Air Force Airman 1st Class Joel Adriance, 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron hydaulic systems apprentice out of McChord Field, Wash., takes a ride in a Condor maintenance platform basket in order to place external locks on a C-17 Globemaster III rudder, Sept. 22, 2011. Adriance is also a high school math teacher in Coupeville, Wash. He joined because he felt the need to serve. "I always felt that every citizen who has the benefit of protection by the U.S. military should attempt to contribute in some way," he said. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jake Chappelle)