SSgt. Edward Johnston of VX-9 keeps an eye on SSgt. Eric Jazak, also of VX-9, as he observes operational test pilot Maj. Ricardo Martinez of HMX-1, and test pilot Maj. Jeff Greenwood of HX-21 progressing through their checklists prior to their milestone flight on 25 January 2003. Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Billy Potts.

Staff Sgt. Eric Jazak (VX-9) clears the airspace around him from within Yankee Two as he and Staff Sgt. Edward Johnston (VX-9) became the first enlisted Marines to fly aboard the Corps’ newest helicopter 25 January 2003. Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Billy Potts.

(L to R) Operational test pilot Maj. Ricardo Martinez of HMX-1, crew chiefs Staff Sgt. Eric Jazak of VX-9 and Staff Sgt. Edward Johnston VX-9, and test pilot Maj. Jeff Greenwood of HX-21 stand with UH-1Y-2 after their milestone flight Jan. 25 2003 when Jazak and Johnston became the first enlisted Marines to fly aboard the Corps’ newest utility helicopter. Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Billy Potts.

A-6E Intruder BuNo 152642, AMARC (5A167), 31 Jan 2003.

NAVICP Det photo, Roxann Hays.

A-6E Intruder BuNo 155592, AMARC (5A215), 31 Jan 2003.

NAVICP Det photo, Roxann Hays.

A-6E Intruder BuNo 155698, AMARC (5A223), 31 Jan 2003.

NAVICP Det photo, Roxann Hays.

A-6E Intruder BuNo 155698, AMARC (5A223), 31 Jan 2003.

NAVICP Det photo, Roxann Hays.

A-6E Intruder BuNo 157014, AMARC (5A221), 31 Jan 2003.

NAVICP Det photo, Roxann Hays.

A-6E Intruder BuNo 157014, AMARC (5A221), 31 Jan 2003.

NAVICP Det photo, Roxann Hays.

TA-7C Corsair II BuNo 154458, AMARC (6A322), 07 Feb 2003.

NAVICP Det photo, Roxann Hays.

F/A-18A Hornet BuNo 161713, AMARC (1A012), 07 Feb 2003.

NAVICP Det photo, Roxann Hays.

F/A-18A Hornet BuNo 161720, AMARC (1A010), 07 Feb 2003.

NAVICP Det photo, Roxann Hays.

U.S. Naval Museum of Armament and Technology, China Lake, 13 Feb. 2003.

U.S. Navy photo by Geoffrey Patrick. 030213-N-4633P-003

X-47A Pegasus UAV, China Lake, 20 February 2003.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

X-47A Pegasus UAV first flight test at China Lake, 23 February 2003.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

X-47A Pegasus UAV first flight test at China Lake, 23 February 2003.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4A Skyhawk BuNo 137818, Superior Valley Range, March 2003.

Photo by Glenn Gerdes via the Skyhawk Association.

VX-9 F/A-18E BuNo 165780, XE-100, May 2003.

Photo by Bob Shane, G. Verver collection.

AGM-109 Tomahawk test on the SNORT track, 19 June 2003.

Official U.S. Navy photo. Note /1

VX-9 F/A-18E Super Hornet BuNo 165873, XE-105, Van Nuys airshow, 21 June 2003.

Photo ©Dave D.

VX-9 F/A-18E Super Hornet BuNo 165873, XE-105, Van Nuys airshow, 21 June 2003.

Photo ©Dave D.

VX-9 F/A-18E Super Hornet BuNo 165873, XE-105, Van Nuys airshow, 21 June 2003.

Photo ©Dave D.

UH-1N Huey BuNo 158256, SAR-019, Pilot LCDR B.J. Lewis and Crewchief AT2 Damien Ramey during the 2003 SAR Annual Evaluation.

Photo by D. Ramey and the China Lake SAR Team.

V-22 Osprey BuNo 163916 undergoing HIVAS tests at the WSL, circa 2003

Official U.S. Navy photo.

