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U.S. Air Force and UAE F-16 Fighting Falcons stand on display at Sakhir Air Base during the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) 2018, Bahrain, Nov. 14, 2018. BIAS is a biennial, three-day aviation and aerospace industry event that provides the U.S. military an opportunity to highlight DOD aviation’s flexibility, speed and agility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gracie I. Lee)
Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) 2018
U.S. Air Force and UAE F-16 Fighting Falcons stand on display at Sakhir Air Base during the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) 2018, Bahrain, Nov. 14, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gracie I. Lee)
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A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to 2nd Battalion, 198th Armor Regiment, 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Task Force Spartan, works with a Qatari soldier during bunker clearing training as part of Exercise Eastern Action 19, Nov. 7, 2018. “This exercise is one that has been taking place for several years,” said Col. Robert B. Kuth, commander of Area Support Group-Qatar, ARCENT. “Since the first iteration, we have focused upon enhancement of interoperability of land forces, as we build partnership capacity together. Both of our nations are committed to promoting security and stability, in pursuit of shared mutual interests, throughout the region.” (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James Lefty Larimer)
Exercise Eastern Action 19
A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Task Force Spartan, works with a Qatari soldier during bunker clearing training as part of Exercise Eastern Action 19, Nov. 7, 2018. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James Lefty Larimer)
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U.S. Army Gen. Joseph Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command, and Command Sgt. Maj. Bill Thetford, U.S. Central Command’s senior enlisted leader await the arrival of approximately 130 future service members prior to an Oath of Enlistment ceremony at Raymond James Stadium, Nov. 11th, 2018. The enlistees were provided a unique opportunity to take the Oath of Enlistment in front of thousands of football fans, during halftime of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers home game versus the Washington Redskins. (U.S. Central Command Public Affairs photo by Tom Gagnier)
New enlistees answer the call to serve
U.S. Army Gen. Joseph Votel and Command Sgt. Maj. Bill Thetford await the arrival of approximately 130 future service members prior to an Oath of Enlistment ceremony at Raymond James Stadium. (U.S. Central Command Public Affairs photo by Tom Gagnier)
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U.S. Army Gen. Joseph Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command, and U.S. Army Gen. Raymond A. Thomas III, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command lay a wreath in observance of Veterans Day during a ceremony, Nov. 8, 2018. Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. The holiday originated as Armistice Day and marked the end of hostilities of World War I that occurred at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month.
Veterans Day Ceremony
U.S. Army Gen. Joseph Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command, and U.S. Army Gen. Raymond A. Thomas III, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command lay a wreath in observance of Veterans Day during a ceremony, Nov. 8. (U.S. Central Command Public Affairs photo by Tom Gagnier)
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U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, left, and U.S. Army Gen Joseph L. Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command, attend the Manama Dialogue, Oct 27, 2018. The Dialogue hosted a diverse group of prime ministers, defense ministers, foreign ministers, national security advisers, and military and intelligence chiefs who gather for three days of discussions that address the Middle East’s most pressing security challenges. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Franklin Moore)
Manama Dialogue
U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, left, and U.S. Army Gen Joseph L. Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command, attend the Manama Dialogue, Oct 27, 2018. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Franklin Moore)
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U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Michael E. Langley, right, and U.S. Army Gen Joseph L. Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command, left, depart to visit U.S. Marines and sailors with the USS Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Oct. 26, 2018. The USS Essex ARG and 13th MEU are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Franklin Moore)
CENTCOM visit to USS Essex
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Michael E. Langley, right, and U.S. Army Gen Joseph L. Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command, left, depart to visit U.S. Marines and sailors with the USS Essex ARG. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Franklin Moore)
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STRAIT OF HORMUZ (Oct. 10, 2018) Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) transits the Strait of Hormuz in formation with Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during a regularly scheduled deployment of Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. USS Essex is a lethal, flexible, and persistent Navy-Marine Corps team deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jenna Dobson/Released)
USS Essex 2018 Deployment Strait of Hormuz
STRAIT OF HORMUZ (Oct. 10, 2018) Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) transits the Strait of Hormuz in formation with Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during a regularly scheduled deployment of Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. USS Es ...More
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The USMC F-35B conducted an air strike in support of ground clearance operations, and the strike was deemed successful by the ground force commander. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. A. J. Van Fredenberg/Released)
USMC F-35B conducts first combat strike in CENTCOM AOR
The USMC F-35B conducted an air strike in support of ground clearance operations, and the strike was deemed successful by the ground force commander. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. A. J. Van Fredenberg/Released)
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A Mi-17 from the Afghan air force prepares to land, May 8, 2018, at the Regional Military Training Center-Kandahar during a medical evacuation exercise hosted by Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade in Kandahar Afghanistan. “The Afghan army has taken severe casualties over the past year-and-a-half and they’ve stayed in the field fighting,” Defense Secretary James N. Mattis said. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield/TAAC-South Public Affairs)
Afghan forces proving their resilience
“The Afghan army has taken severe casualties over the past year-and-a-half and they’ve stayed in the field fighting,” Defense Secretary James N. Mattis said. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield/TAAC-South Public Affairs)
Hi-Res | Photo Gallery
A U.S. Marine with 3d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, attached to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, Crisis Response-Central Command, fires a FGM-148 Javelin, a shoulder-fired anti-tank missile, at his target during a live fire demonstration near At Tanf Garrison, Syria September 7, 2018. SPMAGTF-CR-CC Marines supported Special Operations Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve, conducting live fire demonstrations showcasing the unit's crisis response capabilities. The de-confliction lines for air and ground operations are professional military exchanges to prevent accidental targeting or unnecessary escalation between Russian-backed Syrian regime forces and Coalition-backed forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Lopez)
