VOLS = Vertical Optical Landing System,

Not sure how this pertains to Q's comment unless this picture was taken by a plane that launched from an LHA or LHD-Class Assault Ship / Aircraft Carrier stationed somewhere in the North Pacific / Aleutian Islands.

http:// webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/virtual_disk_library/index.cgi/4240529/FID3333/ACDOCS/OLD_PUBS/JP3_04_1.PDF#page=45&zoom=auto,-397,194