Joint Base Balad, Iraq

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nathan Barnes prepares to signal Capt. Jeremy Sorenson to taxi his F-16 Fighting Falcon block 30 aircraft for takeoff from Joint Base Balad, Iraq, June 8, 2010. Barnes is a crew chief with the 169th Maintenance Squadron, 169th Fighter Wing out of McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., and Sorenson is a pilot with the 370th Flight Test Squadron out of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Caycee Cook, U.S. Air Force/Released)