Air Force on Deck!

110327-N-7293M-186 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Mar. 27, 2011) U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Garrett Fillingham prepares to wash down the main rotors an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from the 56th Rescue Squadron embarked aboard amphibious transport dock USS Ponce (LPD 15). Based out of RAF Lakenheath, England, a detachment from the 56th is aboard Ponce in order to provide combat search and rescue support for coalition forces flying in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn, the coalition effort to bring humanitarian relief to the Libyan people. Due to the saltwater environment at sea, the 56th Airmen have to clean their aircraft far more frequently in order to prevent salt corrosion from damaging vital components. Ponce is part of Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nathanael Miller)