Eric Schmitz reaches to ring the cow bell at the top of one

off the fi nal obstacles in the South Carolina Spartan Best

Race. When asked why he wears a kilt while racing, his typical

response is, “because I can.”

Col. Miguel A. Correa, U.S. Army Special Operations Command Chief of Staff, presents Sgt. 1st Class Jill D. Thompson, 7th Special Forces Group (A) Group Support Battalion career counselor, an Army Commendation Medal after naming her the winner of this year's USASOC Career Counselor of the Year Competition on Fort Bragg, NC, Jan. 26, 2016. The competition is an annual event that gives career counselors across the Army an opportunity to compete against their peers to determine who is the best at what they do. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kyle Fisch/Released)

Battery B, 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at a training exercise at Fort Bragg, Wednesday. Members of Battery B, 1-319th AFAR, 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. went into the field to hone the classroom skills they learned earlier that day.

Representing Scotland, a boy salutes during the Parade of Nations, downtown Fayetteville, Sept. 27. Photo by Hope Myers/Paraglide

Marcus Schilling swings around to face the camera during the Parade of Nations at the International Folk Festival, downtown Fayetteville, Sept. 27. Photo by Hope Myers/Paraglide.

Soldiers from the XVIII Airborne Corps’ headquarters returned to their waiting Families and friends at Fort Bragg’s Green Ramp Dec. 5, as the unit redeployed from Afghanistan

marking the conclusion of the U.S. military’s combat operations there. The XVIII Airborne Corps had deployed twice prior to Afghanistan to lead military operations and

similarly wrapped-up the U.S. military’s operations in Iraq at the conclusion of the confl ict there.

The streets of Fort Bragg were jam packed with runners lined up on Reilly Road for the first ever Neon 5K Night run. Participants ran with glow stick items they recieved from MWR staff. Runners were treated to several vendors displaying their services or porducts under tents set up across from Hedricks Stadium. Kids had the opportunity to take photos with their favorite superhero or disney princess as Batman, Wolverine, Captain America, Queen Elsa and Snow White all showed up for the festivities before the run.

Mineral water is not necessarily tasty especially when the mineral is iron. Oy! Gagging and spitting all around. I just smelled the water and that was enough for me.

James Jarvis, Red Cross regional program manager, shows Staff Sgt. Ryan Pizzingrilli, XVIII Airborne Corps, and his wife Rahna, how to properly install a smoke alarm Saturday while their son Colton looks on Photos by Lewis Perkins/Paraglide

The 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) chaplain’s office along with volunteer Soldiers work alongside the Fayetteville Urban Ministries to help package holiday food baskets for families in the Fayetteville community, Dec. 2, 2014. Fayetteville Urban Ministries is a non-profit organization that assists individuals and Families struggling through crisis situations in the local community.

Tolson Youth Activities

Center was fl ooded with

Fort Bragg children on

Saturday for the Easter

Festival. The children

enjoyed a day of fun and

Easter games including

bunny hop, face painting,

musical chairs, egg

walk, egg toss, lucky

duck and more. Sponsors

of the event were

also present. The Easter

Bunny showed up for

photos with the children.

Miko Scott, 9,

takes part in the

bunny hop.

(Left to right)

Brody, Brett and

Brayden Burke

participate in the

bunny walk.

Katelyn Johnson

carries an

egg from the

egg toss.

Elizabeth

Sauceda

wears her

Pvt. Antonio Reyna, a Reno, Nevada native, carries his son, Rudy, on his shoulders as he marches next to his wife, Maria, during the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) G6 annual family ruck march, July 21, 2015 at Fort Bragg, N.C.

A display commemorating Operation Market Garden is

now available at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum

in Fayetteville. This year marks the 70th anniversary

of the what is considered the largest multinational airborne

operation in history

Lt. Col. Hermon L. Johnson Jr. (center), commander of 82nd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division meets with a role player portraying a leader from the Iraqi Security Forces during a training exercise, Jan. 15, at Fort Bragg. Leaders from 3rd BCT will deploy to Iraq in the next few weeks to advise and assist the ISF to enable them to defeat Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Jose Hernandez (front) practices combatives moves with Marques Daniels at the Fort Bragg Combatives School, Nov. 22. Over 20 Fort Bragg teams will participate in the fourth annual Fort Bragg Armed Forces Combatives Invitational Tournament, Tuesday to Dec. 9.

