thunder is the lar More
U.S. Army Spc. Patrick Connelly prepares to attach a block of concrete to a hovering UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter during slingload training at Fort Bragg's Marshal Landing Zone in Fayetteville, N.C., April 10, More
U.S. Air Force pararescuemen and combat rescue officers from the 48th Rescue Squadron conduct vehicle execration rescue training April 10, 2013 on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., during Angel Thunder 2013. More
Members of the 79th Rescue Squadron, HC-130J, conduct an aerial refueling with two UH-60s from the 41st Rescue Squadron April 11, 2013 near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., during Angel Thunder 2013. Angel More
A U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew from the 12th Aviation Battalion prepares for takeoff from the 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard on April 24, 2013. The 12th Aviation Battalion is lo More
U.S. soldiers with B Company, 412th Aviation Support Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, get picked up by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter May 2, 2013, at the Oberdachstetten Range Complex. The pair of helico More
An instructor pilot walks onto the flightline while maintenance crews inspect at UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter at Lowe Army Heliport, Fort Rucker, Ala. in a dense fog that blanketed lower part of the state for s More
An instructor pilot walks onto the flightline while maintenance crews inspect at UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter at Lowe Army Heliport, Fort Rucker, Ala. Maintenance of existing equipment is crucial to keeping ope More
U.S. Air Force Maj. Sandy Nestor, tactical critical care evacuation team nurse, left, 3rd Platoon, C Company, 2-149 General Support Aviation Battalion MEDEVAC, and U.S. Army Sgt. James Maher, flight medic, righ More
U.S. Army Spc. Christopher Delk, a military intelligence signal analyst with 378th Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Sheridan, Ill., prepares his 9mm pistol during the pistol qualification event for the 201 More
Soldiers of Alpha Company, 1-207th Aviation Regiment from the Alaska Army National Guard at Udairi Army Airfield in Kuwait. The company is currently deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring More
Aircrews from C Company, 1-140 Aviation rotate between filling and dumping water buckets with their UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters at Yakima Training Center, Wash., during Operation Evergreen Ember June 17, 2013. More
U.S. Army Cpl. Francis Kvarta, a supply sergeant with the 99th Regional Support Command, puts his interceptor body armor together, in preparation for the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition, at Fort McCo More
Noncommissioned officers with the U.S. Army Reserve, who competed in the 2013 Best Warrior Competition pose for a group photo at Fort McCoy, Wis., June 23, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hawkins/Released)
U.S. Army Sgt. Marshall Gross with the 200th Military Police Command, speaks to another Soldier at the no host social June 23, 2013, during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis. (U. More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Siler, supply sgt. assigned to Bravo Company, 256th Combat Support Hospital, straps on a Dismounted Soldier Training System (DSTS) during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competit More
Army Reserve drill sergeants stand by to start grading the Army Physical Fitness Test at the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior competition at Fort McCoy, Wis., June 24. Thirty-nine Warriors are competing this week More
U.S. Army Cpl. Gabriel Santos, with the 390th Transportation Corps Seaport Operations, runs the two-mile portion of the Army Physical Fitness Test during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition held at F More
U.S. Army Sgt. Camille Kleparek, assigned to the 191st Army Band, competes in the two-mile run portion of the physical fitness test during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis., J More
Spc. Ivan Pimentel, Headquarters and Headquarters Company Pacific Division, 75th Training Division, performs push-ups during the Army physical fitness test portion of the Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition, More
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Sean McClenachan, an intelligence analyst assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Command, Military Intelligence Readiness Command, Fort Belvoir, Va., fires his assigned M9 pistol at More
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason J. Manella, a civil affairs specialist assigned to Bravo Company, 445th Civil Affairs Battalion, 351st Civil Affairs Command, listens as cadre read the rules relating to the assem More
Sgt. 1st Class Jason J. Manella, a native of Fremont, Calif., and a civil affairs specialist assigned to Bravo Company, 445th U.S. Army Civil Affairs Battalion, 351st Civil Affairs Command, assembles his assign More
U.S. Soldiers begin the two mile run portion of the Army Physical Fitness Test during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis., June 24, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Carina Garcia/Released)
U.S. Soldiers on the command sergeants major board meet some of the junior enlisted Soldiers who will appear before them to answer questions about a variety Army topics during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrio More
