The Winning Photos of the Military Visual Awards for 2019

Mar 28, 2020

Michael Zhang

The Military Visual Awards has announced its winning photographs for 2019, honoring the best military photos captured worldwide over the past year.

This was the first year the competition wasn’t limited to the United States — photographers and videographers from across the globe could submit entries, and over 2,000 photos and videos were sent in.

2019 MVA Photographer of the Year

The top prize of 2019 MVA Photographer of the Year was awarded to photographer Chris Hibben, who is part of the Air Force’s 4th Combat Camera Squadron. Here’s a selection of photos from his winning portfolio:

A U.S. Soldier with 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, Scout Platoon, Texas Army National Guard, tasked to the Fly Away Security Team (FAST), stands watch while Airmen offload cargo and passengers from a C-130 Hercules with the 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (75th EAS), Dec. 20, 2018, in East Africa.

The 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron supports Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) with medical evacuations, disaster relief, humanitarian and airdrop operations.

U.S. Air Force pararescuemen assigned to the 48th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., conduct exercise scenarios during Razor’s Edge, a two-week long pre-deployment exercise, at Parker, Ariz., December 9, 2019.

U.S. Soldiers assigned to the East Africa Response Force (EARF), deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, conduct a meeting at a cooperative security location in Libreville, Gabon, Jan. 4, 2019.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brandon King, a loadmaster assigned to the 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (75th EAS), deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), performs a walk around check on a C-130J Hercules, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, April 29, 2018.

A U.S. military member looks down the ramp of a C-130J Hercules before participating in a High Altitude Low Open (HALO) parachute jump near Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, April 20, 2019.

Here are a selection of winning photos from the 12 individual categories:

Combat Documentation Operational

1st: Hille Hillinga. Dutch operator of the Korps commando troops is scanning the environment together with his dog in Afghanistan.

2nd: Corban Lundborg. U.S. Army Spc. Chad Dreibelbis, assigned to the East Africa Response Force (EARF), deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, sings the 101st Airborne Division song during a mission readiness drill in Libreville, Gabon, Jan. 17, 2019.

3rd: Corban Lundborg. A U.S. Air Force special missions aviator assigned to the 303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), rides in an HH-60G Pavehawk helicopter during range training conducted in East Africa, Feb. 9, 2019. CJTF-HOA is a multinational effort to conduct security cooperation, combat violent extremism and enable freedom of movement within East Africa in order to defend U.S. interests and support aligned regional efforts.

Combat Documentation Training

News

1st: Dominique A. Pineiro. President Donald Trump greets Army Captain Luis Avila during a welcome ceremony in honor of new Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Army General Mark Milley at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., Sept. 30, 2019.

Feature

1st: Chris Williamson. Senior Chief Logistics Specialist Travis Menzie attempts to hide his face as he becomes emotional during his retirement ceremony at Navy Recruiting District St. Louis headquarters, Feb. 8, 2019.

2nd: Ryan Hageali. U.S. Marine Corps Recruits with Papa Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, and Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, conduct their initial swim qualification at the combat training pool on Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., June 4, 2019. After demonstrations, recruits are tested on their ability to jump into deep waters, shed proper equipment, and tread water in full utilities.

Pictorial

1st: Josheph Swafford. A U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey from the 20th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon Air Force base, New Mexico, is aerial refuled by a KC-10 Extender from the 6th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis AFB, California, during an aerial refueling training mission in the air over New Mexico, March 11, 2019.

Portrait

Sports

Illustrative

1st: Rebecca Brown. Soldier holds poppy for Remembrance.
Photographer:
CPL REBECCA BROWN / MoD Crown Copyright

Picture Story

1st: Joe Harwood. Col. Todd Thomas, 179th Airlift Wing commander, names Ayden Houston an honorary “Pilot for a Day” as part of a special event, Sept. 15, 2019, at the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio. The 164th Airlift Squadron collaborated with “A Special Wish Foundation” of Cleveland, Ohio, to provide Ayden with this unique experience he could share with his family who have been battling a variety of health issues with Ayden since birth.

Ayden Houston walks with aircrew to the flight line after being named an honorary “Pilot for a Day” as part of a special event, Sept. 15, 2019, at the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio.

Staff Sgt. Cameron Dodge, loadmaster, shows Ayden Houston her loadmaster duties while getting a tour of the C-130H Hercules after being named an honorary “Pilot for a Day” as part of a special event, Sept. 15, 2019, at the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio.

Ayden Houston and his mother fly a C-130 flight simulator, the Multi-Mission Crew Trainer, after Ayden was named an honorary “Pilot for a Day” as part of a special event, Sept. 15, 2019, at the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio.

You can view the complete gallery of winning photos over on the Military Visual Awards website. You can also view the winning photos from last year’s competition here.