489th RS: Stand up, start running

Wes Shover, a joint terminal attack controller expert from the base contractor Rally Point Management, prepares to act as an opposition force as an MC-12W Liberty intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft prepares to take off in the background at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., Oct. 17, 2012. OPFORs are all current or prior Special Forces members who pretend to be the best bad guys they can be. They travel Beale’s 24,000 acres planting simulated IEDs, carrying inert rockets, and hide in vehicles or at shops around base, essentially playing an adult game of hide and seek. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shawn Nickel/Released)

489th RS: Stand up, start running

Two opposition forces simulate planting a roadside bomb during a 489th Reconnaissance Squadron training exercise at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., Oct. 17, 2012. The 489th RS is where pilots, sensor operators, and tactical system operators come to train on the MC-12W Liberty weapons system. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shawn Nickel/Released)

MC-12W Liberty: One year later, one year stronger

A crew chief for the Air Force MC-12W Liberty intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft cleans the West Cam MX-15 camera at Beale Air Force Base Oct. 9, 2012. The camera collects information which is sent via data link to geospatial analysts deployed on the ground or at the Distributed Ground Station at Beale. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shawn Nickel/Released)

MC-12W Liberty: One year later, one year stronger

A sensor operator adjusts the West Cam MX-15 camera on the bottom of the Air Force MC-12W Liberty intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft on the Beale Air Force Base flight line Oct. 9, 2012. The MC-12W???s capabilities support all aspects of the worldwide Air Force irregular warfare mission, including counter-insurgency, foreign internal defense and partnership capacity building. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shawn Nickel/Released)

MC-12W Liberty: One year later, one year stronger

A pilot is shadowed by the wing of an Air Force MC-12W Liberty intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft on the Beale Air Force Base flight line Oct. 9, 2012. The MC-12W is a medium altitude, twin-engine, turboprop aircraft loaded with high tech optical and sensor equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shawn Nickel/Released)

MC-12 Liberty 10,000th Combat Sortie

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- An MC-12 Liberty takes off from Bagram Airfield here Oct. 19, 2011. The flight marked the 10,000th combat sortie flown in support of ground operations that have led to the capture or elimination of more than 4,000 targets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Krista Rose)