This week’s photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

A C-130 Hercules receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker Oct. 22, 2015, over the Atlantic Ocean. The two aircraft, assigned to Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, were training in Trident Juncture, an exercise designed to help militaries respond more effectively to regional crises with NATO allies and partners — improving security of borders, ensuring energy security and countering threats of terrorism.

The second of two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors is launched during a successful intercept test, which was conducted by the Missile Defense Agency, Ballistic Missile Defense System Operational Test Agency, Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, and U.S. Pacific Command, among other units. The test stressed the ability of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense and THAAD weapon systems to function in a layered defense architecture and defeat a raid of two near-simultaneous ballistic missile targets. 

Airmen from the 60th Aerial Port Squadron and members of the Army National Guard’s 49th Police Brigade practice loading and sling loading vehicles on a CH-47 Chinook cargo helicopter Oct. 14, 2015, at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. The units also practiced nighttime operations in total darkness with the aid of night vision goggles.

Two Airmen, assigned to the 71st Rescue Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., look out the windows of a C-130J Super Hercules during rescue and refueling training near Beja Air Base, Portugal, Oct. 23, 2015. The training was in support of Trident Juncture 2015, the largest NATO exercise conducted in the past 20 years, involving more than 35,000 troops from over 30 NATO member nations and partners.

Two pilots, assigned to the 71st Rescue Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., fly a C-130J Super Hercules during rescue and refueling training near Beja Air Base, Portugal, Oct. 23, 2015. The training was in support of Trident Juncture 2015, the largest NATO exercise conducted in the past 20 years, involving more than 35,000 troops from over 30 NATO member nations and partners.

A KC-135 Stratotanker is de-iced in front of 5 Hangar at 5 Wing Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, the morning of Oct. 23, 2015, during Exercise Vigilant Shield 16. From Oct. 15-26, 2015, approximately 700 members from the Canadian Armed Forces and the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Air National Guard deployed to Iqaluit, Nunavut, and 5 Wing Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, for Exercise Vigilant Shield 16.

An F-15C Eagle from the 144th Fighter Wing flies above the High Arctic Oct. 22, 2015. From Oct. 15-26, 2015, approximately 700 members from the Canadian Armed Forces and the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Air National Guard deployed to Iqaluit, Nunavut, and 5 Wing Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, for Exercise Vigilant Shield 16.