The Winning Photos of the Military Visual Awards for 2020

Apr 14, 2021

The Military Visual Awards (MVA) has announced the winning photos for 2020 that were captured and submitted by military photographers around the world. This year, the organization added a new category titled “Pandemic” for a total of 10 categories.

Each of the MVA’s categories was judged by Tom Brenner, a White House photojournalist for Reuters, Ariana Drehsler, a freelance photographer for the New York Times, and Richard Tsong Taatarii, a World Press Photo Winner and Photographer at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis. The organization says that it received more than 2,000 photos from around the world this year, similar to the last year’s awards.

Military Visual Awards 2020 Photographer of the Year

Dana Beesley, a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, was the recipient of the organization’s top award: the 2020 MVA Photographer of the Year. According to the MVA, Beesley started her military career in 2015 and graduated from the Defense Information School in 2016. She has since gone on to attend the Military Photojournalism Program at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, graduating in 2018. She is currently serving at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina.

Beesley’s winning photo series is below:

Recruits with Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, complete the Obstacle Course in the early morning hours before grass week classes begin on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. Oct. 15, 2020. During grass week, recruits participate in physical training throughout the day and in between marksmanship classes. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dana Beesley)

Recruits with November Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, work together to move as a fire team through events during the Crucible on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. Dec 3, 2020. The Crucible is recruit training’s 54-hour culminating event that involves food and sleep deprivation and the completion of myriad events for recruits to complete in order to claim the title United States Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dana Beesley)

Graduates from Drill Instructor class 3-20 pause for a moment of prayer before their graduation ceremony on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. June 18, 2020. The mission of Drill Instructor School is to further develop the leadership, command presence, instructional ability, knowledge, and physical condition of the selected noncommissioned officers, staff noncommissioned officers to successfully perform the duties of a drill instructor. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dana Beesley)

An instructor with DI School Class 1-21 corrects his students on the proper way to execute a rope climb during class physical training on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. Oct. 15, 2020. The mission of DI School is to further develop the leadership, command presence, instructional ability, knowledge and physical condition of selected staff noncommissioned and noncommissioned officers to successfully perform the duties of a drill instructor. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dana Beesley)

A Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival (MCIWS) instructs recruits with Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion on proper breathing techniques before swim qualification training on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. Sept. 29, 2020. Swim qualification is one of the first graduation requirements recruits face in training. As a part of the test, recruits learn to quickly shed heavy equipment that could pull them underwater, safely leap into deep water, use issued equipment to stay afloat and keep their heads above water while wearing a full utility uniform. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dana Beesley)

Recruits with Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, complete the Obstacle Course during the Crucible on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. June 12, 2020. The Crucible is a 54-hour culminating event that ends with recruits earning their Eagle, Globe and Anchor and the title U.S. Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dana Beesley)

Drill instructors with Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, take a brief respite during drill evaluations at the Peatross Parade Deck on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. June 10, 2020. The drill instructors are individually evaluated without a recruit platoon on their overall appearance, knowledge and bearing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dana Beesley)

Recruits with Golf Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, engage in pugil sticks during the Crucible on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. Dec 3, 2020. The Crucible is recruit training’s 54-hour culminating event that involves food and sleep deprivation and the completion of myriad events for recruits to complete in order to claim the title United States Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dana Beesley)

A drill instructor with Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, executes a drill evaluation at the Peatross Parade Deck on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. June 10, 2020. The drill instructors are individually evaluated without a recruit platoon on their overall appearance, knowledge and bearing prior to initial and final drill. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dana Beesley)

Drill Instructors and staff with Mike Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, watch and observe as their recruits battle each other during boxing bouts on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. Oct. 8, 2020. The Crucible is the final test of physical and mental endurance recruits will face before earning the title United States Marine, and is a culmination of all of the skills learned throughout recruit training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dana Beesley)

Below are the remaining nine categories and each of the winners:

Combat Documentation

Soldiers assigned to 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, stack up against a simulated door for a silhouette charge as part of Alpha Company, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion’s breach academy at Fort Carson, Colorado, Dec. 7, 2020. The 299th BEB hosted the breach academy for non-combat engineer Soldiers from across the brigade. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Daniel Parker)

Feature

The commander of Zr. Ms. De Ruyter and some of his crew walking in the desert of Dubai during their harbour visit during EMASOH mission during the beginning of the year for promotion purposes 11, March 2020. (Photo by Aaron Zwaal)