Artist James Dietz presents his, work First In Last Out, to LTG Joseph Anderson. The painting depicts a patrol in Afghanistan and will hang in the Airborne and Special Operations Museum. 29 Jan 15.

Col. Brian Winski, chief, Office of the Chief of Legislative Liason stands to congratulate and award the Iron Mike Gold Star Award to Marvin Razin at Fort Bragg's Memorial Hall, July 29. Razin was nominated for the award after volunteering over 9,700 hours within the Fort Bragg community.

Christina Raig, dance instructor, leads the class in a dance at the Tolson Youth Activities Center, Saturday.

Fire fighters from Fort Bragg's Station 3 help parents correctly install car seats, Dec. 4. Car seats were also given away to Families of junior enlisted Soldiers, E-4 and bleow.

Fort Bragg servicemembers walk to board buses at Simmons Army Airfield, Aug. 29, en route to Green Ramp for deployment.

(Photo by Lewis Perkins/Paraglide)

The streets of Fort Bragg were jam packed with runners lined up on Reilly Road for the first ever Neon 5K Night run. Participants ran with glow stick items they recieved from MWR staff. Runners were treated to several vendors displaying their services or porducts under tents set up across from Hedricks Stadium. Kids had the opportunity to take photos with their favorite superhero or disney princess as Batman, Wolverine, Captain America, Queen Elsa and Snow White all showed up for the festivities before the run.

Main Post Parade Field was crowded with Soldiers and their Families who joined in the festivities for the annual Fort Bragg Christmas Tree Lighting, Dec. 3. There was also a visit from Santa, snow machines, bouncy houses, and a sledding chute. Photos by Hope Myers/Paraglide

Pfc. Steven Bridgewaters, air traffic control operator, Company F, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, annotates flight movements and times on the visual flight rules log in Fayetteville, March 31. The log tracks the aircraft’s time in the area as well as how many movements it took them to land and depart. This allows the ATCs to refine their skills for quicker support to the pilots.

Paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division jump out of an Air Force C-130, Jan. 16, for the Saturday Proficiency Jump Program at Fort Bragg. SPJP is a program to improve jumper currency across the XVIII Airborne Corps and provide Soldiers’ Families exposure to airborne operations. For more photos, visit www.paraglideonline.net

Maj. Jonathan Edwards, chaplain, and Staff Sgt. Jonathan Letarde, assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve Command, Augmentation Unit (UAU), participate in a buddy-aid exercise during physical fitness and water safety training as part of their battle assembly at Tucker Gym on Jan. 10, 2016, at Fort Bragg, N.C.

The mission of the UAU is to augment the USARC staff during exercises, crisis actions, or a presidential selective reserve call-up. Soldiers of the UAU train regularly in order to provide the most qualified, trained, and prepared Soldiers upon request by Army units.

Jeremy Van Tress helps his daughter, Hallee, roll a ball down the lane during dollar bowling days at Dragon Lanes Bowling Center, July 28.

Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend gives opening remarks at the Fort Bragg Run, Honor, Remember 5K run, Saturday.

While the rest of the U.S. was watching Super Bowl 50, hundreds of Airborne Artillerymen assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division Artillery rushed to Green Ramp to rig up in their T-11 Parachutes and jump into Sicily drop zone at zero-dark-thirty the following morning of Feb. 8, 2016., on Fort Bragg, N.C. (Capt. Joe Bush, 82nd Airborne Division Artillery/ Released.)

The 440th Airlift Wing Financial Services Office receives the 2014 Air Reserve Command Financial Service Award Jan. 26. Members of the FSO team accepted a coin, letter and plaque from Lt. Gen. James Jackson, Air Force Reserve commander, presented by Brig. Gen. James Scanlan, wing commander and Col. Karl Schmitkons, vice commander of the 440th Airlift Wing.

“My first dream was to become a teacher but in 10th grade I had

a great year playing football. From then on I thought to myself that

I could probably play in college. When I got to college I got better

and better so I thought maybe I should try pro. I mean all you

can do is try. So I tried, I wasn’t successful but I keep trying.” — Spc. Mario Johnson

503rd Military Police Battalion, 16th MP Brigade

The Fight Lab 44 MMA match at Sports USA on 7 Feb 15 drew a large audience to watch 10 bouts. A mixture of weight classes were represented in the fights and the night ended with three pro fights.

