Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Chad Lester, bottom-right, gives the signal to launch an EA-18G Growler from the Shadowhawks of Electronic Attack Squadron 141 from the flight deck of the forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington during Valiant Shield 2014. Air and sea units from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force participated in the sinking exercise of the former USS Fresno. Valiant Shield is a U.S.-only exercise integrating U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army and Marine Corps assets, offering real-world joint operational experience to develop capabilities that provide a full range of options to defend U.S. interests and those of its allies and partners.