Alaska National Guard

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The Alaska Veterans Honor Medal is awarded to Alaska veterans who served honorably in the U.S. armed forces, regardless of wartime or peacetime service. (Alaska National Guard photo by Balinda O'Neal)

103-year-old WWII soldier secures VA benefits after nearly eight decades

By Balinda O'Neal | July 22, 2024

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs recognized a 103-Year-Old World War II soldier for securing his veteran benefits 78 years after his honorable discharge at a ceremony at the Alaska Veterans Museum in...

Alaska Army National Guard Lt. Col. Aaron Hamilton, left, 207th Multi-Functional Training Regiment outgoing commander, passes his unit’s colors to Col. Michele Edwards, 297th Regional Support Group commander, signifying the end of his command during a change of command ceremony at the Camp Carroll flagpole on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, June 16, 2024. During the ceremony, the battalion bid farewell to Hamilton and welcomed Lt. Col. Paula Comerlato-Medley as the new commander. (Alaska National Guard photo by Balinda O’Neal)

Alaska Army National Guard conducts trio of command changes

By Balinda O'Neal | June 17, 2024

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska Army National Guard recently conducted three significant change of command ceremonies, underscoring the steadfast commitment to excellence and readiness within its ranks...

Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter aviators assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron hoist two 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian Angels during underway hoist training in the Prince William Sound near Whittier, Alaska, May 15, 2024. Guardian Angels of 212th Rescue Squadron hoisted from a 210th RQS HH-60 June 10 to rescue six plane crash victims near Port Alsworth. (Alaska National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña)

Alaska Air National Guard rescues 6 plane crash victims near Port Alsworth

By David Bedard | June 12, 2024

Alaska Air National Guard rescues 6 plane crash victims near Port Alsworth...

An Army National Guardsmen from 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment surveys his pistol targets while competing in The Adjutant General’s Match at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 20, 2024. TAG Match, hosted and organized by the Alaska National Guard’s Marksmanship Program, was a multi-day competition that tested the competitors’ reflexive and precision shooting skills with both the rifle and pistol. Competitors included Alaska Air and Army National Guardsmen from across the state, active-duty paratroopers from the 11th Airborne Division, and Coast Guardsmen from Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic. (Alaska National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña)

Alaska National Guard hosts The Adjutant General’s Match

By Alejandro Peña | June 10, 2024

Marksmanship is a fundamental skill in the military. Alaska Air and Army National Guardsmen from across the state, active-duty Soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division, and U.S...

Alaska Army National Guardsmen with the 49th Personnel Detachment, commonly known as the 49th Theater Gateway, gather for a deployment ceremony at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, June 1, 2024. The 49th TG will deploy to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield. (Alaska National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Katie Mazos-Vega)

Alaska Guard Soldiers honored before Middle East deployment

By By Balinda O'neal | June 6, 2024

Alaska – Alaska Army National Guardsmen assigned to the 49th Personnel Detachment, commonly known as the 49th Theater Gateway, were honored during a deployment ceremony at the Camp Carroll flagpole on Joint Base...

Alaska Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 5 Tracy Dooley stands with her fellow Guard competitors following the Lincoln Marathon in Lincoln, Nebraska, May 5, 2024. (Alaska National Guard courtesy photo)

AKARNG athlete takes home top honors in Lincoln Marathon, highlights Guard sports program

By By Seth LaCount | June 5, 2024

Alaska Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 5 Tracy Dooley took home top honors in her age bracket this year at the Lincoln Marathon in Lincoln, Nebraska, May 5, 2024...

A picture containing text, person, wearing, jacket

103-year-old WWII soldier secures VA benefits after nearly eight decades

Lt. Col. Chad Ausel, outgoing commander of the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Alaska Army National Guard, holds the battalion colors for the final time during a change of command ceremony held at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 31, 2024.

Alaska Army National Guard conducts trio of command changes

Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter aviators assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron hoist two 212th Rescue Squadron pararescuemen during underway hoist training in the Prince William Sound near Whittier, Alaska, May 16, 2024. The Airmen of the 212th RQS are trained, equipped, and postured to conduct full-spectrum personnel recovery to include both conventional and unconventional rescue operations. The 212th, along with the 210th and 211th RQSs, make up the 176th Wing Rescue Triad and are among the busiest combat search and rescue units in the world. (Alaska National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña)

AKANG 176th Wing Rescue Triad conducts water rescue training in Alaska

Alaska Air and Army National Guardsmen conduct a movement to fire during the rifle portion of The Adjutant General’s Match at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 22, 2024.

