THE TENSION: Images: Combat Camera, Sat. 8 July

A U.S. Navy aircraft director guides the pilot of an F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft to the catapult for launch off the flight deck of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as the ship operates in the Pacific Ocean on June 23, 2006. The Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group is participating in exercise Valiant Shield 2006, a joint exercise consisting of 28 naval vessels, more than 300 aircraft, and approximately 20,000 service members from the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. DoD photo by Airman Stephen W. Rowe, U.S. Navy. (Released)

U.S. Navy Sailors prepare to launch a C-2A Greyhound aircraft assigned to Fleet Logistics Combat Support Squadron Three Zero off the flight deck of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during flight operations in the Pacific Ocean July 5, 2006. DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Marc Rockwell-Pate. U.S. Navy. (Released)

U.S. Navy Sailors prepare to launch a E-2c Hawkeye aircraft assigned to Fleet Logistics Combat Support Squadron Three Zero off the flight deck of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during flight operations in the Pacific Ocean July 5, 2006. DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Marc Rockwell-Pate. U.S. Navy. (Released)

The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) departs from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to participate in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) July 5, 2006. RIMPAC brings together military forces from Australia, Canada, Chile, Peru, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States in the world's largest biennial maritime exercise. DoD photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Rebecca J. Moat, U.S. Navy. (Released)

U.S. Navy Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 3rd Class Terra Lathrop ensures a patient is securely fastened on an MH-60 Knighthawk helicopter before being shuttled to the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) July 1, 2006. Mercy, now moored outside Chittagong, Bangladesh, is conducting humanitarian and civic assistance missions during a five-month deployment to South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. DoD photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Edward G. Martens, U.S. Navy. (Released)

NOTE: Updated July 3, 2008