U.S. Army Spc. Zachary Sharpe, assigned to the 414th Civil Affairs Battalion, receives instructions for use of the Dismounted Soldier Training System (DSTS) during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competitio More
Sgt. 1st Class Richard Silva, member of the 11th Battalion Army Reserve Careers Division, located in Los Alamitos, Calif., does pushups as part of the Army Physical Fitness Test during the 2013 Army Reserve Bes More
U.S. Army Spc. Nicholas Peterson, a combat medic assigned to the 5502nd U.S. Army Hospital, U.S. Army Reserve Medical Command, loads a 9 mm pistol before competing at the 9 mm pistol qualification range during More
U.S. Soldiers prepare for the Army Physical Fitness Test during the Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition, held at Fort McCoy, Wis., June 24, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hawkins/Released)
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Veltman, ammunition specialist assigned to 377th Theater Sustainment Command, participates in the Reconfigurable Vehicle Tactical Trainer (RVTT) competition during the 2013 Army Reserv More
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Richard Silva, assigned to the 11th Battalion Army Reserve Careers Division located in Los Alamitos, Calif., holds the feet of a fellow competitor during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warr More
Spc. Brett Hawley (center), a Loveland, Colo., native and member of the 98th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, marches toward a Chinook helicopter during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition, June 25, a More
Sgt. Eric Jobb, a Richmond, Va., native and member of Echo Company, 5th Battalion,159th Aviation Battalion, listens to a safety brief for a CH-47 Chinook helicopter ride at the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Co More
U.S. Army Spc. Russell Williams, assigned to the 108th Training Command, U.S. Army Reserve prepares to board a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during the 2013 Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis., June 25, 201 More
Sgt. Eric Jobb, a Richmond, Va., native and member of Echo Company, 5/159th General Support Aviation Battalion based out of Fort Eustes, Va., looks on during a safety brief for a Chinook helicopter ride at the More
U.S. Army Sgt. Devron West, a chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear specialist with the 335th Signal Command programs coordinates on a Defense Advanced GPS Receiver, or DAGR, during the Urban Orienteering More
U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Ryan, with the 365th Engineer Battalion, turns in his night land navigation points as he finishes the course during the 2013 Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis., June 25, 2013. (U More
U.S. Army Cpl. Lance Clifford, assigned to the 301st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, boards a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during the 2013 Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis., June 25, 2013. (U.S. Army photo More
U.S. Soldiers listen to instructions for programming their Defense Advanced GPS Receiver during the Urban Orienteering event at the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis., June 25, 2013. More
Staff Sgt. Israel Guerrero, a Sanger, Calif., native and member of the U.S. Army Reserve Noncommissioned Officer Academy, smiles while getting to ride in a Chinook helicopter during the 2013 Army Reserve Best W More
Spc. Derek Hanna, a Rome, N.Y., native and member of the 361st Military Police Company, turns in his night land navigation points as he finishes the course during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition More
U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Derek Hanna, assigned to the 200th Military Police Command, examines his tactical map during the night land navigation event of the 2013 U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition at Fort More
U.S. Soldiers competing in the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior competition, review their maps for the night land navigation course at Fort McCoy, Wis., June 25, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Charlotte Fitzgera More
U.S. Army Sgt. Brian Sunderman, a combat medic assigned to the 807th Medical Deployment Support Command, programs coordinates on a Defense Advanced GPS Receiver during the Urban Orienteering event of the 2013 U More
Soldiers with the U.S. Army Reserve follow a ground guide to an awaiting CH-47 Chinook helicopter at the 2013 Best Warrior Competition in Fort McCoy, Wis., June 25, 2013. The helicopter crew is assigned to Brav More
A U.S. Army M4 rifle is in place on the night fire range during the Army Reserve Command Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis., June 26, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jason A. Young/Released)
U.S. Army Sgt. Ryan Veltman, a supply sergeant with the 377th Sustainment Command , moves to his firing position during the reflexive fire event at the 2013 U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior competition at Fort Mc More
A U.S. Soldier prepares to fire on his lane for pop-up targets in the night fire event during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis. June 26, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Ga More
"Ammo" waits to be loaded in magazines for the M4 Qualification round on Range 31A at the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition, Fort McCoy, Wis., June 26. The competitors are scored on their accuracy and More
