Airmen prepare cargo for transport in support of AFCENT exercise
A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft takes off in support of a readiness exercise within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Jan. 21, 2026. The exercise was designed to strengthen 9th Air Force’s ability to disperse combat airpower throughout the CENTCOM AOR, adding strategic ambiguity to adversary decision-making. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph Garcia)