Early January marks the annual migration of the US Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels) from Pensacola, Fl to El Centro, Ca.
Seasoned team members train new team mates twice a day, six days a week, beginning in January. The training concludes in Mid March.
The relatively remote desert location in the Imperial Valley allows the team to practice the routines that the public witness at airshows around the US.
It's a time to build team skills and comradery.
In 1983, as one of two team photographers, I documented this training cycle.