Alaska National Guard

Leadership

Staff Sgt. Elliot St. Laurent, an Air National Guard crew chief with the 168th Wing, Eielson AirForce Base, Alaska, prepares to refuel a KC-135R Stratotanker at Ørland Air Station, Norway, March 10, 2020. Aircraft and personnel from the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and active duty Air Force are working together in support of Exercise Cold Response 20. CR20 is designed to enhance military capabilities and allied cooperation in high-intensity warfighting in a challenging Arctic environment with rugged terrain and extreme cold weather. We are able to maintain a global presence through the combined efforts of our active duty, National Guard, and Reserve partners. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. James Michaels)

Maintenance Effectiveness Award goes to the Alaska Air National Guard 168th Wing Maintenance Group

By Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey | July 29, 2021

The Alaska Air National Guard’s 168th Maintenance Group won the Maintenance Effectiveness Award for 2020 in the small aircraft maintenance unit category, recognizing it as one of the Air Force’s top maintenance units...

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Alaska Air National Guard Master Sgt. Micah Weeks, 176th Communications Flight, operates his console July 22, 2021, during Cyber Shield 21 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Cyber Shield 21 is a concentrated effort to develop, train and exercise cyber forces in the areas of computer network internal defensive measures and cyber incident response. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by David Bedard/Released)

Alaska National Guard participates in DoD’s largest unclassified cyber defense exercise

By David Bedard | July 27, 2021

Alaska National Guard participates in DoD’s largest unclassified cyber defense exercise...

Indirect fire infantrymen with the Alaska Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment conducted live-fire training on various weapon systems at Donnelly Training Center, near Fort Greely, Alaska, July 19, during their annual training event. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Dayton Will)

Alaska Army National Guard infantry battalion conducts annual training

By Edward Eagerton | July 27, 2021

Approximately 280 Alaska Army National Guardsmen from 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, conducted their two-week annual training July 10-25, primarily at Donnelly Training Area, located 107 miles southeast of Fairbanks,...

Sgt. 1st Class Ramone Gutierrez poses for a photo in Iraq, April 29, 2004. Gutierrez was the first liaison to accompany the Mongolian Armed Forces on a deployment during the Global War on Terrorism as part of the state partnership program. The SPP is a program that links a state’s National Guard with the armed forces or equivalent of a partner country in a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship. (Courtesy photo)

18-year mission with Mongolian counterparts comes to an end

By Spc. Grace Nechanicky | July 23, 2021

State partner liaisons redeploy to Alaska for the final time...

Pilots and crew members of the Alaska Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment fly ground search and rescue teams with Alaska Mountain Rescue Group and MAT+SAR Search & Rescue to various locations on Pioneer Peak near Palmer, AK, to search for a missing hiker, June 15, 2021. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Grace Nechanicky)

Alaska Air National Guard Airmen rescue injured hunter at Wood River

By David Bedard | July 23, 2021

Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued an injured hunter on Wood River near Fairbanks, July 22...

Guardian Angel team of the 212th Rescue Squadron, 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, stabilizes and provides airborne medical care for a U.S. Army Alaska paratrooper during medevac July 14, 2021. The Soldier sustained injuries in a routine static-line jump over Malamute Drop Zone on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. (Alaska Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Andre Marron/Released)

Alaska Air National Guard medevacs injured U.S. Army Alaska paratrooper

By Maj. Chelsea Aspelund | July 22, 2021

Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing medically evacuated an injured U.S. Army Alaska paratrooper July 14 from Malamute Drop Zone on JBER...

A 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with a Bambi water bucket system attached flies overhead during the unit's Red Card certification on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, June 9, 2021. Red Card certification, also known as the Incident Qualification Card, is an accepted interagency certification that a person is qualified in order to accomplish the required mission when arriving on an incident. For 1-207th AVN pilots, this certification means proficiency in water bucket drops to assist with wildfire emergencies within the state. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Dana Rosso)

Alaska Army National Guard aviation pilots get Red Card certification

Airmen from all trades, with the 176th Wing’s Civil Engineer Squadron, raise the second exterior wall in unison as they construct the first home in the Cherokee Veterans Housing Initiative in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, May 18, 2021. The initiative is a collaboration between the Department of Defense’s Innovative Readiness Training program and the Cherokee Nation that constructs new single-family homes and supporting infrastructure for eligible Cherokee Nation veterans and their families. (U.S. Air Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Clay Cook)

Alaska Air Guardsmen build homes for Cherokee veterans as part of training

Representatives from local businesses participate in the Alaska Army National Guard’s Culinary Showcase, an event celebrating the launch of the new Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) program on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, May 14. The PaYS program is a strategic partnership between the Army National Guard and a cross section of private businesses, universities, and public institutions. It provides Alaska’s newest Citizen-Soldiers the opportunity to increase their prospects for potential civilian employment while serving their country. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Edward Eagerton)

Alaska Army National Guard announces Partnership with statewide Business Community

Staff Sgt. Brianna Pritchard, an Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter mechanic from Anchorage, Alaska, shows her Olympic breaking moves at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.

Olympic Hopeful, ‘Breakin’ Barriers’

Tech. Sgt. David Hurst and Staff Sgt. Logan Gladfeather, team members of the 52nd Civil Support Team, Ohio National Guard, survey a bus at the Mat-Su Fire Training Center in Wasilla, Alaska, May 19, during Exercise ORCA 2021. ORCA is a chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear threats response exercise designed for participants to provide support in the aftermath of hazardous materials incidents. ORCA tests interoperability between agencies, increases opportunities for working relationships, and practices requests for assistance methods. Approximately 250 National Guardsmen from CST units in Alaska, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Idaho, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin are in Alaska to participate in Exercise ORCA 2021. Numerous support units and civilian agencies participated in the exercise as well. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Edward Eagerton)

National Guard Civil Support Teams, partner agencies conduct Exe

Alaska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen compete amongst one another in a series of marksmanship events at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, May 15, 2021, as part of the 2021 Alaska National Guard Adjutant General Match, or TAG Match. TAG Match is a marksmanship competition comprising several timed pistol and rifle events. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Grace Nechanicky)

Alaska National Guardsmen compete in annual TAG Match marksmanship competition

Alaska Army National Guardsman Spc. Jysamon Sanouvong, a military police officer assigned to the 49th Military Police Ground Based Interceptor Security Company, goes through the obstacle course portion of the Alaska Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition May, 15, 2021 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The Best Warrior Competition recognizes Soldiers who demonstrate commitment to the Army values and embody the warrior ethos. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Marc Marmeto).

Five Alaska Guardsmen compete for title of “Best Warrior”

Video by Victoria Granado

Alaska Army National Guard trains in Bambi Buckets to respond to wildfires

Alaska National Guard Public Affairs

June 9, 2021 | 0:36

Red Card certification, also known as the Incident Qualification Card, is an accepted interagency certification that qualifies a person in order to accomplish the required mission when arriving on an incident. For 1-207th AVN pilots, this certification means proficiency in water bucket drops to assist with wildfire emergencies within the state.

Specifically, Alaska National Guardsmen must obtain this certification in order to assist with fires that are on federal land, are federally managed, or in order to transport federal agency personnel, according to Lt. Col. Michele Edwards, Alaska National Guard’s state Army aviation officer.