Bout 9 Saw Derrick Brown, black with print stripe, against Nate Kiser Black with blue stripe. Derrick Brown Wins by Decision (Unanimous Decision)

An M119A3 howitzer crew, assigned to 3rd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division Artillery, watch’s as a CH-47 Chinook assigned to 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, lifts a two-ton M119A3 light howitzer. The M119A3 is one of three howitzers being air assault in a three-gun raid and live fire exercise on Fort Bragg, N.C., Jan. 20.

Spc. Devin Rhyme with C Co 82 BSB Team Reup, finished the first four miles of the Combat Cross Country ruck race, Saturday, at the Smith Lake Recreation area. Rhyme finished sixth with a time of 1:47:52.

Family and friends of Soldiers from the 14th Human Resources Sustainment Center hold signs and cheer as the unit returns from a nine month long deployment to Kuwait Aug. 12

Maj. Wayne Johnson assumed command of the 53rd Aerial Port Squadron from Lt. Col. Joshua Kovich, following a time-honored change of command ceremony at Pope Field, Jan. 10. Formerly assigned as the 53rd APS operations officer, Johnson now takes responsibility for the training and mission readiness for 153 personnel. “I look forward to lead these outstanding Airmen and continuing the legacy of excellence,” said Johnson. “I will work hard every day with my leadership team to continue leading the Air Force Reserve Command with one of the best aerial port squadrons.” Bidding farewell to Pope Field, Kovich will move to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

The Fort Bragg Father Daughter Ball held Sept 11, 2015 at the Conference and Catering Center Brought fathers of all service branches in their dress uniforms and best suits together with their daughters in their most elegant dresses together for a night of dancing, food and games.

Pfc. Benjamin Bennett, singer from the 82nd Airborne Division, All American Chorus, headquartered in Fort Bragg, N.C., sings the national anthem during a Chicago Bears game a few days after Veterans Day, designated to honor troops at Soldier Field in Chicago, Nov. 16.

Butner Road has been reduced from four lanes to two lanes after experiencing flooding during Hurricane Matthew. The road is still accessible, but be prepared for longer drive times due to the lane closures.

Soldiers from Fort

Bragg participate in the

pre-race festivities at the

Charlotte Motor Speedway,

Sunday. More than

3,000 Soldiers from

Fort Bragg attended the

race as part of the Let

the Troops Race ticket

program, and 600 Soldiers

participated in an

assault demonstration, a

march down the frontstretch,

and a 21-gun

salute.

Both infantrymen, Pfc. Aaron Sekas (left), and Pfc. Harley George, respectively assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, and 3rd Squadron, 73rd Airborne Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, complete a 20-kilometer ruck march together during the last leg of long range surveillance selection, June 24, at Fort Bragg, N.C. Candidates were expected to complete the ruck march in under three hours to earn their way into F Company (Long range surveillance), Headquarters Battalion, XVIII Airborne Corps. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Paige Behringer, 10th Press Camp Headquarters)Hometown: Sekas – Newport Beach, CA, George – Lafayette, IN

Members of the U.S. Army Parachute Team, The Golden Knights, celebrate National Airborne Day

Aug. 16, at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville. The Golden Knights jumped

into the celebration to help honor airborne heritage.

James Jarvis, Red Cross regional program manager, shows Staff Sgt. Ryan Pizzingrilli, XVIII Airborne Corps, and his wife Rahna, how to properly install a smoke alarm Saturday while their son Colton Photos by Lewis Perkins/Paraglide looks on.

A CH-47 Chinook pilot with Bravo Company, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, prepares to conduct a flight mission in support of 3rd Special Forces Group soldiers at Latham Landing Zone on Fort Bragg, N.C., Jan. 6, 2106. The soldiers will complete a static line proficiency jump into St. Mere Eglise Drop Zone on Fort Bragg to complete their training.

A Soldier with the Warrior Transition Battalion receives a prize from one of the many raffles held by Operation Supply Drop, July 31. In addition to the free donations, every Soldier who attended won a prize through the drawings.

Soldier, Family physician,

husband, father and Red

Cross volunteer are just a

few names that you can call

Chuck Nguyen, a graduate

of the Uniformed Services

University.