U.S. Air Force maintainers assigned to the 134th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Vermont Air National Guard, run preflight function checks on an F-35A Lighting II at Cheongju Air Base, Republic of Korea, March 12, 2025. As part of Freedom Shield 25, an annual combined ROK-U.S. military exercise, both nations’ armed forces are working side by side to integrate fifth-generation fighter aircraft into their training operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Noah J. Tancer)