Photos by Staff Sgt. Kevin Ray Salvador
406th Air Expeditionary Wing September 26, 2025
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Lawrence V. Melnicoff, left, 776th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron commander, hands out gifts to German Armed Forces personnel during an awards ceremony for the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge at Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti, Sep. 13, 2025. The trials for the badge offered a unique opportunity to U.S. service members and strengthened ties between the U.S. and Germany militaries. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Ray J. Salvador)
German Armed Forces Lt. Col. Philipp Blau, left, GAF commander, observes as U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Chase Chesnutt, 776th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron sustainment services journeyman, fires a Sig Sauer M18 during the shooting event for the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sep. 12, 2025. The trials for the badge offered a unique opportunity to U.S. service members and strengthened ties between the U.S. and Germany militaries. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Ray J. Salvador)
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ronald W. Florkowski III, left, 10th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight charge medical technician, races to the finish line during the ruck march event for the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge at Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti, Sep. 11, 2025. The trials for the badge offered a unique opportunity to U.S. service members and strengthened ties between the U.S. and Germany militaries. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Ray J. Salvador)
German Armed Forces Lt. Col. Philipp Blau, right, GAF commander, and U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Lawrence V. Melnicoff, left, 776th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron commander, congratulate each other following the completion of the swim event for the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge at Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti, Sep. 12, 2025. The trials for the badge offered a unique opportunity to U.S. service members and strengthened ties between the U.S. and Germany militaries. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Ray J. Salvador)
U.S. military personnel race to the finish line during the ruck march event for the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge at Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti, Sep. 11, 2025. The trials for the badge offered a unique opportunity to U.S. service members and strengthened ties between the U.S. and Germany militaries. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Ray J. Salvador)
U.S. Air Force Capt. Thomas J. Wirfel, 10th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight nurse, races to the finish line during the ruck march event for the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge at Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti, Sep. 11, 2025. The trials for the badge offered a unique opportunity to U.S. service members and strengthened ties between the U.S. and Germany militaries. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Ray J. Salvador)
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