Special Operators assigned to the 129th Special Operations

Special Operators assigned to the 129th Special Operations Wing, inflate a combat rated water craft at Marathon International Airport on Marathon Island in the Florida Keys, Sept. 11 2017. The special operations team deployed to Hurlburt Field Air Force Base, Florida ahead of Hurricane Irma’s arrival with plans to forward deploy in an effort to conduct search and rescue operations in some of the state’s hardest hit communities, such as Marathon and other areas throughout the keys. The National Guard is the largest reserve force in the Department of Defense and provides the United States with the capacity and ability to partner with civil authorities in order to simultaneously mitigate disasters in our communities. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Beth Holliker.