Photos

Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Gayla Laackman hugs her family in Mason City, Iowa, Nov. 5, 2022, before deploying to Poland in support of Operation European Assure, Deter and Reinforce.

Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Calvert Worth Jr.'s wife and son pin on his rank during a promotion ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Dec. 21, 2022.

Navy Chief Petty Officer Reginald Harvey exchanges greetings with his family upon his return to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, Dec. 15, 2022.

Army Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Eckhoff, right, conducts the oath of enlistment for Spc. Moriah Miller as Staff Sgt. Becky Meyer watches in Woodbury, Minn., Dec. 8, 2022. Eckhoff mentored not only Miller, but also her mother, Meyer.

A soldier hugs his daughter at Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 12, 2022, after a nine-month deployment to Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve. Atlantic Resolve provides rotational deployments of combat-credible forces to Europe to show U.S. commitment to NATO while building readiness, increasing interoperability and enhancing the bonds between ally and partner militaries.

Pearl Carpenter visits the gravesite of her grandson, Army Staff Sgt. James Carpenter, during a Wreaths Across America event at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., Dec. 11, 2022.

Children play with artificial snow during a tree-lighting ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Dec. 4, 2022. The event, in its 10th year, gives service members and their families an opportunity to come together to celebrate the holiday season.

A family member pins the anchors onto a sailor's uniform as he advances to the next rank during a chief petty officer pinning ceremony at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, Oct. 21, 2022.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Jada Burgess and her son paint pumpkins during a ‘Hearts Apart’ event at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., Oct. 19, 2022. The program provides families on base with social activities that allow them to come together, build friendships and ease the strain of separation from their loved ones.

An Air Force airman reunites with his family after returning from deployment at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Oct. 15, 2022.

Family members receive gifts during a retirement ceremony for Marine Corps Capt. Toland Taylor at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 14, 2022.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Dallin Wilson passes out plastic firefighter hats to children at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., Oct. 12, 2022. The fire department visited the child development center during Fire Prevention Week to teach the children fire safety.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Yvette Knoepke is greeted by family members at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., after returning from a six-month deployment, Oct. 2, 2022.

Marine Corps Sgt. Joshua Prima kisses his son at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Oct. 9, 2022, upon returning from a seven-month deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

Air Force 1st Lt. Russell Bowman embraces his family at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Oct. 3, 2022, upon returning from a deployment.

Military family members light and release lanterns during a Gold Star families event to honor fallen heroes at Biloxi Beach, Miss., Sept. 23, 2022.

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Tyler Miles teaches martial arts techniques to Trisha Ricketts, a military spouse, during a Spouse Warrior Day at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 16, 2022.

A sailor assigned to the USS Harry S. Truman greets family upon returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Va., from a regularly scheduled deployment in the U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. 6th Fleet areas of responsibility, Sept. 12, 2022.

Airmen and their families take part in a family day event in Peoria, Ill., Sept. 10, 2022.

Newly promoted Army Lt. Col. Daniel Rhoades spends a moment with his daughter, Alix, during his promotion ceremony at Fort Detrick, Md., Sept. 1, 2022.