B-1 Lancer Crew Shines at Ample Strike

The crew of a B-1 Lancer, assigned to the 345th Bomb Squadron, makes their way to the aircraft at RAF Fairford, U.K., Aug. 31, 2017.

The crew of a B-1 Lancer, assigned to the 345th Bomb Squadron, makes their way to the aircraft at RAF Fairford, U.K., Aug. 31, 2017. It was the fifth day for the crew and dozens of other active duty, Reserve and National Guard Airmen participating in exercise Ample Strike 2017. The Czech Republic-led exercise offers advanced air-land integration training to forward air controllers, joint terminal attack controllers and close air support aircrews. The exercise also gives U.S. forces an opportunity to train with their NATO partners while also utilizing the Air Force total force integration model in the European theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ted Daigle/Released)

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Bret Reeves, 489th Bomb Group crew chief, keeps a watchful eye on a B-1 Lancer prior to a takeoff from RAF Fairford, U.K., Aug. 31, 2017.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Bret Reeves, 489th Bomb Group crew chief, keeps a watchful eye on a B-1 Lancer prior to a takeoff from RAF Fairford, U.K., Aug. 31, 2017. Reeves, a Reserve Citizen Airman, was on hand with dozens of his active-duty and Air National Guard counterparts for exercise Ample Strike 2017. The Czech Republic-led exercise offers advanced air-land integration training to forward air controllers, joint terminal attack controllers and close air support aircrews. The exercise also gives U.S. forces an opportunity to train with their NATO partners while also utilizing the Air Force total force integration model in the European theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ted Daigle/Released)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ryan Branch, 489th Bomb Group crew chief, preps a B-1 Lancer for takeoff from RAF Fairford, U.K., Aug. 31, 2017.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ryan Branch, 489th Bomb Group crew chief, preps a B-1 Lancer for takeoff from RAF Fairford, U.K., Aug. 31, 2017. Branch, a Reserve Citizen Airman, was on hand with dozens of his active-duty and Air National Guard counterparts for exercise Ample Strike 2017. The Czech Republic-led exercise offers advanced air-land integration training to forward air controllers, joint terminal attack controllers and close air support aircrews. The exercise also gives U.S. forces an opportunity to train with their NATO partners while also utilizing the Air Force total force integration model in the European theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ted Daigle/Released)

Crew chiefs from the 489th Bomb Group ready a B-1 Lancer for flight at RAF Fairford, U.K., Aug. 31, 2017.

Crew chiefs from the 489th Bomb Group ready a B-1 Lancer for flight at RAF Fairford, U.K., Aug. 31, 2017. They are preparing the jet to take part in exercise Ample Strike 2017, a Czech Republic-led exercise that offers advanced air-land integration training to forward air controllers, joint terminal attack controllers and close air support aircrews. The exercise also gives U.S. forces an opportunity to train with their NATO partners while also utilizing the total force integration model in the European theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ted Daigle/Released)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ryan Branch, a 489th Bomb Group crew chief, signals pilots while Tech. Sgt. Bret Reeves, 489th BG crew chief, removes the chocks from a B-1 Lancer at RAF Fairford, U.K., Aug. 31, 2017.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ryan Branch, a 489th Bomb Group crew chief, signals pilots while Tech. Sgt. Bret Reeves, 489th BG crew chief, removes the chocks from a B-1 Lancer at RAF Fairford, U.K., Aug. 31, 2017. The two crew chiefs were preparing the jet to take part in exercise Ample Strike 2017, a Czech Republic-led exercise offering advanced air-land integration training to forward air controllers, joint terminal attack controllers and close air support aircrews. The exercise also gives U.S. forces an opportunity to train with their NATO partners while also utilizing the Air Force total force integration model in the European theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ted Daigle/Released)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ryan Branch, a 489th Bomb Group crew chief, marshals a B-1 Lancer to the taxiway at RAF Fairford, U.K., Aug. 31, 2017.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ryan Branch, a 489th Bomb Group crew chief, marshals a B-1 Lancer to the taxiway at RAF Fairford, U.K., Aug. 31, 2017. The mission was part of exercise Ample Strike 2017, a Czech Republic-led exercise offering advanced air-land integration training to forward air controllers, joint terminal attack controllers and close air support aircrews. The exercise also gives U.S. forces an opportunity to train with their NATO partners while also utilizing the Air Force total force integration model in the European theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ted Daigle)

Air Force pilots from the 345th Bomb Squadron watch their peers take flight during exercise Ample Strike 2017 at RAF Fairford, U.K., Aug. 31, 2017.

Air Force pilots from the 345th Bomb Squadron watch their peers take flight during exercise Ample Strike 2017 at RAF Fairford, U.K., Aug. 31, 2017. It was the fifth day of the Czech Republic-led exercise, which offers advanced air-land integration training to forward air controllers, joint terminal attack controllers and close air support aircrews. The exercise also gives U.S. forces an opportunity to train with their NATO partners while also utilizing the Air Force total force integration model in the European theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ted Daigle/Released)

RAF FAIRFORD, U.K. --