Source: United States Navy
Acting Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jim Kilby joined U.S., Dutch and British forces on June 30 to observe an amphibious assault during Atlantic Alliance 2025 (AA25), the premier East Coast naval integration exercise focused on improving joint readiness and interoperability.
Source: United States Spaceforce
The Pacific Air Forces’ International Affairs Division organized an International Observer Program (IOP) event during the exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025, a four-day tour to provide insight into the exercise, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, July 14-17, 2025.
Source: United States Navy
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — U.S. Navy Medicine launched its national initiative pilot program, “Top Doc,” showcasing Medical Corps capabilities and career paths at Nova Southeastern University’s Fort Lauderdale campus on Saturday, July 12.
Source: United States Airforce
CMSAF Flosi met with Airmen during a recent multi-base visit, where he observed how small, agile teams are delivering results in one of the most strategically significant and operationally complex regions in the world.
“The AFRICOM AOR is a challenging environment,” Flosi said. “You continue to operate in a low-resource setting, executing the mission with focus and flexibility to counter threats in the region.”
The senior leader then traveled to Camp Simba, Manda Bay, Kenya, where the deployed team is embodying the “Mission Ready” mindset. Airmen are stepping outside their core Air Force Specialty Codes to fill mission gaps, support each other and sustain forward operations, often in joint and host-nation integrated environments.
Chief Master Sgt. Ben Weavers, senior enlisted leader of the 475th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron, said the visit highlighted the growing strategic relevance of Manda Bay.
“It was great to highlight the strong partnership we share at Manda Bay with our host nation Kenyans, sister services and tenant units,” Weavers said. “They were impressed with what our Airmen are doing in support of our nation.”
Weavers said the visit helped reframe the narrative of Manda Bay from a site that was formerly attacked by enemy combatants to a vital node of partner engagement and operational readiness.
“We’ve moved beyond the legacy of the 2020 attack to a stronger security posture that allows us to focus on partnership building,” he explained. “We’ve conducted weekly knowledge exchanges with our Kenyan partners across disciplines like medical, maintenance, air transportation, civil engineering, and more.”
Lt. Col. Michael S. Ryan, commander of the 475th EABS, described the visit as a success, noting the valuable engagement between deployed personnel and senior leadership.
“CMSAF was able to interact with our deployed Airmen. The question-and-answer session allowed for two-way communication between Department of the Air Force leadership and our Airmen accomplishing the mission,” Ryan said. “We provided CMSAF the importance of Manda Bay and the mission here,” he added.
“We showcased our Airmen and the uniqueness of this deployment. Everything we do here is by, through and with the Kenyans.”
He also noted the positive response from his team.
“Multiple Airmen thanked local leadership for the opportunity to interact with CMSAF,” Ryan said. “This allowed them the opportunity to speak what is on their minds to our highest level of leadership.”
On the final day of the tour, Flosi visited Chabelley Airfield, where Airmen support critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. Here, he helped build a laser-guided bomb and observed how Airmen and Soldiers are detecting and deterring UAS threats with advanced counter-sUAS systems.
These missions play out just miles from the People’s Liberation Army Support Base in Djibouti, a visible reminder of the region’s strategic weight and the importance of maintaining a consistent, capable U.S. presence.
A consistent theme across locations was the deployment of small Unit Type Codes rather than fully aligned teams. Leaders noted that aligning future rotations with the Air Force’s Unit of Action concept, sending cohesive, trained teams that arrive and operate together from day one, may help improve readiness and continuity in the region.
“The missions you support are vital to regional security,” Flosi said. “You’re holding the line, and your work underscores the strategic significance of this region and the importance of a consistent and capable U.S. presence.”
Source: United States Navy
In a rare moment of living history, ship namesake and Medal of Honor recipient, Col. Harvey “Barney” Barnum Jr. joined members of future USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr.’s (DDG 124) crew, the Navy programmatic team, and industry partners onboard the ship’s first set of sea trials, departing from General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, July 15.
Source: United States Airforce
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (AFNS) —
Nine pilots from the 510th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Aviano Air Base earned Single-Event Air Medals, and two were simultaneously awarded the Distinguished Flying cross, after returning from a deployment to the Central Command area of responsibility. During the deployment, they flew various defensive counter air sorties to protect U.S. Naval assets traveling through the Bab el Mandeb Strait, breaking records along the way.
