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![Seaman recruit Shanda Martinez, a recruit chief petty officer, checks to see if her division is ready for their first task during a dynamic material inspection Dec. 21, 2020, at Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes, Ill.](https://www.militarytimes.com/resizer/Xp8hoLBbj6AGTRTi-lQ4Qmqe7LI=/800x0/filters:format(jpg):quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/archetype/5TUXO2M24RHOZHANGJKI7QGZ6M.jpg)
![Santa Claus waves as he taxis on the ramp in a 120th Airlift Wing C-130 Hercules at Montana Air National Guard Base on Dec. 5, 2020.](https://www.militarytimes.com/resizer/HNm1Asjr8AYO37yB9uLDkRoES3s=/800x0/filters:format(jpg):quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/archetype/X766N5IO5JAZJP4TGGW5QI37HU.jpg)
![Senior Airman Amber Barkley lays a wreath on a grave at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro, Del., Dec. 19, 2020.](https://www.militarytimes.com/resizer/8ZvdV9PpSEC8EFZvNgwAq6abvHU=/800x0/filters:format(jpg):quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/archetype/N5DQWPI4WFFZDEAGF7QUXD675A.jpg)
![U.S. Army Spc. Kevin Piepenbrink records firing points during a live-fire exercise, Dec. 16, 2020, at the Koron Djiboutian range complex.](https://www.militarytimes.com/resizer/hATPg5ykVPTA3OAZpzUsvVEH8-o=/800x0/filters:format(jpg):quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/archetype/XQTFLEXOXNCSFBN6EPWSJVQHEU.jpg)
![A U.S. soldier sits in the gunner’s seat of a M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle in Syria in the Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 11, 2020.](https://www.militarytimes.com/resizer/GcK7kT70HXHGVn0ez07_obapbmE=/800x0/filters:format(jpg):quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/archetype/RESSEP44VZCIZMNLEUI4KR2VOA.jpg)
![U.S. Marines conduct a combat patrol during exercise Forest Light on mainland Japan, Dec. 16, 2020.](https://www.militarytimes.com/resizer/OC1QY0-m6uoBi6kjsLa8JUM681w=/800x0/filters:format(jpg):quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/archetype/Z33SYJCPARA3LLC234RE6KOK6A.jpg)
![A crew chief with the 30th Infantry Regiment, 12th Brigade, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and U.S. Marines conduct an air assault during exercise Forest Light Eastern Army in mainland Japan, on Dec. 15, 2020.](https://www.militarytimes.com/resizer/Ry-YjT0LFD9I_5UnDMiOQHbtuZ0=/800x0/filters:format(jpg):quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/archetype/24VEIISDTVA55EV7U7EAF3HOOU.jpg)
![A T-45C Goshawk lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Dec. 10, 2020, in the Atlantic Ocean.](https://www.militarytimes.com/resizer/vqRNu-hA_H8dVVhFuqdZA1_DCq4=/800x0/filters:format(jpg):quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/archetype/FLU2RLBNIBFC3HHED43MX7OHIU.jpg)
![U.S. Army Spc. Kevin Piepenbrink records firing points during a live-fire exercise, Dec. 16, 2020, at the Koron Djiboutian range complex.](https://www.militarytimes.com/resizer/hF5GCC6-kJqZV6G2aYHpb3uvjw4=/800x0/filters:format(jpg):quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/archetype/BYE3OWCISFGJNM32UHGPWMZXSY.jpg)
Aircraft assigned to the 354th Fighter Wing and 168th Wing park in formation on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Dec. 18, 2020. Over 30 aircraft were quickly generated and prepared to launch in an effort demonstrating the readiness capabilities of the 354th Fighter Wing and the 168th Wing. (Senior Airman Keith Holcomb/Air Force)