An Air Force Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during a test at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, in a show of nuclear readiness as U.S. near-peer adversaries flexed their assets this year as well. (Airman 1st Class Ryan Quijas/U.S. Air Force photo)
An Air Station Kodiak C-130J Super Hercules airplane prepares to depart on a runway in Bethel, Alaska. (Lt. Scott Kellerman/U.S. Coast Guard photo)
A sailor holds up his child for the first time after deploying on the USS Pearl Harbor for seven months. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Melvin Fatimehin/U.S. Navy photo)
A U.S. airman inspects supplies bound for Ukraine during Russia's renewed invasion into the country this year. Since 2014, the United States has sent roughly $22.1 billion in security assistance to the country, 87% of which has been committed since late February when Russia initiated its latest invasion. (Staff Sgt. Marco A. Gomez/U.S. Air Force photo)
Recruits spray a hose into a simulated fire during a training exercise inside the Navy's USS Chief Fire Fighter Trainer. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher M. O'Grady/U.S. Navy photo)
An M1A2 Abrams fires a 120mm round at a target during the 2022 Sullivan Cup, a competition held at Fort Benning, Georgia, that puts the best tank crews across the country -- and even around the world -- to the test. (Spc. Joshua Taeckens/U.S. Army photo)
A Marine 60mm mortar team stands by for a fire mission under a starry California sky. (Lance Cpl. Cedar Barnes/U.S. Marine Corps photo)
A Marine canine handler gives military working dog Faro a bath. Handlers routinely groom their canine partners -- including bathing, blow-drying and brushing -- to make sure they are clean and healthy. (Lance Cpl. Kayla LaMar/U.S. Marine Corps photo)
Naval Special Warfare members perform a high-altitude low opening jump in the Arctic. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Trey Hutcheson/U.S. Navy photo)
An aerial photo of Arlington National Cemetery, Section 18. (Elizabeth Fraser/U.S. Army photo)
-- Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at drew.lawrence@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @df_lawrence.