U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson

Airman 1st Class Kirk Rodgers, 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron network operations technician, shares his musical talent with two children from the District Vijurkai Children’s Home is Vijurkai, Lithuania, Nov. 15. The group visit afforded more than 20 Airmen an opportunity to spend time with the children and give back to the local community.

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Torri K. Larson

Maj. David Pryor, 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron pilot, removes his helmet after another well-executed mock scramble Nov. 11 in Siauliai, Lithuania. The pilots stay on alert status 24-hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure NATO Baltic Air Policing mission success.

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Torri K. Larson

Two F-15 Eagles soar with a Lithuanian Air Force L-39 Albatross Nov. 11 over Siauliai, Lithuania during an exercise intercept. The F-15’s will be here, supporting the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission, through the new year.

U.S. Air Force photo by Michael Tolzmann

Two F-15 Eagles flank a Lithuanian L-39 Albatross during a fly-by to celebrate Lithuanian Armed Forces Day in Siauliai, Lithuania, Nov. 16. Airmen from the 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron attended the celebration held in the middle of downtown.

U.S. arrives in the Baltics

Senior Airman Antonio Huguley, 493d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron PERSCO, 493d EFS Quality Assurance, raise the U.S. flag over the Quick Reaction Facility as Staff Sgt. Raphael Santos-Montanez salutes the colors. The flag raising was a part of the change-over ceremony marking the first day of the U.S. rotation performing the NATO Baltic air policing mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jill Lavoie))

Raising the flag in the Baltics

Senior Airman Antonio Huguley, 493d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron PERSCO, and Staff Sgt. Raphael Santos-Montanez, 493d EFS Quality Assurance, raise the U.S. flag over the Quick Reaction Facility as part of the change-over ceremony marking the first day of the U.S. rotation performing the NATO Baltic air policing mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jill Lavoie)