News

1-297th Infantry Battalion changes command, honors Lt. Col. Bushatz
October 21, 2024 — The 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment held a change of command ceremony on Oct. 19 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The ceremony signified the transfer of authority from the outgoing battalion commander Lt. Col. Luke Bushatz to the incoming commander Lt. Col. Christopher Dailey. ... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Lt. Col. Luke Bushatz, left, outgoing commander for the 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, passes the colors to Col. Michele Edwards, the commander of the 297th Regional Support Group, as part of a change of command ceremony on Oct. 20, 2024, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

Alaska National Guardsmen no longer required in Florida hurricane response
October 16, 2024 — The Florida National Guard notified the Alaska National Guard, Saturday, Oct. 12, that it no longer required the assistance of the Alaska Guardsmen to provide response and recovery support following Hurricane Milton. The hurricane’s impact was not as severe as anticipated, and Florida’s state, county and local organizations were able to meet the immediate response needs of the impacted residents. As a result, the Florida National Guard’s response requirements were significantly reduced, which in turn cut back the amount of out-of-state Guard support required. ... MORE

Alaska National Guard and State EOC to support hurricane response efforts in Southeastern US
October 11, 2024 — The Alaska National Guard will activate 50 Guardsmen on state active duty to deploy to Florida to assist the Florida National Guard with response and recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Milton... MORE

Service after sale: Juneau-based recruiter makes strides in Southeast Alaska
October 8, 2024 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – For more than three years, Alaska Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Sean Smack has been the only recruiter enlisting Soldiers in Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka. “There’s something different about the way the sun sets here that gives me an appreciation for places like Juneau and Ketchikan,” said Smack. “It motivates me to talk to people about serving this state with this organization.” Smack travels to high schools and colleges sharing the benefits of the Guard. He said the availability of scholarships and financial aid make attending college possible while serving... MORE

Alaska Army National Guardsmen to deploy to Southwest border to support Customs and Border Protection
October 3, 2024 — A detachment of approximately 20 Alaska Army National Guardsmen assigned to the 207th Aviation Troop Command will deploy in October for approximately 12 months to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection as part of the federal Southwest Border Mission... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard stations Black Hawk helicopter in Juneau
September 20, 2024 — The Alaska Army National Guard’s 207th Aviation Troop Command, headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, stationed a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter in Juneau, Sept. 19, where AKARNG aviators will fulfill federal training requirements across Southeast Alaska... MORE

Alaska Army and Air Guard rescue four hunters in back-to-back, same-day missions
September 17, 2024 — The Alaska National Guard rescued four hunters Sept. 16 in two separate missions at the request of the Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Rescue Coordination Center... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard rescues 8 in 5 Labor Day Weekend missions
September 6, 2024 — Alaska Air National Guard members of 176th Wing rescued eight distressed residents through five missions over the Labor Day Weekend. Two of the missions required 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian Angels to parachute from an HC-130J Combat King II. ... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard Maj. Dan Warren (right), 212th Rescue Squadron combat rescue officer, and Master Sgt. Harry Bromley, 212th RQS pararescueman, evacuate an injured airplane pilot Aug. 30, 2024, about 50 miles southwest of Tok to a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk. Warren and Bromley jumped from a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II to quickly reach the injured pilot.

Anchored in service: Celebrating 40 years of the Alaska Naval Militia
September 3, 2024 — On September 5, 1984, former Alaska Governor Bill Sheffield declared the day as Naval Militia Day, recognizing the Alaska Naval Militia’s crucial role in the state's defense and emergency response... MORE

Service members with the Alaska Air, Army National Guard, and Naval Militia clear debris off the road while assisting local authorities and tribal emergency operations personnel in the Mendenhall Valley, Juneau, Alaska, Aug. 14, 2024.

Alaska Organized Militia mobilizes six in response to Ketchikan landslide
August 28, 2024 — The Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs mobilized four Alaska Army National Guardsmen and two members of the Alaska State Defense Force to assist with response and recovery efforts after a major landslide, Aug. 25, 2024, in Ketchikan. Following a request from the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, the Alaska State Emergency Operations Center requested the assistance of two Alaska State Defense Force members who live in the community. The two ASDF members mobilized rapidly and were on scene soon after the slide occurred. With additional rain forecasted and concerns of subsequent slides, borough leaders requested additional help from the SEOC Tuesday, Aug. 27, leading to the mobilization of four Ketchikan-based Alaska Army National Guardsmen this morning... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Omar Matos, the Ketchikan armory attendant, confers with members of the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Aug. 28, 2024, following a major landslide in Ketchikan, Alaska, two days earlier. Four Alaska Army National Guardsmen and two members of the Alaska State Defense Force mobilized on State Active Duty to assist with response and recovery efforts.