In the dawn's early light

An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Fighter Wing at Atlantic City International Airport sits on the flightline early in the morning May 20, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Matt Hecht)

Viper Dawn

U.S. Air Force F16C and D Fighting Falcons assigned to the 177th Fighter Wing "Jersey Devils" sit on the flightline on the morning of May 20th, 2010. The 177th Fighter Wing is a part of the New Jersey Air National Guard, and is stationed at Atlantic City IAP in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Matt Hecht)

Active Shooter Exercise

Contact Team members, left to right, Mr. Charles O. Kerley, Tech. Sgt. Mary M. Connelly and Master Sgt. David Hightower move out during the base-wide Active Shooter exercise at the 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard on May 5, 2010. The 177th is training to respond to a situation in which one or more individuals participate in a shooting spree on the installation. Because there is generally no criminal objective involved, other than pure violence, these scenarios are dangerous and require specialized training on the part of all members of the base population. This exercise tested the Wing?s ability to report and notify Airmen to take cover, to notify first-responders, to neutralize the threat and finally, to assess the unit?s ability to deal with the consequences of such an event, as well as to interact with multiple law enforcement agencies. This particular exercise involved elements of the New Jersey State Police and Egg Harbor Township Police, along with observers from various state and federal agencies. U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, 177FW/PA.

F-16C+ Afterburner Takeoff from Joint Base Balad, Iraq

Lt. Col. William "Hoover" Engleson, fighter pilot with the 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, takes off with the afterburner lit in an F-16C+ Fighting Falcon from Joint Base Balad, Iraq on May 4, 2010. Aircraft maintenance and crew chiefs from the 177th Fighter Wing, NJ Air National Guard helped prepare the aircaft for launch. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andrew J. Moseley/Released)

F-16 Maintenance at Joint Base Balad, Iraq

Senior Airman Josh Bone, Staff Sgt. Steven Ballinger and Staff Sgt. Sean Latimer, all of the 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (EAMXS), stand by as an engine test run is performed on an F-16C+ Fighting Falcon after an igniter lead was replaced at Joint Base Balad, Iraq on May 4, 2010. All are also unit members of the 177th Fighter Wing, NJ Air National Guard, located in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Andrew J. Moseley/Released)

F-16 Maintenance at Joint Base Balad, Iraq

Lt. Col. Bradford "Francis" Everman, 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (EFS) Commander, and Master Sgt. Michael Quigley, 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (EAMXS), discuss a maintenance issue on an F-16C+ Fighting Falcon while crew chiefs Staff Sgt. Sean Latimer and Tech. Sgt. Brian Flynn (in aircraft) listen in at Joint Base Balad, Iraq on May 4, 2010. All are also members of the 177th Fighter Wing, NJ Air National Guard, located in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Andrew J. Moseley/Released)