AF Week in Photos

James Pickens, 502nd Force Support Squadron vehicle control officer, volunteering as Santa Claus, listens to a safety briefing before the Christmas parade, Dec. 2, 2020 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. JB San Antonio-Lackland kicked off the Christmas festivities with a tree-lighting ceremony hosted by Brig. Gen. Caroline Miller, 502nd Air Base Wing and JB San Antonio commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Wendell Snider, 502ABW and JB San Antonio command chief, outside the Gateway Club. The tree-lighting ceremony marks the beginning of the Christmas season at the installation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Sarayuth Pinthong)

Two U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, assigned to the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, fly in formation with two Royal Saudi Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, after receiving fuel from a KC-135R Stratotanker, assigned to the 50th Expeditionary Aircraft Refueling Squadron, during a routine exercise over Southwest Asia, Dec. 15, 2020. U.S. Air Forces Central Command continues to build and strengthen regional partners by training alongside one another, integrating capabilities and increasing interoperability to project agile combat employment from established and austere locations throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Taylor Harrison)

Minot Air Force Base Honor Guard members prepare to present the colors during a ceremony, Dec. 15, 2020 at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. U.S. Navy Rear Adm. William W. Wheeler III, U.S. Strategic Command chief of staff, visited Minot AFB to present the Omaha Trophy to both the 91st Missile Wing and the 5th Bomb Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jesse Jenny)

A U-2 Dragon Lady assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing takes off at Beale Air Force, Calif., Dec. 15, 2020. The flight marks a major leap forward for national defense as artificial intelligence took flight aboard a military aircraft for the first time in the history of the Department of Defense. The AI algorithm, developed by Air Combat Command’s U-2 Federal Laboratory, trained the AI to execute specific in-flight tasks that would otherwise be done by the pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luis A. Ruiz-Vazquez)

A military training instructor, center, stands in front of his flight during a basic military graduation and coining ceremony Dec. 10, 2020, for the 320th Training Squadron at the Pfingston Reception Center on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Approximately 39,000 Airmen graduate BMT annually to meet force requirements around the world, fueling the Air and Space Force. Since the beginning of COVID-19, the Air Force has safely and successfully graduated 8,510 Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Jose Torres Jr.)

Military working dog Brutus, 51st Security Forces Squadron bites a simulated perpetrator during a demonstration at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Dec. 3, 2020. Brutus patrols the base and performs regular sweeps. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Noah Sudolcan)

An XQ-58A Valkyrie low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle launches at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, Dec. 9, 2020. The flight successfully demonstrated the ability of new communications data to exchange information with an F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II and the transformative warfighting impact of the open architecture underpinning the Advanced Battle Management System. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua King)

Senior Airman Alexander Mincey, 59th Medical Wing Immunizations Clinic technician, administers the COVID-19 vaccine shot to Master Sgt. Vangie Moore, Dec. 14, 2020, at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The Department of Defense prioritization will be derived from the data-driven, national prioritization to help ensure fair and equitable access to everyone. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melody Bordeaux)

An F-15C Eagle assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron takes off at RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, Dec. 8, 2020. The 48th Fighter Wing conducts daily flying operations to ensure the Liberty Wing can deliver unique air combat capabilities when called upon by its NATO allies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessi Monte)

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing departs after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, during a multi-day Bomber Task Force mission over Southwest Asia, Dec. 10th, 2020. The B-52 is a long-range bomber with a range of approximately 8,800 miles, enabling rapid support of BTF missions or deployments and reinforcing global security and stability. (U.S Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBride)