Flying with the Pave Hawks
Senior Airman Ryan Ballinger, a 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron gunner, looks out at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, Aug. 2 from his HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter. As an aerial gunner, Airman Ballinger is tasked with operating a 50-caliber machinegun and keeping a wary eye for enemy movement. He is deployed from the 33rd Rescue Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)