News

State, federal Veterans Affairs offices host outreach events for Gambell, Nome
July 12, 2022 — Representatives from the federal and state offices of veterans affairs collaborated with community partners to provide outreach services for veterans in Gambell and Nome, July 8 and 9... MORE

U.S. Army retired Staff Sgt. Orville Ahkinga, of Little Diomede, shares experiences from his combined 32 years of active duty and Alaska National Guard service during a state of Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs outreach event at the Aurora Inn in Nome, Alaska, July 9, 2022. The state of Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Rural Health work with rural community partners to assist eligible veterans with receiving their earned state and federal benefits. (Alaska National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Balinda O’Neal)

Alaska Naval Militia: Forged by the Last Frontier
July 8, 2022 — The Alaska Naval Militia is one element within the AKOM and Sailors will often work alongside service members in the Alaska National Guard and the Alaska State Defense Force. For its part, the naval militia provides a volunteer force with military experience and training to serve their communities in Alaska... MORE

Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Kim Heidemann, a volunteer in the Alaska Naval Militia, walks the Alaska Army National Guard memorial park on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Heidemann joined the COVID-19 response effort on State Active Duty orders April 20, 2022. Heidemann was assigned to the Mass Care Team as part of Emergency Services for the state. Heidemann assisted in meetings discussing actionable items for rural communities and administrative duties. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

AK State Office of Veterans Affairs to honor Army Guardsmen for 1955 rescue
June 30, 2022 — On June 22, 1955, two Russian MiG 15’s from Siberia shot down a U.S. Navy plane flying a routine maritime patrol over the Bering Sea. It crash-landed on an ice shelf prompting fourteen Guardsmen from the First Scout Battalion to mount a rescue mission saving everyone on board... MORE

The Alaska Heroism Medal is awarded to any member of the Alaska National Guard who distinguished themselves by heroism, exceptionally meritorious achievement, or exceptionally meritorious service beyond the call of duty. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

Arctic Guardians assist National Park Service rescue of injured climber on Denali
June 27, 2022 — Arctic Guardians assist National Park Service rescue of injured climber on Denali... MORE

Interior Alaska JROTC visits 168th Wing
June 27, 2022 — Stepping down into the boom operator’s console, peering over the security forces’ weapons, and handling civil engineering equipment is a little of what the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps students from throughout Interior Alaska took part in as they visited the 168th Wing... MORE

The Interior Alaska Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps visits 168th Wing as part of summer camp and learns about the 168th Wing, pilot, boom operator, aircraft maintenance, security forces, and civil engineering missions. The Interior JROTC cadets are students at West Valley High School Marine Corps JROTC, Lathrop High School Army JROTC, Eielson Air Force Base High School Air Force JROTC, and North Pole High School Air Force JROTC. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey)

Alaska State Defense Force assists Red Cross, state agencies in sheltering relocated citizens from wildfires in Southwest Alaska
June 24, 2022 — As tundra wildfires in Southwest Alaska burned closer to the villages, approximately 50 people from Mountain Village, Pilot Station, Pitkas Point and St. Mary’s were relocated to the Alaska National Guard armory in Bethel as a precaution against the fires and potential smoke inhalation, June 17 – 20... MORE

Members of the Alaska State Defense Force assist the Red Cross and Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation in providing essential services to approximately 50 people in the Alaska National Guard armory in Bethel, Alaska, June 18. People from Mt. Village, Pilot Station, Pitkas Point and St. Mary's were relocated to the armory in Bethel as a precaution against wildfires and potential smoke inhalation. (Alaska National Guard Courtesy Photo)

Alaska National Guard participates in Cyber Shield 2022, the DoD's largest unclassified cyber defense exercise
June 23, 2022 — Approximately 15 Alaska Air National Guard cyber and computer security specialists honed their skills June 5-17 as part of Cyber Shield 2022, the Department of Defense’s largest unclassified cyber defense exercise involving approximately 800 National Guard cyber specialists as well as law enforcement, legal, government and corporate partners from across the country... MORE

Spc. Nicholas Weber, a cyber operations specialist representing the Illinois National Guard, participates in Cyber Shield 2022 at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, Arkansas June 10, 2022. Cyber Shield 2022 is the Department of Defense's largest unclassified inter-agency and joint national level training cyber defense exercise which includes representation from 20 states plus Guam. (U.S. Army photo by Illinois National Guard Sgt. Trenton Fouche)

Lt. Col. Castle takes command of 13th Space Warning Squadron at Clear Space Force Station
June 16, 2022 — Lt. Col. Christopher Castle assumes command of the 13th Space Warning Squadron during a change of command ceremony, June 16, 2022, at Clear Space Force Station, Alaska... MORE

U.S. Space Force Col. Miguel Cruz, Space Delta 4 commander, presents the guidon to Lt. Col. Christopher Castle, incoming 13th Space Warning Squadron commander, during a change of command ceremony June 16, 2022, at Clear Space Force Station. Castle was formerly stationed in California as the Plans Branch Chief of the Combined Space Operations Center. The 13th SWS, located at Clear SFS, Alaska, provides strategic missile warning and space domain awareness by operating and maintaining the Upgraded Early Warning Radar. Passing of a squadron’s guidon is a tradition and symbolizes a transfer of command. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey)

Pave Hawk special missions aviator hones marksmanship skills to razor’s edge
June 14, 2022 — Pave Hawk special missions aviator hones marksmanship skills to razor’s edge... MORE

Volunteer team assists Seward community following major landslide
June 13, 2022 — Members of the Alaska Organized Militia returned home June 9, 2022, after assisting the city of Seward following the May 7 Bear Mountain landslide that blocked the road and access to and from the community of Lowell Point... MORE

From the right, Pvt. Michael Mondrell, Alaska State Defense Force and Intelligence Specialist Seaman Katrina Clayton, Alaska Naval Militia, greet motorists as they cross they travel the Lowell Point Road, May 27, 2022 in Seward. The May 7 Bear Mountain landslide blocked the road and access to and from the community of Lowell Point for 20 days. An Alaska Organized Militia Task Force was activated following a request from the State Emergency Operations Center for support to aide with traffic controls and other duties assigned by the incident commander. (Alaska National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Balinda O’Neal)