V-22 Osprey BuNo 163916 at WSL to demonstrate - evaluate through various techniques to detect and suppress fires in the Main Landing Gear, August 2003

The #6 aircraft was positioned in front of the High Velocity Airflow System (HIVAS), producing a simulated forward airspeed of 240 knots across the airframe.  A 25mm simulated MLG Fuel line were penetrated with a 12.7mm API projectile, causing a JP-8 fuel leak and fire in the wheel well. Official U.S. Navy photo.

V-22 Osprey BuNo 163916 at WSL to demonstrate - evaluate through various techniques to detect and suppress fires in the Main Landing Gear, August 2003

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-31 F/A-18F Super Hornet BuNo 165793, DD-215, AESA radar system successfully tested, China Lake, 13 August 2003.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

The United States Navy's Coso Geothermal Powerplant at China Lake, 16 September 2003.

USDOE photo.

VX-9 AH-1W Sea Cobra BuNo 163935, XE-740, 01 October 2003.

Photo from the Goleta Air & Space Museum.

VX-9 F/A-18E Super Hornet BuNo 166422, XE-130, 01 October 2003

Photo from the Goleta Air & Space Museum.

The PRs of the Test Parachutists team are capable of not only repacking, but also repairing the parachutes they work with.

All Hands magazine photo by: Journalist 1st Class (SW) Monica Darby, 30 September 2003.

PR1(AW/FPJ) Mike Roll spends the afternoon qualifying on the proper techniques for landing.

All Hands magazine photo by: Journalist 1st Class (SW) Monica Darby, 03 October 2003.

Egress systems go through a series of trials and tests by NAVAIR China Lake's engineers.

At one of the last stages of testing a new egress system, mannequins are strapped with sensored chutes and ejected from the cockpit as the fuselage nears the 600 ft. drop-off end of the 3,000 foot-long track. All Hands magazine photo by: Journalist 1st Class (SW) Monica Darby, 06 October 2003.

LT Childre from NAVAIR EOD accompanied by PR1(FPJ) Thomas Hodge & PR1(AW/FPJ) Matt Tubolino jump to keep his qualifications current.

All Hands magazine photo by: Journalist 1st Class (SW) Monica Darby, 07 October 2003.

From the drop zone (DZ) PR1(AW/FPJ) Justin Hodge, acting as the DZ safety officer, keeps an eye on the winds.

All Hands magazine photo by: Journalist 1st Class (SW) Monica Darby, 07 October 2003.

PR1(AW/FPJ) records his candidate's jump using a 35mm camera and digital video recorder mounted on his helmet.

All Hands magazine photo by: Journalist 1st Class (SW) Monica Darby, 07 October 2003.

Jumpmaster for the day, PR1(FPJ) Thomas Henderson is the last to reach the ground.

All Hands magazine photo by: Journalist 1st Class (SW) Monica Darby, 07 October 2003.

From his vantage point in the helicopter, jumpmaster PR1(FPJ) Thomas Henderson keeps an eye on parachutists over the drop zone.

All Hands magazine photo by: Journalist 1st Class (SW) Monica Darby, 09 October 2003.

PR1(AW/FPJ) Justin Hodges listens intently as jumpmaster PR1(FPJ) Thomas Henderson goes over last minute instructions for his exit.

All Hands magazine photo by: Journalist 1st Class (SW) Monica Darby, 09 October 2003.

Suspended by his harness in the paraloft of the Parachute Test Operations Branch, PR1(AW/FPJ) Mike Roll tests out the fit of his gear.

All Hands magazine photo by: Journalist 1st Class (SW) Monica Darby, 09 October 2003.

Names and images of fellow Test Parachutists who have died in the line of duty line the passageway of the Test Parachute Operations building.

All Hands magazine photo by: Journalist 1st Class (SW) Monica Darby, 09 October 2003.

The wind catches candidate PR2(AW/PJ) Mark Cusimano's parachute as he attempts to gather it in at the drop zone.

All Hands magazine photo by: Journalist 1st Class (SW) Monica Darby, 10 October 2003.

AV-8C Harrier BuNo 159249, China Lake, 25 October 2003.