Alaska National Guard hosts The Adjutant General’s Match

From the left, Alaska Army National Guard Pfc. Colton Cowan, Spc. Patrick Deslaurier, and Spc. Loren McDole, sprint from the starting line during a quarter-mile race as part of the AKARNG’s State Best Warrior Competition at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, May 14, 2024. Cowan is an infantryman assigned to the Alpha Company, 1st Battalion 297th Infantry Regiment and his fellow Soldiers are both assigned to the 49th Missile Defense Battalion at Ft. Greely, Alaska.

Alaska Army Guardsmen compete in Best Warrior Competition 2024

Alaska Air National Guard Master Sgt. Michael Knecht, an assistant chief with the 176th Wing’s Fire Emergency Services, shares best practices in search and rescue and firefighting during Gobi Wolf 2024’s Field Training Exercise in Choibalsan, Mongolia.

Gobi Wolf 2024 strengthens partnerships for disaster resilience

Kodiak logistics personnel offload equipment from an Alaska Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 144th Airlift Squadron, 176th Wing, during Kodiak Arctic Care 24 Innovative Readiness Training Mission at Kodiak, Alaska, May 6, 2024.

Alaska National Guard kicks off initial phase of Kodiak Arctic Care ‘24

A U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcon approaches the boom of a 168th Wing KC-135 Stratotanker during Red Flag Alaska 24-1 aerial refueling operations over Alaska April 24, 2024. The 168th Wing provided air refueling during the exercise.

Alaska Air Guard’s 168th Wing Refuels Red Flag Exercise

Brig. Gen. B. Uuganbayar, left, deputy director of the Mongolian National Emergency Management Agency, presents a commemorative anniversary plaque to Australian Maj. Gen. Scott Winter, deputy commanding general - strategy and plans for the U.S. Army Pacific, during the Gobi Wolf 2024 opening ceremony at the Governor’s Palace in Choibalsan, Mongolia, May 7, 2024.

Exercise Gobi Wolf 2024 Begins in Heart of Mongolian Steppe

First annual AKNG Earth Day inspires youth, brings awareness to military’s role in conservation

176th Wing Rescue Triad conducts capabilities exercise

June 27, 2024 | 1:26

Alaska Air National Guardsmen from the 176th Wing’s 210th, 211th, and 212th Rescue Squadrons conducted a rescue capabilities exercise at Malemute Drop Zone, on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, June 25, 2024. The training showcased search and rescue, high-altitude parachute drops, in-flight refueling, emergency medical response, personnel recovery, and recovery hoist. Participants included HH-60G Pave Hawk aircrew of the 210th RQS, HC-130J Combat King II aircrew of the 211th RQS, and pararescuemen (PJs), and combat rescue officers (CROs) of the 212th RQS.

(Alaska National Guard video by Seth LaCount)

ANG 176th Wing Rescue Triad Tour: Air Force ROTC

June 17, 2024 | 1:46

Approximately 88 Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from South Anchorage, West Anchorage and Eagle River high schools visited the Alaska Air National Guard 176th Wing on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, June 13, 2024. During their visit, the cadets learned about the 176th Wing’s Rescue Triad and had the opportunity to see multiple aircraft and facilities where these airmen train for their search and rescue mission. The 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons make up the 176th Wing Rescue Triad and are among the busiest combat search and rescue units in the world. (Alaska National Guard video by Seth LaCount)

A Love For Shooting: AKNG TAG Match 2024

June 5, 2024 | 2:04

Alaska Air and Army National Guardsmen from across the state, U.S Coast Guardsmen, and U.S. Army 11th Airborne Soldiers trained and competed against each other at the Alaska National Guard’s Adjutant General Match on the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Small Arms Range Complex, May 20-23, 2024.

The TAG Match, hosted and organized by the Alaska National Guard’s Marksmanship Program, is a four-day event that challenges competitors through several rifle and pistol matches designed to test their skills in reflexive fire and precision shooting.

