News

Alaska Army National Guard hosts maintenance showcase for local business partners
August 23, 2021 — The Alaska Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion hosted members of local-area businesses and organizations here, Aug. 20, for a maintenance showcase as part of the Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) program. 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 also serving in the AK-ARNG... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard 1st Lt. Jacob Olson, a shop lead at the Guard's Combined Support Maintenance Shop gives a tour of the facility to local Anchorage business representatives to bolster the Army Guard's new Partnership for Youth Success Program, Aug. 20, 2021. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Seth LaCount)

Alaska Army Guard recruiting debuts new program for high school credit, first recruit to use it returns from basic
August 19, 2021 — The Alaska Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion debuted a new program earlier this year for recruits to earn high school credit for their time in basic combat training. The first Soldier to take advantage of this opportunity, Pfc. Hunter Skaw, graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina earlier this month, just two weeks before starting his senior year at Colony High School in Wasilla... MORE

Pfc. Hunter Skaw (right), enlists in the Alaska Army National Guard as a CH-47 Chinook helicopter repairer. Skaw enlisted while he was a junior at Colony High School in Wasilla, Alaska, and went to basic combat training during the summer before his senior year. He used the Alaska Army National Guard's program to receive high school credits for attending BCT before graduating. (Courtesy photo)

The Golden Heart City of Fairbanks Mayor visits the Alaska Air National Guard 168th Wing
August 18, 2021 — The Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Wing received a visit from Fairbanks Mayor Jim Matherly as he thanked them for their service and saw the Fairbanks new tail flash on the Wing's KC-135 air refueling flagship aircraft for the first time. Born and raised in Fairbanks, Matherly wanted to stop in and thank the Airmen for their service as events occur around the world. ... MORE

The Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Wing received a visit from the Fairbanks Mayor Jim Matherly as he thanked them for their service and saw the Fairbanks new tail flash on the Wing's KC-135 air refueling flagship aircraft for the first time. Matherly is born and raised in Fairbanks and wanted to stop in and thank the Airmen for their service as events occur around the world. This past December, the 168th Wing dedicated their flagship to honor Fairbanks, Alaska, the city it calls home, with the polar bear and Fairbanks proudly displayed on the tail. Matherly was unable to recognize the Wing's new tail flash, and the Airmen dedicated to the community, state, and nation due to COVID restrictions at the time. The aircraft's tail has a polar bear standing strong on the wing's tail flash, representing Alaska's arctic region and spirit. The geometric design of the polar bear highlights the wing's culture of innovation. The Fairbanks flagship aircraft is one of nine KC-135 aircraft flown by the 168th Wing. The other eight aircraft all have the polar bear tail flash and each have a different community from interior Alaska. Those communities are Minto, Gwichyaa Zhee, Grayling, Huslia, Tetlin, Telida, Tanana, and North Pole. (U.S. Air National Guard photos by Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey)

Alaska Air National Guard Airmen rescue 3 occupants from 2 plane crashes
August 16, 2021 — Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued four occupants from two aircraft crashes Aug. 12 and 14... MORE

An HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter from the 210th Rescue Squadron takes off from the tundra after loading simulated casualties during exercise Arctic Chinook, near Kotzebue, Alaska, August 24, 2016. Arctic Chinook is a joint U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Northern Command sponsored exercise which focuses on multinational search and rescue readiness to respond to a mass rescue operation requirement in the Arctic. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Edward Eagerton/released)

Alaska Army National Guard helps rescue injured man after falling into Yentna River
August 14, 2021 — Medevac aircrew from the Alaska Army National Guard provided emergency medical assistance and helicopter medical evacuation to a 75-year old man after he fell into a river and drowned, requiring immediate resuscitation and sustaining multiple injuries, Aug. 12... MORE

Staff Sergeant Damion Minchaca (left), an Alaska Army National Guard flight paramedic, provides critical en route care to a 75-year old man after he fell into a river and drowned, requiring immediate resuscitation, and sustaining multiple injuries, Aug. 12, 2021. Spec. Stefano James (right), a UH-60L Black Hawk medevac helicopter crew chief, provided medical assistance. The aircraft and crew, from Detachment 2, G Company, 2nd Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, hoisted the patient into the aircraft and provided medevac support. A fishing guide saved the patient’s life, and the seamless, joint effort of the Alaska Air National Guard’s Rescue Coordination Center and Army National Guard’s Det. 2, G-Co, 2-211th AVN ensured a successful rescue and crucial medical care during transport to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage. The patient was delivered to the hospital within two hours of the AST request for support, and he was passed directly to a physician on site for continuation of necessary medical care. (Courtesy photo by U.S. Army National Guard crew chief, Staff Sgt. Bradley McKenzie)

Alaska Air National Guard rescues hiker near Glacier Pass
August 10, 2021 — The Alaska State Trooper Search and Rescue coordinator contacted the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center Aug. 6 around 7:30 p.m. for assistance to rescue a hiker in distress near Glacier Pass... MORE

The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received a rescue request for a hiker in distress near Glacier Pass in Archangel Valley, Aug. 6. Initial rescue efforts from a civilian component were postponed due to weather. The 176th Wing initiated a launch of rescue crews using information from the hikers, launching an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter with a Guardian Angel Team on board, from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The Pave Hawk crew safely navigated to the hiking parties’ location where the team provided field care and hoisted the patient into the Pave Hawk, transporting the individual to a Mat-Su area hospital. (Photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Zachary Little)

297th Regional Support Group conducts change of command ceremony
August 10, 2021 — Alaska Army National Guard Col. Thomas “Alex” Elmore succeeded Col. Matthew Schell, commander of the 297th Regional Support Group, in a change of command ceremony at the Lestenkof Plaza here, Aug. 7, as part of a formal transfer of authority and responsibility... MORE

Members of the Alaska Army National Guard’s 297th Regional Support Group stand in formation at the Lestenkof Plaza on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, during a change of command ceremony Aug 7, 2021. During the ceremony Col. Matthew Schell relinquished command of the unit to Col. Thomas “Alex” Elmore. This event marked the first time the unit has gathered together since returning from their nine-month rotation to Poland, supporting the European Deterrence Initiative and Atlantic Resolve missions, in March. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Heidi Kroll)

Alaska National Guard assists Commissary in serving rural Alaska
August 8, 2021 — Retired Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Harry Alexi pushed a gray industrial-grade platform shopping cart at the Bethel Alaska Army National Guard Aviation Facility. He needed the cart’s capacity to load up with bags of flour, boxes of cereal, cases of mac and cheese – all at prices a fraction of what could be purchased locally... MORE

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Andrea Johnson and son, Greyson, shop during a Commissary sale Aug. 7, 2021, at the Alaska Army National Guard Aviation Facility, Bethel, Alaska. An Alaska Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III moved tons of groceries and supplies from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to Bethel to offer the goods to eligible residents at discount prices. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by David Bedard/Released)

Alaska Army National Guard completes Innovative Readiness Training for the village of Telida
August 5, 2021 — An Alaska Army National Guard CH-47F Chinook helicopter from the 211th General Support Aviation Battalion transported a skid-steer loader by way of slingload, July 27, from Nikolai to Telida, two villages located in the Alaskan interior... MORE

A 211th General Support Aviation Battalion CH-47 Chinook helicopter transports a skid-steer loader by slingload from Nicolai to the community of Telida, Alaska, as part of the Innovative Readiness Training program on July 27, 2021. The IRT program is designed to enhance mission readiness while addressing the needs within America's communities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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

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)