Holiday season in the military

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  • Pfc. Tammy Scriven, assigned to Company B, 50th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, presses the switch during the Joint Forces Command – United Assistance holiday tree lighting event at the Barclay Training Center, Monrovia, Liberia, Dec. 18, 2014. Scriven was chosen for the honor of lighting the holiday tree because she was the youngest Soldier at BTC. United Assistance is a Department of Defense operation in Liberia to provide logistics, training and engineering support to U.S. Agency for International Development-led efforts to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in western Africa. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Rashene Mincy, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera)/ Released)
  • The Joint Forces – United Assistance holiday tree shines in front of the JFC-UA headquarters at the Barclay Training Center, Monrovia, Liberia, Dec. 23, 2014. Operation United Assistance is a Department of Defense operation in Liberia to provide logistics, training and engineering support to U.S. Agency for International Development-led efforts to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in western Africa. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Rashene Mincy, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera)/RELEASED)
  • Capt. Kevin Harris, Joint Forces Command – United Assistance supply officer in charge, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky., lights a menorah candle on the last day of Hanukkah, Barclay Training Center, Monrovia, Liberia, Dec. 23, 2014. Capt. Martin Nosenchuk, also with HHB, JFC-UA signal officer in charge, assisted Harris with lighting the candles and reading Hebrew religious passages. Operation United Assistance is a Department of Defense operation in Liberia to provide logistics, training and engineering support to U.S. Agency for International Development-led efforts to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in western Africa. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matt Britton 27th Public Affairs Detachment/RELEASED)
  • Wrangler Soldiers gathered at the Bagram Air Field MWR Theater in Afghanistan for a Christmas Eve celebration. Wranglers enjoyed photos with Santa, a White Elephant gift exchange, buffet style finger foods, a sing off and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
  • Fort Bragg kicked off the holiday season during the annual Christmas tree lighting December 4, 2014, on the Main Post Parade Field. There was a snow field and downhill snow sled ride for the kids. Miss North Carolina Beth Stovall, entertained with a selection of seasonal songs. The Fort Bragg Family of the Year, Maj. Rick Johnson,1st Battalion, 319th Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, his wife Lea and their children Ana Lucia, Estelle and James counted down and ignited the lights on the Fort Bragg tree. Following that Santa made his arrival in a fire engine. (Photo by Lewis Perkins/Paraglide)
  • Lake Forest Boy Scouts pass out Christmas meals to Marines and their families, aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 23, 2014. The scouts were among some of the volunteers from Lake Forest who came out to distribute donated food to Marines from 1st Law Enforcement Battalion who will not able to be with their families during the Christmas holiday.
  • Wreaths are placed Dec. 18 at Arlington National Cemetery. (3rd US Infantry Regiment “Old Guard”)
  • Service members with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 participate in the Jingle Bell Jog, Dec. 19, 2014, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Marine Corps Community Services hosted the event to help raise morale during the holiday season. The 1.5km event had more than 1,400 participants from various units aboard station.
  • Marines prepare a 7-ton truck as a float during the 2014 Camp Kinser Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday parade November 28 here. Approximately 300 service members, families and Okinawa community members watched a parade of military vehicles dressed as Christmas floats. The event included several performances, such as taiko drummers and hula dancers. A Christmas tree was lit to mark the end of the event. (U.S. Marine Courtesy Photo by Staff Sgt. Casey Lanier/Released)
  • WIESBADEN, Germany — The Grinch tries to steal Christmas cheer to the tune of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” performed by Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Keuning, bass saxophone soloist during the USAREUR Band & Chorus concert, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” Dec. 16 at the Wiesbaden Kurhaus. (US Army Europe)
  • Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Recruit Rachel Beltrom, from Queens, N.Y., builds a gingerbread house for a holiday competition aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis is currently undergoing an operational training period in preparation for future deployments. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kenneth Rodriguez Santiago / Released)
  • More than 300 Soldiers from the 94th Brigade Support Battalion participated in a Toy Ruck Dec. 18, 2014. The Soldiers were encouraged to decorate their rucksacks and headgear for holidays. More than 600 toys were collected to be distributed throughout the Fort Polk community.
  • Tech. Sgt. Jennifer James plays the flute during a performance Dec. 17, 2014, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. The Band of Mid-America performed at a number of location on base Dec. 17, 18 and 19 with the goal of boosting morale and helping Scott members get in the holiday spirit. James is a musician assigned to the Band of Mid-America. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Fowler)
  • Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Kyle Defeo of the New York National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing volunteers his time to assist a FedEx driver load Christmas trees at Ellms Tree Farm Dec. 7, 2014. Nearly 20 airmen volunteered to assist in the annual “Trees for Troops” loading of about 150 donated trees bound for military installations and families around the country and the globe. (New York National Guard Courtesy Photo)
  • Lt. Gen. Richard P. Mills, commander of Marine Forces Reserve, greeted and passed out toys to children and family members at New Orleans City Hall, Dec. 20, 2014, during the ZULU Social Aid and Pleasure Club’s Toys for Tots distribution event. Toys and bikes were passed out to hundreds of local children during the event.
  • U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Amanda Miller, 20th Security Forces Squadron patrolman, pushes a shopping cart full with toys during a “shop with a cop” event at Kmart in Sumter, S.C., Dec. 22, 2014. Miller helped a child from the John K. Crosswell Home For Children, fill a cart with toys and gifts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jensen Stidham/Released)
  • Santa surprises children with presents aboard Coast Guard Cutter Legare, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2014. The kids were aboard the cutter to reunite with Coast Guard family members who had been deployed on a 52-day patrol, returning just in time for the holidays. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn)
  • The 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey attends the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Green Bay Packers football game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., Dec. 21, 2014. During his visit, Dempsey visited with military members and families in attendance and Buccaneer staff and team owners. (DoD photo by Army Staff Sgt. Sean K. Harp/Released)
  • Crew members from the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley and Santa Claus join children from Akutan, Alaska, during a visit to the village Dec. 23, 2014. The crew of the CGC Alex Haley delivered Santa along with gifts and charitable donations to the village. (U.S. Coast Guard photo submitted by CGC Alex Haley)
  • PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 23, 2014) – The guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) displays its holiday lights at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Ships and submarines home-ported in Hawaii participated in the annual Pearl Harbor Holiday Festival of Lights. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Johans Chavarro)