U. S. Marines conduct training near At-Tanf Garrison
A U.S. Marine with 3d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, attached to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, Crisis Response-Central Command, fires a FGM-148 Javelin, a shoulder-fired anti-tank missile, at his target during a live fire demonstration near At Tanf Garrison, Syria September 7, 2018. SPMAGTF-CR-CC Marin ...More
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U.S. Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command, addresses senior defense leaders from nine countries throughout the region during a conference here Sept. 12. The two-day conference included chiefs of defense from the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf countries – Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates – as well as Jordan and Egypt. The event was designed to underscore the U.S. commitment to the region, help gain a better understanding of regional concerns, and identify opportunities to strengthen relationships between defense chiefs and senior U.S. military leaders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Dana Flamer/Released)
Chiefs of Defense conference held in Kuwait
Kuwait City, Kuwait -- U.S. Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command, addresses senior defense leaders from nine countries throughout the region during a conference here Sept. 12. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Dana Flamer/Released)
Hi-Res | Photo Gallery
U.S. Air Force and UAE F-16 Fighting Falcons stand on display at Sakhir Air Base during the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) 2018, Bahrain, Nov. 14, 2018. BIAS is a biennial, three-day aviation and aerospace industry event that provides the U.S. military an opportunity to highlight DOD aviation’s flexibility, speed and agility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gracie I. Lee)
A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to 2nd Battalion, 198th Armor Regiment, 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Task Force Spartan, works with a Qatari soldier during bunker clearing training as part of Exercise Eastern Action 19, Nov. 7, 2018. “This exercise is one that has been taking place for several years,” said Col. Robert B. Kuth, commander of Area Support Group-Qatar, ARCENT. “Since the first iteration, we have focused upon enhancement of interoperability of land forces, as we build partnership capacity together. Both of our nations are committed to promoting security and stability, in pursuit of shared mutual interests, throughout the region.” (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James Lefty Larimer)
U.S. Army Gen. Joseph Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command, and Command Sgt. Maj. Bill Thetford, U.S. Central Command’s senior enlisted leader await the arrival of approximately 130 future service members prior to an Oath of Enlistment ceremony at Raymond James Stadium, Nov. 11th, 2018. The enlistees were provided a unique opportunity to take the Oath of Enlistment in front of thousands of football fans, during halftime of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers home game versus the Washington Redskins. (U.S. Central Command Public Affairs photo by Tom Gagnier)
U.S. Army Gen. Joseph Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command, and U.S. Army Gen. Raymond A. Thomas III, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command lay a wreath in observance of Veterans Day during a ceremony, Nov. 8, 2018. Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. The holiday originated as Armistice Day and marked the end of hostilities of World War I that occurred at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month.
U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, left, and U.S. Army Gen Joseph L. Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command, attend the Manama Dialogue, Oct 27, 2018. The Dialogue hosted a diverse group of prime ministers, defense ministers, foreign ministers, national security advisers, and military and intelligence chiefs who gather for three days of discussions that address the Middle East’s most pressing security challenges. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Franklin Moore)
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Michael E. Langley, right, and U.S. Army Gen Joseph L. Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command, left, depart to visit U.S. Marines and sailors with the USS Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Oct. 26, 2018. The USS Essex ARG and 13th MEU are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Franklin Moore)
STRAIT OF HORMUZ (Oct. 10, 2018) Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) transits the Strait of Hormuz in formation with Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during a regularly scheduled deployment of Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. USS Essex is a lethal, flexible, and persistent Navy-Marine Corps team deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jenna Dobson/Released)
The USMC F-35B conducted an air strike in support of ground clearance operations, and the strike was deemed successful by the ground force commander. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. A. J. Van Fredenberg/Released)
A Mi-17 from the Afghan air force prepares to land, May 8, 2018, at the Regional Military Training Center-Kandahar during a medical evacuation exercise hosted by Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade in Kandahar Afghanistan. “The Afghan army has taken severe casualties over the past year-and-a-half and they’ve stayed in the field fighting,” Defense Secretary James N. Mattis said. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield/TAAC-South Public Affairs)
A U.S. Marine with 3d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, attached to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, Crisis Response-Central Command, fires a FGM-148 Javelin, a shoulder-fired anti-tank missile, at his target during a live fire demonstration near At Tanf Garrison, Syria September 7, 2018. SPMAGTF-CR-CC Marines supported Special Operations Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve, conducting live fire demonstrations showcasing the unit's crisis response capabilities. The de-confliction lines for air and ground operations are professional military exchanges to prevent accidental targeting or unnecessary escalation between Russian-backed Syrian regime forces and Coalition-backed forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Carlos Lopez)
U.S. Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command, addresses senior defense leaders from nine countries throughout the region during a conference here Sept. 12. The two-day conference included chiefs of defense from the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf countries – Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates – as well as Jordan and Egypt. The event was designed to underscore the U.S. commitment to the region, help gain a better understanding of regional concerns, and identify opportunities to strengthen relationships between defense chiefs and senior U.S. military leaders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Dana Flamer/Released)

U.S. Central Command Photo Gallery

U.S. Central Command leaders visit Coalition, partners in Hamam al-Alil
U.S. Army Gen. Joseph Votel, commanding general of U.S. Central Command, (center) greets Lt. Col. John Hawbaker, commander of 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, during a visit at Hamam al-Alil, Iraq, Feb. 25, 2017. The 2nd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div., deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, enables their Iraqi security forces partners through the advise and assist mission, contributing planning, intelligence collection and analysis, force protection, and precision fires to achieve the military defeat of ISIS. CJTF-OIR is the global Coalition to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Hull)