Members of a cargo aircraft crew perform a visual check of their passengers as their plane prepares to land on the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier currently deployed in the Persian Gulf, supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the military operation against Islamic State extremists in Syria and Iraq. The USS Theodore Roosevelt, whose homeport is San Diego, California, is a key element of the U.S.-led coalition targeting the militants. This island of steel in the Persian Gulf some 1,090-feet long is home to some 5,000 U.S. Navy airmen, sailors and Marine pilots, carrying some 70 aircraft involved in the fight against the extremists.
A plane captain cleans the windshield of a U.S. Navy fighter jet that sits on the flight deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt deployed in the Persian Gulf. Every day, the steam-powered catapult aboard this massive aircraft carrier flings American fighter jets into the sky, on missions to target the extremist Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
U.S. Navy air wing plane captains carry chains as they pause on the flight deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Plane captains are identified by wearing brown shirts and are responsible for preparing the aircraft for flight.
Flight deck personnel, wearing different colored shirts in order to distinguish their tasks, are seen on the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt as a U.S. Navy fighter jet takes off.
Rear Admiral Roy Kelley, the Commander of Carrier Strike Group 12, stands inside the Flag Bridge on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt, a Nimitz class nuclear powered aircraft carrier currently deployed in the Persian Gulf, supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.
A tractor driver, wearing a blue shirt, pauses on the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt before flight operations start.
Plane directors, wearing yellow jerseys, oversee the takeoff of a U.S. Marine fighter jet aircraft. Pilots onboard have flown missions into both Iraq and Syria, part of the over 6,800 airstrikes carried out since August 2014. Some 20 percent of all coalition strikes come from aircraft launched from the nuclear-powered Roosevelt.
U.S. Navy personnel bow their heads while attending a Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier deployed in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the military operation against Islamic State extremists in Syria and Iraq.
A crash and salvage team, wearing red shirts, stand ready as they observe flight operations.
A letter of support to members of the U.S. military received in a care package is hanged inside the Pilot Bridge on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Pilots onboard have flown missions into both Iraq and Syria, part of the over 6,800 airstrikes carried out by the coalition since August 2014. Some 20 percent of all coalition strikes come from aircraft launched from the nuclear-powered Roosevelt.
U.S. Navy sailors have a conversation inside one of the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier mess halls. The carrier, currently running airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq, is home and base to approximately 5,000 personnel while on deployment, and the ship's mess halls serve up to eighteen thousand meals to sailors on a daily basis.
Aircraft mechanics, wearing green jerseys, perform maintenance on the landing gear of a U.S. fighter jet inside the hangar on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
A U.S. Navy pilot reads a specialized weapons magazine as he sits on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt, a Nimitz class nuclear powered aircraft carrier currently deployed in the Persian Gulf, supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.
A U.S. Navy sailor participates in Karaoke night inside one of the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier mess halls.
Plane directors, wearing yellow jerseys, stand back as a U.S. Navy aircraft lands on the aircraft carrier.
A flight deck crew member watches flight operations evolve. All flight operations, as well as the ship's navigation, are controlled and observed from inside the ship's superstructure that towers over the flight deck, and houses the Pilot Bridge, the Flag Bridge and Primary Flight Control.
U.S. Navy sailors wear full dress white uniforms before a Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
U.S. Navy personnel attend a Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier. Sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier commemorated the Sept. 11 2001 terror attacks with a small ceremony while conducting regular duties in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the US Military operation against Islamic Stare extremists in Syria and Iraq.
U.S. Navy sailor carries a trumpet before a Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Flight deck personnel, wearing different colored shirts in order to distinguish their tasks, are seen on the deck aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt currently deployed in the Persian Gulf.
A U.S. Navy sailor works out in an area designated for exercise on board the Roosevelt. Below deck is a complex set of passageways and tunnels, hangars and sailors’ quarters, gyms and mess halls, engine rooms and offices. Painted murals bear fighter squadron insignia, U.S. flags, the cartoon figure Popeye and other patriotic imagery.
U.S. flags decorate a door frame on board USS Theodore Roosevelt.
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