First Lt. Joshua Shook, 63rd Fighter Squadron F-35A Lightning II pilot, prepares for a training sortie July 22, 2020, at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Flying with a maximum strike weapons configuration creates a heightened sense of awareness for the pilot and allows for a more realistic experience in the event of flying a combat mission. The “Beast Mode” weapons configuration provides F-35 B-Course student pilots with the additional training and experience needed for potential combat sorties and helps train the world’s greatest F-35 pilots and combat ready Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Cook)