The US Army have revealed a jaw-dropping gallery of their year in photos.
As the end of 2022 approaches, American armed forces picked their highlights from the year which range from cold-water immersion training in Wisconsin to soldiers practicing firing a howitzer in Hawaii.
The cold water immersion training saw budding army recruits plunging into freezing temperatures on March 25 at the Operations Course in Fort McCoy, Wisconsin.
Staff cut a large hole in the ice and each participant has to jump into the icy conditions with emergency personnel on standby in case of an emergency.
The icy test sees each student go under water with their reaction critical as it measures how they will react in different weather conditions.
Soldiers were also trained to fire a howitzer in Hawaii on June 23.
The howitzer, which is similar to a cannon, is a piece of long-ranged weaponry. It launches shells at flat trajectories and can also fire over obstacles.
Armed forces are tested for their unit's ability to alert, marshal and quickly deploy the weapon for contingency operations, according to the US army.
There were also pictures from a jubilant "Class Dismissed moment for the cadets of the U.S. Military Academy Class of 2022."
Pictures show the cadets receiving their diplomas and commission as second lieutenants during the US Military Academy Class of 2022 Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony at West Point.
During their time at the US Military Academy cadets are pushed to their limits in order to be given "the confidence and self-assurance that come with succeeding through hard work and determination."
It aims "to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honour, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army."
There were 1,014 graduates who graduated and now are ready to serve the US Army after 47 arduous months of training. Students from Albania, Bhutan, Cambodia, Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Tunisia all graduated.
Superintendent Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams said at the graduation: “Class of 2022, congratulations!
"The past 47 months has been a tough, rigorous and challenging experience to develop you as leaders of character prepared to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, prepared for a career of selfless service and prepared to fight our Nation’s wars.”
In addition, World War II veterans and representatives are seen in attendance at a memorial at the Eternal Heroes Monument in Normandy, France, in June.
An army statement explains: "This picture gallery features the most engaging imagery of the U.S. Army and its Soldiers."
