917th Munitions Flight performs at RIMPAC
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jae Simmons, 917th Maintenance Squadron munitions systems technician from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., loads a flare module into an ammunition box during the Rim of the Pacific military exercise July 20, 2012, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC exercise from June 29 to Aug. 3, in and around the Hawaiian Islands. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ted Daigle)