“As the new Buzzard Commander, I am honored and humbled to lead such an accomplished team,” said Lt. Col. Brent Smith, the newly appointed commander of the 510th EFS. “The legacy of excellence, dedication and professionalism is inspiring and motivating. It’s a privilege to step into this role and work alongside some of the most talented and mission-focused individuals in the Air Force.”
During the deployment, the Buzzards flew 8,800 hours and 1,400 total sorties.
“The Buzzards supported a variety of missions, including Inherent Resolve’s fight against ISIS, Operation Prosperity Guardian’s protection of coalition partners and civilian vessels in the Red Sea, Operation Spartan Shield’s defense of US interests in the Arabian Gulf, and many other force protection and deterrence missions,” Smith said.
The 510th EFS has a long history of excellence, beginning in 1943 as the 625th Bombardment Squadron until being re-designated the 510th Fighter-Bomber Squadron later that same year.
After being stationed at various locations across the globe and experiencing multiple periods of activation and inactivation, the 510th EFS was permanently reactivated in 1994, establishing its current home at Aviano AB, Italy.
The 510th EFS has been the highest flown PSAB fighter unit since 2019, highest flown Aviano deployed unit since 2010, and the highest flown rotation fighter unit in the area of responsibility.
The Buzzards have flown combat missions during World War II, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Provide Comfort, Operation Deny Flight and many more. During their most recent deployment to support Operation Prosperity Guardian, the squadron exuded excellence while protecting American assets overseas.
“Each decoration represents not only a specific event, but also the precision, teamwork and unwavering commitment to the mission required to successfully execute in combat,” Smith said. “They represent countless hours of preparation, sacrifice and high intensity training by the whole Buzzard operations and maintenance team. They are proof of a culture that demands and delivers high performance every single day.”
Source: United States Airforce
During the Royal International Air Tattoo, the U.S. Air Force, alongside NATO allies and partners from around the globe, showcased what the strength of multinational relationships can achieve.
The Royal International Air Tattoo is not only the largest air show in the world – it is a convention of lethality, ingenuity, and partnership. The U.S. Air Force, alongside NATO allies and partners from around the globe, showcased what the strength of multinational relationships can achieve.
“America’s international partners are one of its greatest strengths,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Mercer Martin, 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron U-2S pilot. “Spending our time meeting our partners in person while forging bonds and friendships is an extremely important addition to the relationships we have with our allied nations around the world.”
Exposing both the U.S. and partner-nation personnel to diverse strategies and training methods strengthens the goal of a cohesive, interoperable force. These relationships play a key part in times of peace as much as they do in the theater of war.
“I enjoy flying an aircraft that’s so close in league with our American colleagues. It’s a real change of pace,” said an RAF Rivet Joint pilot. “Your training systems and operational focus into different deployable locations make it so U.S. Airmen are more versed on how it all works in different areas of the world. It’s nice to be exposed to that and fly more often with pilots who have different techniques.”
As in years past, one of RIAT’s greatest strengths this year was the access it provided allies, partner nations and the public to U.S. aircraft, aircrew, and the stories behind them. It was a rare chance for global audiences to witness both the capabilities and the humanity behind modern airpower. This visibility builds confidence, strengthens support, and reinforces the value of continued collaboration.
“As aircrew stationed in the United Kingdom, I’m flying tanker missions and working with NATO allies while refueling them in the air,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Tobin Nelson, 100th Air Refueling Wing pilot. “Being on the ground and meeting them face-to-face at RIAT is amazing. Knowing I’ve worked with their people gives me the ability to network, plan new training missions, and forge new bonds through flying.”
RIAT 2025 served as a powerful reminder that diplomacy and military strength go hand in hand. By bringing together allies and partners in a shared celebration of innovation and skill, the air show fostered trust, mutual understanding, and camaraderie that extended far beyond the runway. The relationships built not only enhance all nations’ operational readiness but also promote a culture of cooperation and respect that is vital in today’s complex environments.
