U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry air surveillance officer Maj. Bill McRaven of San Diago, Calif., monitors his equipment during a combat support operation over Afghanistan March 1, 2012. McRaven is deployed to the 964th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron. The E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system, or AWACS, that provides situational awareness of friendly, neutral and hostile activity, command and control of an area of responsibility, battle management of theater forces, all-altitude and all-weather surveillance of the battle space, and early warning of enemy actions during joint, allied, and coalition operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech. Sgt. DeNoris A. Mickle/Released)