A Military Dog Jumping Out of a Helicopter

U.S. Air Force dogs have been airborne for decades, though the earliest flying dogs accompanied Soviet forces in the 1930s. Dogs usually jump in tandem with their trainers, but when properly outfitted with flotation vests they can make short jumps into water on their own.

Dogs have been fighting alongside U.S. soldiers for more than 100 years, seeing combat in the Civil War and World War I. But their service was informal; only in 1942 were canines officially inducted into the U.S. Army. Today, they're a central part of U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan -- as of early 2010 the U.S. Army had 2,800 active-duty dogs deployed (the largest canine contingent in the world). And these numbers will continue to grow as these dogs become an ever-more-vital military asset.

Special thanks for our men, women and four legged friends in uniforms!

source : theatlantic.com You can get the tag here.