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Richard Silva with the 11th Battalion Army Reserve Careers Division, performs M4 carbine night time qualification during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior competition at Fort McCoy, Wi More
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Tuttle, 108th Training Command, stands ready to give directions to competitors in the M-4 night time event during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, W More
U.S. Soldiers listen to a safety brief before beginning the 10 kilometer road march event during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior competition, held at Fort McCoy, Wis., June 26, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. More
Army Reserve Sgt. Jeremiah Bruce, an infantryman representing the 9th Mission Support Command and a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, engages targets during the M4 rifle qualification night fire event at the 2013 U.S More
U.S. Army Spc. Mitchell Fromm, assigned to the 428th Engineer Company, runs toward the finish line of the 10 kilometer road march during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis., June More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kathleen Briere, assigned to the 6th Military Intelligence Battalion, 98th Regiment, listens to a briefing before beginning the 10-kilometer road march part of the 2013 Army Reserve Best Wa More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Siler, a unit supply sergeant representing the 807th Medical Command competes in the 10 km ruck march event at the 2013 U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior competition at Fort McCoy, Wis More
U.S. Army Sgt. Brian Sunderman, a combat medic with the 807th Medical Command, competes in the 10 kilometer ruck march event at the 2013 U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior competition, held at Fort McCoy, Wis., Jun More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Israel Guerrero, a fire support specialist assigned to the Army Reserve Readiness Training Center right shakes hands with his opponent during the Modern Army Combatives tournament of the 20 More
The panel members of command sergeant majors that will interview the Soldiers, discuss final plans prior to starting the day during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior competition June 24, 2013, held at Fort McC More
Army Reserve soldiers stand at attention during the playing of the national anthem before the combative tournament at the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior competition at Fort McCoy, Wis., June 27, 2013. (Photo by More
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Luther Thomas Jr., left, senior enlisted adviser for the Army Reserve, along with Sgt. Maj. Richard M. Prater, Sgt. Maj. Geraldo M. Pirela, and Sgt. Maj. Scott L. Brannam, serve dinn More
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason Manella with the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, prepares for the noncommissioned officer board during the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior competition More
U.S. Army Cpl. Francis Kvarta, left, puts Staff Sgt. Joshua Skelton in an arm bar, as they go head to head during the modern Army combatives tournament at the 2013 Army Reserve best warrior competition, June 27 More
U.S. Army Spc. Nicholas Peterson, combat medic assigned to the 5502nd U.S. Army Hospital, Army Reserve Medical Command, Grapples with Spc. Devron West, chemical specialist, during the Combative portion of the 2 More
U.S. Army Sgt. Devron West of 300th Chemical Company, 485th Chemical Battalion, 415th Chemical Brigade, 335th Signal Command (Theater), waits for the soldiers board to begin during the United States Army Reserv More
U.S. Army Cpl. Francis Kvarta, 99th Regional Support Command, uses an arm bar hold on Staff Sgt. Joshua Skelton, 75th Training Command, to end the match during the noncommissioned officer portion of the Modern More
U.S. Army Spc. Russell Williams, bottom, and Spc. Ivan Pimentel compete during the combatives competition part of the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis., June 27, 2013. (U.S. Army p More
Cpl. Jabriel Santos, 1st Mission Support Command, Ceiba, Puerto Rico, won the noncommisioned Modern Army Combatives tournament at the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior competition at Fort McCoy, Wis. June 27.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Israel Guerrero, right, a fire support specialist with the Army Reserve Readiness Training Center, speaks with his sponsor and 2008 Army Reserve NCO of the Year, Sgt. 1st Class Francisco Gu More
U.S. Army Spc. Mitchell Fromm, left, poses for a photo after being presented the Army Reserve Soldier of the year trophy by Command Sgt. Maj. Luther Thomas Jr., the senior enlisted adviser for the U.S. Army Res More
A UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter crew practices hovering, during the U.S. Army's rotary-wing flight training program near Lowe Army Heliport in Fort Rucker, Ala., July 8, 2013. Training to become a Black Hawk hel More
Mannequins lie on gurneys during Exercise Global Medic, Fort McCoy, Wis., July 16, 2013. Global Medic, in conjunction with WAREX, is an annual joint-reserve field-training exercise designed to replicate all fa More
AH-64 Apaches from 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, participated in a research demonstration for the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Front Range District More
A U.S. Soldier assigned to the 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, directs a CH-47 Chinook helicopter pilot while Soldiers with 10t More