A B-52H Stratofortress lands at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, after a 15.5-hour nonstop sortie from the United States to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility Aug. 12, 2014. The long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission was part of a scenario to defend the Panama canal from myriad threats during PANAMAX 2014, a multinational U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise. Forces from 17 nations participated in the annual exercise, which contributes to interoperability, and builds the capabilities of the participating nations to plan and execute complex multinational operations. For aircrews, the ability to work in an unfamiliar environment, hone ISR capabilities, and test aerial command and control capabilities during PANAMAX was invaluable. “I had only worked in the SOUTHCOM AOR once before this exercise,” said Capt. Jonathan Morse, one of two aircraft commanders on the mission. “[PANAMAX] allowed crewmembers that have not operated in a different area of operations to gain valuable experience and bring that back to the B-52 community. I believe it also made SOUTHCOM better aware of our capabilities and confident that they can call upon our B-52s when in need.” (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Benjamin Gonsier)