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After 90 minutes of simulated combat in one of his first Red Flag sorties, 421st Fighter Squadron F-35 pilot, 1st Lt. Benn Hawkins, steps down from his jet and salutes an F-35A crew chief Jan. 31. Red Flag is a large force exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, that was created for Hawkins, and other young pilots who have not experience combat, more lethal and survivable during their first deployment. (U.S. Air Force, photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Barley)