Photo by B. Ryan.

AV-8C Harrier BuNo 159249, China Lake, 25 October 2003.

Photo by B. Ryan.

USAF B-1B Lancer 86-0068 banks left over China Lake during a test of the inert Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile.

Photo by Steve Zapka.

USAF B-1B Lancer 86-0068 releases the first-ever guided Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Separation Test Vehicle at China Lake, 30 October 2003.

Photo by Steve Zapka.

JASSM's pinpoint accuracy allows only a single missile to be used to kill each target, China Lake, circa 2003. Lockheed Martin photo.

As if disarming bombs, land mines, biological weapons, and booby traps aren't enough to worry about, EOD teams still have to defend themselves.

All Hands magazine photo by JN1 (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky 12 December 2003.

Land mines are a very real threat to U.S. forces and EOD teams like EODMU 11 Det 5 train constantly to locate & disarm them.

All Hands magazine photo by JN1 (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky 12 December 2003.

Matthew R. Harrison and IS2 (EOD/SW) Chad J. Munroe, EODMU 11 Det 5, clear an airfield for friendly force occupation during a field training exercise.

All Hands magazine photo by JN1 (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky 12 December 2003.

Capturing enemy hide-outs, facilities, and bunkers are every day missions for U.S. forces.

All Hands magazine photo by JN1 (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky 13 December 2003.

EOD technicians jobs are never the same from day to day.

All Hands magazine photo by JN1 (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky 13 December 2003.

Whether a plane drops it, like these cluster munitions, a tank shoots it, a terrorist rigs it, EOD knows how to disarm it.

All Hands magazine photo by JN1 (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky 13 December 2003.

Here EODMU 11 Det 5 teammates IS2 (EOD/SW) Chad Munroe serves as STS1 (EOD/SS/SW) Heath Nettleton's eyes as he attempts to disarm a tripwired door.

All Hands magazine photo by JN1 (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky 13 December 2003.

EOD technician STS1 (EOD/SS/SW) Heath Nettleton gathers intelligence about an enemy's bomb-building capabilities.

All Hands magazine photo by JN1 (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky 13 December 2003.

Heath Nettleton traces a detonation cord to a "bobby-trapped" bunker during an exercise.

All Hands magazine photo by JN1 (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky 13 December 2003.

EMCS John D. Hammond, a training team member of EODMU 11, reviews EODTEU One's nuclear weapons training scenario.

All Hands magazine photo by JN1 (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky 14 December 2003.

The maps may say that they're in Southern California, but the high desert terrain,

unforgiving mountains and sand that seemingly blows from all directions makes anyone who trains in China Lake's weapons ranges think they are in Iraq or even Afghanistan. All Hands magazine photo by JN1 (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky 14 December 2003.

STG3 (EOD) Benjamin T. Grosek make a living disarming them so the rest of the American fighting forces can continue their missions.

All Hands magazine photo by JN1 (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky 15 December 2003.

To a well-trained EOD technician with a nose for weapons caches and the hands of a brain surgeon a shack can hold a bounty of deadly discoveries

All Hands magazine photo by JN1 (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky 16 December 2003.

Aggressors test the fire fighting techniques of EODMU 11 Det 5 with simulated mortar fire and enemy small arms fire.

All Hands magazine photo by JN1 (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky 16 December 2003.

Distant simulated mortar rounds cloud the evening skies around IS2 (EOD/SW) Chad J. Munroe, EODMU 11 Det 5.

All Hands magazine photo by JN1 (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky 16 December 2003.

STG3 (EOD) Benjamin T. Grosek, EODMU 11 Det 5, takes area vapor samples prior to his team advancing into a simulated biological weapons facility.

All Hands magazine photo by JN1 (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky 16 December 2003.

AIM-9 Sidewinder missile heritage, China Lake, circa 2003.

Official U.S. Navy.

AIM-9B, 9D, 9E, 9H, 9N/P, 9L/M and 9X Sidewinder missile outlines, circa 2003.

Official U.S. Navy.