2015 Military Photographer of the Year winners
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt Kenny Holston was named 2015 Military Photographer of the Year in the Department of Defense competition honoring the best in military photography. The Runner-up was SrA. Jordan A. Castelan. Lance Cpl. Ryan P. Kierkegaard of the U.S. Marine Corps won for Photo of the Year.
The photographers competed for the top title with portfolios that included single images and picture stories, with at least one entry required in the Combat categories. The winning single images for the individual categories were chosen from among 2,129 photo entries.
1st Place, Combat Operations category - "Rushing to Save Lives" by by Staff Sgt. Jeffrey D. Anderson, USMC
A U.S. Air Force pararescueman with Joint Task Force 505 helps evacuate earthquake victims from an area near Cherikot, Nepal, after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck the country, May 12, 2015.
Military Photographer of the Year
Staff Sgt Kenny Holston won first place in the Combat Training Category for "Chow time" of U.S. Air Force Combat Control trainees assigned to Operating Location C, 342nd Training Squadron, laughing with each other while sharing a ready to eat meal during a long day of training, Feb. 13, 2015.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable mention, Combat Training category - "Pull" by Sgt Matthew Callahan, USMC
A Marine purses his eyes and lips shut as he is dragged from a mock booby trap in the "Pit and Pond" obstacle during the endurance course April 19 at the Jungle Warfare Training Center, Okinawa, Japan.
Military Photographer of the Year
Photo of the Year and 1st Place, Features category - "Tug of War" by Lance Cpl. Ryan P. Kierkegaard, USMC
U.S. Marines with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division participate in a tug of war competition during warrior night at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 1, 2015. Warrior night is an annual event held to build camaraderie in the battalion.
Military Photographer of the Year
Runner-up, Military Photographer of the Year - "Rest by SRA" by Sr. Airman Jordan A. Castelan, ASAF
U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Bellasalma, 514th Medical Company expert field medic badge candidate, provides medical care to a simulated patient during the EFMB course at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Sept. 24, 2015. Every year airmen and soldiers attempt to pass the EFMB course where less than 20 percent of all candidates leave successful.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, Sports - "Let me fix that" by Staff Sgt. Marianique Santos, U.S. Army
U.S. Marine Corps recruits help their teammates put on gear before pugil stick fighting training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina, Dec. 3, 2015. The training teaches recruits the importance of knowing how to fight as well as how to work together in order to succeed.
Military Photographer of the Year
Military Photographer of the Year, 1st Place in the News category - "Dueling Demonstrations" by Staff Sgt Kenny Holston, USAF
Dueling demonstrations clash as the Klu Klux Klan holds a protest rally on the steps of the S.C. State House building at the same time as a New Black Panther Party rally coupled with other black activist groups, July19, 2015 in Columbia, South Carolina.
Military Photographer of the Year
1st Place, Portrait/Personality category - "Arvin" by Senior Airman Jordan A. Castelan, USAF
Maj. Sherrill Arvin (ret.) has his portrait taken during an interview recapping his time in service during the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s as an aviator in the Airman Heritage Museum on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, April 16, 2015.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, Features category - "Warrior CARE Event" by Staff Sgt. Marianique Santos, USMC
A U.S. Air Force wounded warrior retired Staff Sgt. Daniel Crane practices tossing the volleyball during the Air Force hosted North East Regional Warrior CARE event at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland Nov. 17, 2015.
Military Photographer of the Year
2nd Place, Sports category - "Overcomer" by Staff Sgt. Vernon Young Jr., USAF
Staff Sgt. Gideon Connelly leaps over a gutter during training at an adaptive sports camp in Crested Butte, Colorado.
In 2011, Connelly was involved in a motorcycle accident where he lost his left leg below the knee. He rehabilitated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC. Connelly was returned to duty and currently serves at the 175th Maintenance Squadron.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, Pictorial category - "Reflections in the Pond" by Staff Sgt. Marianique Santos, USAF
A U.S. Marine Corps recruit marches to his platoon's next event during tactical training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina, Dec. 3, 2015.
Military Photographer of the Year
1st Place, Military Photographer of the Year - "Tucked in" by Staff Sgt Kenny Holston, USAF
A U.S. Air Force crew chief assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron, crawls out of the intake of an F-16 Fighting Falcon as she completes her post flight inspection on the aircraft, Jan. 15, 2015, Shaw Air Force Base, South Caroline.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, Pictorial category - "Heatwave" by Staff Sgt. Vernon Young Jr, USAF
Three military students assigned to the 312th Training Squadron battle a fire during a liquid fire scenario at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, Oct. 19, 2015.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, Features category - "Ready for Flight" by by Tech Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez, USAF
Maj. Joshua Boudreaux, Thunderbird 2, and Maj. Jason Curtis, Thunderbird 5, are greeted by their children after performing their first Delta Formation sortie, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 13, 2015.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, Combat Training category - "View Behind the Lens" by Senior Airman Damon Kasberg, USAF
Airman 1st Class Lane Plummer, 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs photojournalist, photographs paratroopers from multiple allied nations as they exit a C-130J Super Hercules during International Jump Week, July 9, 2015 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Military Photographer of the Year
Military Photographer of the Year - "Remembering a Legend" by Staff Sgt Kenny Holston, UASF
A fan mourns the loss of Dean Smith the former North Carolina Tar Heels basketball coach as a memorial service for the legendary coach comes to an end at the Dean Smith Center on Feb. 22, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dean Smith passed away on Feb 7, 2015. He was 83 years old.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, Combat Training category - "The Drag," by Senior Airman Marianique Santos, USAF
U.S. Army Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, carry an injured soldier during a training exercise at Fort Bragg, N.C., April 15, 2015.