RIAT’s ability to inspire generations also underscores the profound impact of bringing military aviation into the public eye. For many attendees, witnessing these aircraft in action and hearing firsthand accounts from dedicated personnel sparks a passion for service and a belief in the importance of teamwork.
“When you come here and see participants and children from every walk of life with a sparkle in their eye, you don’t ever want to stifle those dreams,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Stortecky, 337th Airlift Squadron flight engineer. “Hopefully one day someone will say, ‘I had that tour through the aircraft and I saw them fly – and it inspired me to become who I am today.’”
Source: United States Airforce
Two U.S. Air Force pilots successfully flew Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft during an international interfly training mission during exercise Talisman Sabre 25, in Northern Territory, Australia, July 16.
This display of interoperability signified the first time USAF pilots flew 5th Generation aircraft belonging to a partnered or allied nation.
The U.S. Air Force pilots achieving this first-ever feat were Air Force Reserve Maj. Justin Lennon, 48th Fighter Wing, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-U.S. Air Forces Africa F-35A evaluator pilot, and Maj. Colby Kluesner, 388th Fighter Wing F-35A evaluator pilot.
“In the short term, Interfly events like this allow us to exchange information and best practices,” Lennon explained. “In the long term, as a coalition, normalizing Interfly gives commanders additional options for agility and versatility in a future conflict. In a prolonged conflict, airplanes are capable of flying more hours a day than a pilot. Having the added flexibility to put any pilot in any F-35 and generate combat airpower anywhere in the world adds to the F-35 coalition’s lethality.”
The RAAF has also increased its efforts in normalizing F-35 Interfly training among allies by the creation of its Lighting-X program: a 2023 initiative developed to take advantage of the mutual benefits provided to F-35 communities that Interfly concepts provide.
“[The Lightning-X program] allows RAAF commanders to treat our coalition counterparts as RAAF aircrew when we consider things like medical, dental, physiological issues, egress systems and human factors,” said RAAF Squadron Leader Nicholas Reynolds, No. 77 Squadron executive officer. “It is a big win to be able to seamlessly integrate here at Talisman Sabre 25 with 77 Squadron.”
In addition to the two USAF pilots, the RAAF also invited Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Daniel Goff, and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Johnny Rose, both F-35B instructor pilots, to participate in the international Interfly.
The USAF, USMC, and RAF pilots embedded with two of RAAF’s F-35 squadrons, No. 77 Squadron and No. 75 Squadron.
After a day of simulator training and academic courses, the four F-35 pilots were approved to conduct training exercises during Talisman Sabre 25 using RAAF’s F-35 aircraft.
“The crew are treated no differently than any other RAAF F-35 pilot during Talisman Sabre 25,” Lennon said. “The only way anyone might know it’s not an Australian in the RAAF F-35 is the accent on the radio.”
Lennon also added that familiar training and equipment usage in the F-35 makes adapting to another nation’s aircraft easier than one might think.
“Thanks to the commonality of F-35 variants, aligned training and operational practices between F-35 users, the flying portion is the easiest part,” Lennon explained. “Our visiting USAF pilots are able to execute and fly a RAAF F-35 no different from their Australian wingmen.”
This recent effort in pilot interchangeability by multiple branches and nations in the F-35 community is aimed at preparing the U.S. and its allies for future conflicts long into the future.
“Interfly has allowed the USAF to train partner nations on weapons systems they have purchased, as well as conduct exchange assignments,” Lennon said. “However, until now the USAF has never performed international interfly on an ad-hoc basis. This effort is part of a larger plan to normalize F-35 Interfly training with our allies.”
Talisman Sabre 25 is a large-scale, bilateral military exercise between Australia and the U.S. which advances a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and enhances our collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns. This year marks the eleventh iteration of the exercise.
Source: United States Navy
MEDITERRANEAN SEA – The United States’ newest and world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) and USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), all assigned to Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG), transited the Strait of Gibraltar with Spanish Navy Santa Maria-class ESPS Canarias (F86), and fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6), July 19, 2025.
Source: United States Spaceforce
Early on July 4, almost 30 inches of rain fell within hours across Central Texas’s Hill Country, surging the Guadalupe River and triggering catastrophic flash flooding. Within hours, Texas National Guard members sprang into action, launching search and rescue operations alongside civil authorities.