DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Arizona -- U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Brayden Mathis, 357th Fighter Squadron A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft student pilot, performs preflight checks on his equipment before taking flight in an A-10 aircraft at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Dec. 16, 2025. A-10 pilots must meet annual training and flight hour requirements to stay mission-ready and be able to deploy quickly when needed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Samantha Melecio)