(Alaska National Guard video by Seth LaCount)

Molding Future Leaders: Cadet Leadership Challenge 2024

May 30, 2024 | 2:09

Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from Dimond, Bartlett, Service, East, Colony and the Bethel Regional high schools complete the Leadership Reaction Course and take a familiarization flight with the Alaska Army National Guard's 207th Aviation Troop Command Soldiers as part of the Cadet Leadership Challenge on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 29, 2024. Alaska Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion personnel served as safety observers and mentors, providing guidance, ensuring safety, and sharing their expertise to enhance the cadets’ training experience. (Alaska National Guard video by Seth LaCount)

Gobi Wolf 2024 strengthens partnerships for disaster resilience

May 17, 2024 | 2:38

We are proud to highlight the participation of the Alaska Air National Guard's 168th and 176th Wings and Army National Guard's 297th Regional Support Groups participation in Exercise Gobi Wolf 2024. Gobi Wolf 2024 is a four-day disaster response exercise and exchange between the government of Mongolia and U.S. Army Pacific focused on interagency coordination May 7-10, in the Dornod Province capital city of Choibalsan, Mongolia. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Sgt. Marc Marmeto).

U.S., Mongolia unite for firefighting exchange

May 8, 2024 | 1:27

Alaska Air National Guardsmen assigned to the 176th Fire Emergency Services assist in training the Mongolia 52nd Firefighting and Rescue Unit during a simulated search and rescue scenario as part of exercise Gobi Wolf 2024 in Choibalsan in the Dornod Province, Mongolia, May 8, 2024. Gobi Wolf 2024 is a four-day disaster response exercise and exchange between the government of Mongolia and U.S. Army Pacific focused on interagency coordination. The Mongolia National Emergency Management Agency hosts the exercise with support from the Mongolian Armed Forces. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Sgt. Marc Marmeto).

Warriors of the Tundra: Bison Company Infantryman Enhance Arctic Combat Readiness in Bethel, Alaska

Feb. 7, 2024 | 1:18

Approximately 30 Alaska Army National Guard Infantryman assigned to Bison Company, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment consolidated in Bethel, Alaska for February drill weekend to conduct cold weather integration training Feb. 2-4, 2024. The Soldiers trained across the Bethel landscape of frozen tundra to enhance their ability to fight in an arctic environment and properly use their cold weather equipment in harsh conditions that reached -30 degrees Fahrenheit. The infantry unit engaged in realistic training exercises that rigorously tested their field-craft skills, individual movement over arctic terrain, and arctic transportation proficiency.

Operation Santa Claus: Uniting Alaska's Communities through Joy and Hope

Dec. 22, 2023 | 3:46

In its 68th year, the Alaska National Guard's annual community outreach program, Operation Santa Claus, continues to bring the magic of the season to the remote communities of Fort Yukon, Golovin, Koyuk, and Tuluksak. In partnership with the Salvation Army, the program delivered gifts and tidings of good cheer to approximately 560 children. The video highlights the annual Operation Santa Claus, a collaborative effort between The Salvation Army and the Alaska National Guard, spreading joy to communities across Alaska during the Christmas season. The Salvation Army collects, wraps, and packs gifts for children, and the Alaska National Guard plays a crucial role in transportation, logistics, and planning. Video by Alaska National Guard public affairs 1st Lt. Balinda O'Neal, Staff Sgt. Katie Mazos-Vega, Staff Sgt. Seth LaCount and Mr. Dana Rosso.

Alaska Army National Guardsmen with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, and their families were honored during a deployment ceremony at the Alaska National Guard Armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Sept. 29, 2023. Approximately 100 Soldiers are deploying to the Middle East for nine months in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

Honoring commitment: Bravo Company deployment ceremony

Oct. 3, 2023 | 2:02

Alaska Army National Guardsmen with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, and their families were honored during a deployment ceremony at the Alaska National Guard Armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Sept. 29, 2023. Approximately 100 Soldiers are deploying to the Middle East for nine months in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

Laying The Groundwork: 910th ESC Annual Training 2023

Aug. 16, 2023 | 2:06

Alaska Army National Guard Horizontal Construction Engineer Soldiers assigned to the 910th Engineer Support Company utilize various heavy equipment to level a field as part of their annual training near Bryant Army Airfield on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Aug. 13-16, 2023. Horizontal Construction Engineers operate heavy construction equipment like bulldozers, tractors, backhoes, cranes, excavators, and road graders to help pave the way for their fellow Soldiers and to make room for construction projects (U.S. Army video by Sgt. Seth LaCount)

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