U.S. Air Force Maj. Mathew Dickson, an F-35A Lighting II pilot with the 134th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Vermont Air National Guard, climbs aboard an F-35 at Cheongju Air Base, Republic of Korea, March 12, 2025. The 134th EFS forward-deployed to Cheongju AB from Kadena AB, Japan, to participate in live-fly training events during Freedom Shield 25. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Noah J. Tancer)