Operation Enduring Freedom

An A-10C Thunderbolt II receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker over Afghanistan Oct. 2, 2013. The A-10 is deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., to the 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The KC-135 is assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron.

Children rush to meet Sparky the Fire Dog as part of Fire Prevention Week Oct. 9, 2013, at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Sparky and his firefighting companions reminded children to be safe and that firefighters are their friends.

Retrograde, Bagram Airfield Aerial Port

Staff Sgt. Ryan Vanterpool chains down a mine-resistant, armored-protective vehicle, known as an MRAP, on a C-17A Globemaster III Oct. 2, 2013, at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Bagram has become a major hub for retrograde operations out of Afghanistan. The 455th Expeditionary Aerial Port Squadron special handling section pushed 4.2 million pounds of retrograde equipment during the month of September. Vanterpool, a Honolulu, Hawaii native, is deployed from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Vanterpool is a 455th EAPS aerial porter.

Night Airdrop, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan

Senior Airman Larry Webster scans for potential threats using night vision goggles after completing a cargo airdrop Oct. 7, 2013, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. Webster is a 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron loadmaster.

Retrograde, Last cargo flight out of Sharana

Senior Airman Zac Sidders marshals a pallet of cargo into a C-130 Hercules Sept. 28, 2013, at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika Province, Afghanistan. This mission marked a retrograde milestone as the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron transported the last cargo from FOB Sharana before the base is transferred to the Afghan Ministry of Defense. Sidders, a Peoria, Ill. native, is deployed from the Wyoming Air National Guard. Sidders is a 774th EAS loadmaster.

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 388th Fighter Wing takes off Sept. 9, 2013, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The fighter wing is back to combat-ready status after more than three months of flying reduced hours during sequestration. The sequester forced one squadron to stand down completely, and its sister-squadron to fly drastically reduced hours.

Staff Sgt. Matthew Krause fires his M-4 rifle during a demonstration exercise Oct. 16, 2013, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Approximately 1,500 active-duty, Reserve and National Guard Airmen attend the squadronÕs "Brave Defender" training each year. "Defender" is a six-week deployment training course for security forces Airmen. It is one of only six SF deployment training courses in the U.S. The course opened here in 2002 and was established by Air Force Materiel Command to satisfy security forces training requirements in an expeditionary environment. Krause is assigned to the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron.

Retrograde, Last cargo flight out of Sharana

1st Lt. Brent Stevens and Maj. Devin Cummings maneuver a C-130 Hercules out of Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika Province, Afghanistan, Sept. 28, 2013. This mission marked a retrograde milestone as the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron transported the last cargo from FOB Sharana before the base is transferred to the Afghan Ministry of Defense. Stevens, a Tampa, Fla. native, is deployed from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Cummings, a Manitowoc, Wis. native, is deployed from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Cummings and Stevens are 774th EAS pilots.

An F-22 Raptor backs away from a KC-135 Stratotanker during a training mission over central New Mexico Oct. 23, 2013. The Raptor is assigned to the 49th Fighter Wing, at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The KC-135 is from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.

Retrograde Operations, Afghanistan

Senior Airman Leah Johnson checks the weight of a vehicle scheduled for shipping Sept. 22, 2013, at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Khost Province, Afghanistan. The 19th Movement Control Team a small squadron of Air Force surface movement controllers and aerial porters, oversee the vast majority of retrograde operations at FOB Salerno. Johnson, a St. Paul, Minn. native, is deployed from Travis Air Force Base, Calif. Johnson is a 19th MCT aerial porter,

391st FS Bold Tiger return to flight

An F-15E Strike Eagle pops defensive flares and pulls up after a close-air support mission during exercise Mountain Roundup 2013, Oct. 16, 2013, at Saylor Creek bombing range near Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The F-15s, assigned to the 391st Fighter Squadron, provided day and night close-air support to joint terminal attack controllers from the German air force, U.S. Marine Corps 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company and U.S. Air Force 124th Air Support Operations Squadron, from Boise, Idaho.

Members of the Shaw Air Force Base Honor Guard stand at attention in preparation to present the colors during a retirement ceremony Oct. 18, 2013, at Shaw AFB, S.C. Shaw's honor guard pride themselves on working together as a cohesive unit while performing their duties at each ceremony they attend.