U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Sage, 328th Aerial Refueling Squadron boom operator, provides fuel to an aircraft over the Gulf of Mexico during Checkered Flag 21-2, May 12, 2021. The 21-2 iteration of the Checkered Flag exercise involved more than 115 aircraft and 2,000 personnel from nine Air Force and Navy units, training together in approximately 25 aerial events (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stefan Alvarez)