U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Whisler, senior enlisted leader, 449th Air Expeditionary Group, cuts a cake on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 18, 2018. Whisler took part in the time-honored tradition for the Air Force’s 71st birthday, where the most senior and junior ranking time-in-service military members participate in a cake-cutting ceremony. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
U.S. service members and distinguished guests gathered together with Airmen with the 449th Air Expeditionary Group and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa to celebrate the U.S. Air Force’s 71st birthday on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 18, 2018. The birthday celebration was part of a combat dining out, giving Airmen an opportunity to build morale and esprit de corps with their fellow deployed service members. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
U.S. service members and distinguished guests stand for the National Anthem during a celebration of the U.S. Air Force’s 71st birthday on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 18, 2018. U.S. service members and distinguished guests gathered together with Airmen assigned to the 449th Air Expeditionary Group and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa to celebrate the U.S. Air Force’s 71st birthday during a combat dining out. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
U.S. service members and distinguished guests stand for the National Anthem during a celebration of the U.S. Air Force’s 71st birthday on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 18, 2018. U.S. service members and distinguished guests gathered together with Airmen assigned to 449th Air Expeditionary Group and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa to celebrate the U.S. Air Force’s 71st birthday during a combat dining out. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
U.S. Staff Sgt. Gregory Watson, acting Mister Vice for the 449th Air Expeditionary Group’s Combat Dining Out, recognizes America’s Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action during a ceremony on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 18, 2018. U.S. service members and distinguished guests gathered together with Airmen assigned to the 449th Air Expeditionary Group and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa to celebrate the U.S. Air Force’s 71st birthday. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Kenneth Copeland assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, sings the National Anthem on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 18, 2018. U.S. service members and distinguished guests gathered together with Airmen assigned to the 449th Air Expeditionary Group and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa to celebrate the U.S. Air Force’s 71st birthday during a combat dining out. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
U.S. Airmen with the 449th Air Expeditionary Group serve as part of the Honor Guard for the Air Force’s 71st birthday celebration on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 18, 2018. U.S. service members and distinguished guests gathered together with Airmen assigned to the 449th Air Expeditionary Group and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa to celebrate the U.S. Air Force’s birthday during a combat dining out. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
A cake for the U.S. Air Force’s 71st birthday was decorated to highlight the 449th Air Expeditionary Group serving in the Horn of Africa, on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 18, 2018. U.S. service members and distinguished guests gathered together with Airmen with the 449th Air Expeditionary Group and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa to celebrate the U.S. Air Force’s birthday during a combat dining out. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
U.S. service members deployed to the Horn of Africa participate in a 9/11 remembrance ceremony on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 11, 2018. The service members stood at attention as four American flags, one for each of the 9/11 flights, were ceremoniously retired from Camp Lemonnier. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
U.S. service members deployed to the Horn of Africa participate in a 9/11 remembrance ceremony on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 11, 2018. The service members stood at attention as four American flags, one for each of the 9/11 flights, were ceremoniously retired from Camp Lemonnier. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
A flag detail, composed of U.S. service members, march during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony, on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 11, 2018. The service members had just ceremoniously retired four American flags, one for each of the 9/11 flights. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
A flag detail, composed of U.S. service members, ceremoniously retire four American flags during a 9/11 ceremony, on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 11, 2018. The four flags were retired in remembrance of the four 9/11 flights. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
A flag detail, composed of U.S. service members, march during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony, on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 11, 2018. The detail marched 2,977 paces, each step representing a life lost in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania 17 years ago. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
U.S. Service members deployed to the Horn of Africa salute during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 11, 2018. The ceremony honored those who lost their lives in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania 17 years ago. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
U.S. Service members deployed to the Horn of Africa salute during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 11, 2018. The ceremony honored those who lost their lives in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania 17 years ago. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
A flag detail, composed of U.S. service members, march during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony, on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 11, 2018. The detail marched 2,977 paces, each step representing a life lost in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania 17 years ago. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
U.S. service members salute as the American and Djiboutian flags are raised on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 11, 2018. The service members were gathered for a 9/11 remembrance ceremony to recognize those who lost their lives 17 years ago. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
U.S. service members salute as the American and Djiboutian flags are raised on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 11, 2018. The service members were gathered for a 9/11 remembrance ceremony to recognize those who lost their lives 17 years ago. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Mattison)
U.S. and coalition forces pose for a group photo following a joint coalition exercise at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sep. 5, 2018. The joint exercise allowed coalition forces from Italy, Japan, France, and Djibouti to learn alongside the U.S. Army and exchane best practices. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy M. Ahearn)