SR12 ends with demonstrations to nation, military leaders

Col. Daniel Gerke, 48th Inpatient Operations Squadron commander, RAF Lakenheath, England, shows Patrick S. Moon, U.S. ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, around the expeditionary medical facility here June 6, 2012. More than 500 military members from nine nations are participating in SR12, the annual U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff sponsored exercise, May 28 - June 8. The goals of the exercise are to strengthen interoperability, facilitate training in crisis response and disaster management, and validate the readiness of deployable military medical and humanitarian assistance teams. The exercise, in the spirit of partnership for peace, directly supports U.S. European Command's theater cooperation efforts and strategy for active security with European countries.

Exercise melds Bosnian-Herzegovinian military, civilian medical communities

A team of medical professionals treat a simulated casualty for injuries during a mass casualty exercise to conclude the Critical Life Saving Skills for First Responders course here June 1, 2012. During the course, instructors from the Defense Institute for Medical Operations worked with other countries' medical practitioners attending Shared Resilience 2012 to exchange medical ideas and techniques. More than 500 military members from nine nations are participating in the annual U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff sponsored exercise May 28 - June 8. The goals of the exercise are to strengthen interoperability, facilitate training in crisis response and disaster management, and validate the readiness of deployable military medical and humanitarian assistance teams. The exercise, in the spirit of partnership for peace, directly supports U.S. European Command's theater cooperation efforts and strategy for active security with European countries.

SR12 Cultural Day promotes cross-nation appreciation

Photographs and letters rest at the foot of a Virgin Mary statue at the Saint Jakov holy site, Medjugorje, during the Shared Resilience 2012 Cultural Day tour June 3. Visitors of the site can leave items like these as prayer requests. This area became known in 1981 when six Catholic children reported seeing an apparition of the Virgin Mary. Now, the area sees approximately one million pilgrims per year. More than 500 military members from nine nations are participating in SR12, the annual U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff sponsored exercise, May 28 - June 8. The goals of the exercise are to strengthen interoperability, facilitate training in crisis response and disaster management, and validate the readiness of deployable military medical and humanitarian assistance teams. The exercise, in the spirit of partnership for peace, directly supports U.S. European Command's theater cooperation efforts and strategy for active security with European countries.

Maj. Gen. Mark R. Zamzow

Maj. Gen. Mark R. Zamzow, Third Air Force vice commander and European Command’s military representative to the United Kingdom, has played a role in many of the Air Force’s most notable missions, learning valuable lessons along the way with regard to leadership, training and coalition relationships. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Zamzow served for just more than 34 years as a heavy aircraft pilot, staff officer and commander. He is is set to retire in June with full faith in the future of his Air Force, declaring it one of the world’s greatest institutions.

Brig. Gen. Chris Weggeman promotion

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – General Mark A. Welsh III, left, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, and Col. Chris Weggeman, 52nd Fighter Wing commander, stand at attention while Tech. Sgt. Levi Williams, 52nd FW Honor Guard member, posts Weggeman’s general officer flag during a ceremonial pin-on at the Club Eifel ballroom here June 1. Airmen, family and friends attended the ceremony to celebrate Weggeman’s promotion to the rank of brigadier general, which is effective June 5. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew B. Fredericks/Released)

Brig. Gen. Chris Weggeman promotion

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – General Mark A. Welsh III, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, readministers the oath of office to Col. Chris Weggeman, 52nd Fighter Wing commander, during a ceremonial pin-on at the Club Eifel ballroom here June 1. Airmen, family and friends attended the ceremony to celebrate Weggeman’s promotion to the rank of brigadier general, which is effective June 5. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew B. Fredericks/Released)

Lafayette Escadrille Memorial

French and U.S. veterans, civilians and servicemembers participate at a Memorial Day ceremony at the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial located on the outskirts of Paris, May 26, 2012. The memorial honors American pilots who volunteered to join the French Escadrille Lafayette and the Lafayette Flying Corps during World War I and also serves as a final resting place for the remains of 49 of those pilots. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Markus M. Maier) (Released)

Lafayette Escadrille Memorial

French and U.S. veterans, civilians and servicemembers participate at a Memorial Day ceremony at the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial located on the outskirts of Paris, May 26, 2012. The memorial honors American pilots who volunteered to join the French Escadrille Lafayette and the Lafayette Flying Corps during World War I and also serves as a final resting place for the remains of 49 of those pilots. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Markus M. Maier) (Released)

Lafayette Escadrille Memorial

The remains of 49 American pilots rest in a crypt at the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial located on the outskirts of Paris. The memorial honors American pilots who volunteered to join the French Escadrille Lafayette and the Lafayette Flying Corps during World War I. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Markus M. Maier) (Released)

NATO air policing exercise in Iceland

KEFLAVIK, Iceland — Icelandic Coast Guard vessel Thor prepares to transport ICG and U.S. Air Force personnel before a search and rescue exercise off the coast of Iceland May 30, 2012. During the exercise, two F-15C Eagle pilots from the 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron simulated a bailout scenario over Icelandic waters. Pararescuemen jumped into the water and provided medical treatment to the “downed” pilot, who was then hoisted to safety by an Icelandic helicopter. The rescue exercise increased interoperability, as well as developed cohesion between the ICG and the 493rd EFS, which is deployed to Iceland to conduct NATO air policing until June 7, 2012. (Photo courtesy of Icelandic Coast Guard)

U.S., Polish Air Forces agree to exchange personnel

WARSAW -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Polish Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Lech Majewski sign the Military Personnel Exchange Program Memorandum of Understanding May 30, 2012 at a ceremony witnessed by U.S. Embassy Chargé d’affaires William Heidt and Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak. The MOU is the first of its kind in Central Europe and a significant step for both Air Forces. Through MPEP, the U.S. and Polish Air Forces exchange military officers in each other's Services. Along with family members, several Air Force Captains will work and live alongside their Allies. MPEP promotes mutual understanding and trust, enhances interoperability, strengthens air force-to-air force ties, and develops long-term professional and personal relationships. The Air Force officers and their families are expected to be in-place by the end of 2013 at Powidz and Krzesiny Air Bases in Poland, and at Luke and Pope Air Force Bases in Arizona and North Carolina. (Courtesy Photo)

Global medical practitioners work to seamlessly integrate

Second Lt. Warren Carter, a Chicago native from the San Antonio Military Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, demonstrates needle decompression for a collapsed lung during the Critical Lifesaving Skills for First Responders course here May 29, 2012. During the course, instructors from the Defense Institute for Medical Operations worked with other countries' medical practitioners attending Shared Resilience 2012 to exchange medical ideas and techniques. More than 500 military members from nine nations are participating in the annual U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff-sponsored exercise May 28 - June 8. The goals of the exercise are to strengthen interoperability, facilitate training in crisis response and disaster management, and validate the readiness of deployable military medical and humanitarian assistance teams. The exercise, in the spirit of partnership for peace, directly supports U.S. European Command's theater cooperation efforts and strategy for active security with European countries.