A U.S. F-35A Lightning II pilot from the 4th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, assigned to Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, prepares to don his helmet for Exercise Agile Lightning Aug. 5, 2019. Agile Lightning is an exercise in adaptive basing methodology where personnel and aircraft can forward deploy any place in the world to complete essential missions vital to the defense of U.S. assets and personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chris Thornbury)