Maj. Matthew Morris, an F-16 Fighting Falcon Instructor Pilot, assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, conducts pre-flight cheks before take-off during Operation Northern Cactus at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Mich., August 21, 2024. Northern Cactus is a joint training exercise that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in a simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Maj. Matthew Morris, an F-16 Fighting Falcon Instructor Pilot and Tech. Sgt. Johnathan Gutierrez, an electronics and environmental specialist assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, conducts a show of force during an incentive ride at Operation Northern Cactus at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, August 21, 2024. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Staff Sgt. Samir Almonte, a crew chief assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, and Cpl. Antonio Salazar, a plane captain assigned to VMFA-311, Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, California. conducts pre-flight checks before take-off during Operation Northern Cactus, a joint training exercise at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, August 21, 2024. Northern Cactus is an annual training event that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in a simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Maj. Troy Masserant, an F-16 Fighting Falcon Instructor Pilot, assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, conducts a show of force during Operation Northern Cactus at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, August 21, 2024. Northern Cactus is a joint training exercise that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in a simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Lance Cpl. Robert Stewart, a plane captain assigned to VMFA-311, Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, California, gives the Gunfighter salute as he taxis out an F-16 Fighting Falcon for take-off during Operation Northern Cactus at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) Michigan, August 21, 2024. Northern Cactus is a joint training exercise that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in a simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Staff Sgt. Samir Almonte, a crew chief assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, and Cpl. Antonio Salazar, a plane captain assigned to VMFA-311, Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, California, conducts pre-flight checks before take-off during Operation Northern Cactus a joint training exercise at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, August 21, 2024. Northern Cactus is an annual training event that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in a simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Maj. Kirk Devine, an F-16 Fighting Falcon Instructor Pilot, and 1st Sgt. Jonathan Fior, 149th Operations Group, assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, conducts pre-flight checks prior to launch during an incentive ride at Operation Northern Cactus at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, August 21, 2024. Northern Cactus is a joint training exercise that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in a simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Maj. Troy Masserant, an F-16 Fighting Falcon Instructor Pilot, assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, conducts pre-flight checks before take-off during Operation Northern Cactus, a joint training exercise at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, August 21, 2024. Northern Cactus is an annual training event that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in a simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Staff Sgt. Samir Almonte, a crew chief assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, conducts a pre-flight check before take off during Operation Northern Cactus a joint training exercise at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, Aug. 21, 2024. Northern Cactus is an annual training event that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in a simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Maj. Dustin Cochin, an F-16 Fighting Falcon Instructor Pilot assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, conducts a pre-flight inspection prior to take off during Operation Northern Cactus at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, Aug. 20, 2024. Northern Cactus is a joint training exercise that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in a simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Maj. Zachary Nordahl, an F-16 Fighting Falcon Instructor Pilot assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guar, conducts a pre-flight inspection prior to take off during Operation Northern Cactus at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, Aug. 20, 2024. Northern Cactus is an joint training exercise that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in an simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Maj. Matthew Morris, an F-16 Fighting Falcon Instructor Pilot and Tech. Sgt. Johnathan Gutierrez, an electronics and environmental specialist assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, conducts a show of force during an incentive ride at Operation Northern Cactus at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, August 21, 2024. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Maj. Troy Masserant, an F-16 Fighting Falcon Instructor Pilot, assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, conducts a show of force during Operation Northern Cactus at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, August 21, 2024. Northern Cactus is a joint training exercise that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in a simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Staff Sgt. Samir Almonte, a crew chief assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, and Cpl. Antonio Salazar, a plane captain assigned to VMFA-311, Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, California, conducts pre-flight checks before take-off during Operation Northern Cactus a joint training exercise at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, August 21, 2024. Northern Cactus is an annual training event that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in a simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Maj. Kirk Devine, an F-16 Fighting Falcon Instructor Pilot, and 1st Sgt. Jonathan Fior, the 149th Operations Group 1st Sgt, assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, conducts a show of force during an incentive ride at Operation Northern Cactus at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, August 21, 2024. Northern Cactus is an joint training exercise that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in an simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Staff Sgt. Gabriel Hilman, a Crew Chief assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, conducts post flight maintenance during Operation Northern Cactus a joint training exercise at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, August 19, 2024. Northern Cactus is an annual training event that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in a simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Staff Sgt. Owen Curtin, an Air Craft Amourment Technician assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, conducts post flight maintenance during Operation Northern Cactus a joint training exercise at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, August 19, 2024. Northern Cactus is an annual training event that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in a simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Staff Sgt. Timothy Sanders, a Crew Chief assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, conducts post flight maintenance during Operation Northern Cactus a joint training exercise at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, Aug. 19, 2024. Northern Cactus is an annual training event that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in a simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Avionics Technicians assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, conduct post flight maintenance and review of an F-16 Fighting Falcon during Operation Northern Cactus a joint training exercise at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, Aug. 19, 2024. Northern Cactus is an annual training event that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in an simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Master Sgt. Christopher Hamilton, a Crew Chief assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, conducts pre-flight checklist and inspection prior to take off during Operation Northern Cactus a joint training exercise at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, August 19, 2024. Northern Cactus is an annual training event that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in a simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

Staff Sgt. Gabriel Hilman and Senior Airman Colby Segovia, Crew Chiefs assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, watch the take of the Marine Corps F-35 Lightning II Charlie during Operation Northern Cactus a joint training exercise at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, August 19, 2024. Northern Cactus is an joint training exercise that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in an simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)

1st Lt. Jonathan Thomas, student pilot assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, conducts a pre-flight inspection of the F-16 Fighting Falcon prior to take off during Operation Northern Cactus a joint training exercise at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, August 19, 2024. Northern Cactus is an annual training event that takes members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to an austere environment to participate in a simulated deployment exercise. (Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Derek Davis)