Military Photographer of the Year
1st Place, Sports category - "Catch" by Sr. Airman Jordan A. Castelan, USAF
Two soldiers play catch with a football while a fellow soldier watches the perimeter of the training grounds during the Expert Field Medic Badge course at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Sept. 24, 2015.
Military Photographer of the Year
2nd Place, News category - "Goodbye," by Senior Airman Jensen Stidham, USAF
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brett Baker, assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing, kisses his wife before leaving for a deployment from Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, Oct. 6, 2015.
Military Photographer of the Year
3rd Place, Features category - "Koalafying" by Master Sgt. Michel A. Sauret, U.S. Army
U.S. Army Reserve combat engineer soldiers from the 374th Engineer Company (Sapper), headquartered in Concord, California, take a break in the rain while waiting for their rappelling training to resume as part of a Sapper Leader Course Prerequisite Training in July at Camp San Luis Obispo Military Installation.
Military Photographer of the Year
Runner-up, Military Photographer of the Year - "Guardian Angel" by Sr. Airman Jordan A. Castelan
A soldier takes a nap in the bed of a pickup during the midday heat on Camp Guernsey, Wyoming, June 1, 2015. Camp Guernsey exists to facilitate and support realistic combat training for current and future American fighting forces.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention - "Tough" by Staff Sgt. Marianique Santos, USMC
A U.S. Marine Corps recruit shouts commands to his teammates during combat training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Caroline, Dec. 3, 2015.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, Portrait/Personality - "Super" by Tech Sgt. Samuel King Jr., USAF
Senior Airman Terrence Ruffin, 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron, strains for an extra rep on a weight machine at the fitness center on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
Military Photographer of the Year
1st place, Pictorial category - "Dusky Night" by Cpl Matthew Howe, USMC
A U.S. Marine with Bravo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, stands untop of a Light Armored Vehicle 25 during duck for Steel Knight 16 (SK-16), at National Training Center Fort Irwin, California, Dec. 13, 2015.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, Combat Operations category - "Restoring Mobility" by Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark El-Rayes, USN
Service members, assigned to the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), perform a fractional CO2 laser procedure on a child during Pacific Partnership 2015.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, Features category - "Superman," by Tech Sgt. Samuel King Jr., USAF
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, Personality category - "Misery's Company" by Sgt. Michel A. Sauret, U.S. Army
Pfc. Robert Wnetrzak poses for a photo after being sprayed in the face with oleoresin capsicum, or OC spray, and running through a confidence course March 6 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa. "It feels like incineration," he said.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, Sports category - "Gotcha!" by Staff Sgt. Larry E. Reid Jr., USAF
Martez "The Punisher" Potter, of Syracuse unleashes a left hook against Ahmed Tuba, of Nazareth, Israel during their Super-Middle weight bout in Syracuse, New York, Feb. 28, 2015. Potter won the bout via unanimous decision, improving his record to 7-0.
Military Photographer of the Year
Military Photographer of the Year - "Generations of Battle" by Staff Sgt Kenny Holston, USAF
Dan Kelsey, a farmer from Clyde, New York and World War II veteran who served in the Army Air Corps, sits on the rear bumper of his van, crouched over with both hands covering his face due to exhaustion and ailments brought on by a long day of selling produce at the Central New York Regional Market, Sept. 5, 2015 in Syracuse, New York.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, News category - "Celebrate," by Senior Airman Nicole Sikorski, USAF
French children release balloons to celebrate the service of the U.S. military who helped liberate Normandy during World War II, June 4, 2015, Normandy, France. More than 380 service members from Europe and affiliated D-Day historical units are participated in the 71st Anniversary as part of Joint Task Force D-Day 71.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, Features category - "RTO" by Staff Sgt. Marcus Fichtl, U.S. Army
A radio transmission operator, 1st Armored Division takes the brunt of debris caused by the firing of an M777 howitzer as he calls in another strike for his gun, at Fort Bliss, Texas, Nov. 3, 2015.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, Portrait/Personality category - "Burn the Night," by Master Sgt. Michel A. Sauret, U.S. Army
Pvt. Charles Lemieux, 2nd Division, Canadian Army Reserve soldier, poses for a photo while wearing his night optical device for a light machine gun night fire event during the 2015 Canadian Armed Forces Small Arms Concentration at the Connaught Range outside of Ottawa, Canada, Sept. 14.
Military Photographer of the Year
2nd Place, Portrait/Personality category - "Cobwby Al" by Staff Sgt. Christopher S. Muncy, NYNG
Cowboy Al poses for a portrait in front of the ranch he manages in Norco, California on June 15, 2015.
At 95 years old, Al still works as the manager of a small ranch in Norco, California. A veteran of the Second World War, Al fought with the Seventh Armored Division, landing on the beaches of Normandy and fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, Combat Training category - "Heading to Another Place" by Sgt. Matthew Callahan, USMC
Cpl. Anthony Skon closes his eyes and braces himself against the weight of a Marine climbing over him to scale a wall during the endurance course April 19 at the Jungle Warfare Training Center, Okinawa.
Military Photographer of the Year
Honorable Mention, Sports category - "Civil War Baseball" by Staff Sgt. Andrew Lee, USAF
Dean Badamo (middle), 9, along with his brothers Steve, 11, and Joseph, 6, play a game of toss after the first re-enactment battle at the battlefield of Cedar Creek in Virginia on Oct. 17.
The three boys accompanied their father, Thomas Badamo, to the re-enactment for the 151st Anniversary of the battle.