This weekend’s “Military Weekend” is easy.
The U.S. Air Force’s “Week in Review” covers all bases — including the Pope’s visit.
Simply, “This week’s photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. “
Lead photo: Pope Francis, escorted by President Barack Obama, greets Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington, and Maj. Gen. Darryl Burke, the Air Force District of Washington commander, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sept. 22, 2015. This marked the first visit by the current pope to the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Robert Cloys)
Airman 1st Class Thomas Smith, assigned to the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron fire protection, shovels mud from an irrigation system in Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, Sept. 15, 2015, after floodwaters hit the city. Smith and other members of a large volunteer force from Yokota Air Base ventured to Tochigi to assist locals with mud removal, sand bagging and fixing what was broken during a recent flood and landslide. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Cody H. Ramirez)
U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 408th Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, conduct aerial refueling with a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall Air Base, England during a training sortie Sept. 9, 2015, over The United Kingdom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jason Robertson/Released)
A child looks out the window of a C-130 Hercules during the Japanese-American friendship festival at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Sept. 20, 2015. Yokota invited visitors to explore the inside of some of the aircraft on display at the festival. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Baker)
A sunset is seen through the nose of a B-25 Mitchell during a military tattoo held at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, Sept. 16, 2015. The “warbird flight” consisted of two B-25 Mitchells, two P-40 Warhawks and a P-51 Mustang. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ryan J. Sonnier)
Senior Airmen Corey Smith, Dwayne Morgan and Dominic Surinaga, all members of the 106th Rescue Wing’s honor guard, take part in a memorial at Westhampton Beach for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. During this event, the honor guard displayed the colors and presented a folded American flag to Christine Dwyer, the sister of Army Pfc. Joseph Dwyer who died in 2008. Dwyer was featured in an iconic photo taken of him helping an Iraqi boy to safety. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Muncy)
Lt. Col. George Watkins, the 34th Fighter Squadron commander, flies a combat-coded F-35A Lightning II aircraft past the control tower at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Sept. 17, 2015. During the sortie, the base’s first, Watkins conducted mission qualification training focusing on weapons employment, range familiarization and mission system proficiency. (U.S. Air Force photo/Alex R. Lloyd)
Capt. Boston McClain, a 61st Airlift Squadron co-pilot, embraces his wife after returning from deployment Sept. 15, 2015, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Little Rock AFB Airmen specialize in combat airlift and expeditionary support downrange. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Scott Poe)
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.