Hardware

Staff Sgt. Samuel Peoples, 911th Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion technician, closes the thrust reverser fan duct on a C-17 Globemaster III engine at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania, July 15, 2020. (Photo by Joshua Seybert)

Illustrativ

Drill instructors will develop recruits into smartly disciplined, physically fit, basically trained Marines, thoroughly indoctrinated in love of the Corps and country. (Photo by Bobby Yarbrough)

News

U.S. Air Force Academy — The U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2020 graduates toss their hats skyward as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds roar overhead during the graduation ceremony in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 18, 2020. (Photo by Trevor Cokley)

Pandemic

Sailors transport a patient across the brow to be admitted aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19). Mercy deployed in support of the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts and will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals. This allows shore base hospitals to focus their efforts on COVID-19 cases. One of the Department of Defense’s missions is Defense Support of Civil Authorities. DoD is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead federal agency, as well as state, local, and public health authorities in helping protect the health and safety of the American people. (U.S. Navy photo/released by Ryan Breeden)

Pictorial

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, C-130 pilots and crew arrive at Naval Air Station Pensacola with the team’s new C-130J Super Hercules, alongside the Blue Angel delta formation. 2020 marks the team’s 50th year utilizing the C-130 as its lead logistics aircraft. The Blue Angels’ previous C-130 “T” model served the team for 17 years and was retired in May of 2019. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cody Hendrix/Released)

Portrait

Tank conscripts guarding the royal castle in Stockholm. (Photo by Astrid Amtén, Sweden)

Picture Story

All the images below are part of the winning Picture Story and were captured by Corban Lundborg.

Airmen partake in land navigation exercises during Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training, a 19-day Combat Survival Course (S-V80-A), February 22, 2020, hosted by the 22nd Training Squadron, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The course allows Airmen the opportunity to learn and practice survival techniques required to return with honor. The frame was captured on 120mm medium format film using a Holga 120N plastic camera.

Airmen return to camp after an exercise during Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training, a 19-day Combat Survival Course (S-V80-A), February 25, 2020, hosted by the 22nd Training Squadron, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The course allows Airmen the opportunity to learn and practice survival techniques required to return with honor. The frame was captured on 120mm medium format film using a Holga 120N plastic camera.

Airmen apply evasion techniques during Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training, a 19-day Combat Survival Course (S-V80-A), February 25, 2020, hosted by the 22nd Training Squadron, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The course allows Airmen the opportunity to learn and practice survival techniques required to return with honor. The frame was captured on 120mm medium format film using a Holga 120N plastic camera.

An Airman studies her compass and map during Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training, a 19-day Combat Survival Course (S-V80-A), February 22, 2020, hosted by the 22nd Training Squadron, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The course allows Airmen the opportunity to learn and practice survival techniques required to return with honor. The frame was captured on 120mm medium format film using a Holga 120N plastic camera.

An Airman prepares camp during Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training, a 19-day Combat Survival Course (S-V80-A), February 25, 2020, hosted by the 22nd Training Squadron, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The course allows Airmen the opportunity to learn and practice survival techniques required to return with honor. The frame was captured on 120mm medium format film using a Holga 120N plastic camera.

An Airman applies camouflage to his face during Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training, a 19-day Combat Survival Course (S-V80-A), February 25, 2020, hosted by the 22nd Training Squadron, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The course allows Airmen the opportunity to learn and practice survival techniques required to return with honor. The frame was captured on 120mm medium format film using a Holga 120N plastic camera.

An Airman fills his canteen from a stream during Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training, a 19-day Combat Survival Course (S-V80-A), February 23, 2020, hosted by the 22nd Training Squadron, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The course allows Airmen the opportunity to learn and practice survival techniques required to return with honor. The frame was captured on 120mm medium format film using a Holga 120N plastic camera.

Airmen gather supplies during Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training, a 19-day Combat Survival Course (S-V80-A), February 23, 2020, hosted by the 22nd Training Squadron, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The course allows Airmen the opportunity to learn and practice survival techniques required to return with honor. The frame was captured on 120mm medium format film using a Holga 120N plastic camera.

Airmen depart for the mountains during Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training, a 19-day Combat Survival Course (S-V80-A), February 21, 2020, hosted by the 22nd Training Squadron, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The course allows Airmen the opportunity to learn and practice survival techniques required to return with honor. The frame was captured on 120mm medium format film using a Holga 120N plastic camera.

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.

Image credits: All images individually credited and used courtesy of the Military Visual Awards.

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