News

Alaska Air Guard awards First Sergeant of the Year
September 17, 2020 — Alaska National Guard Airman, Master Sgt. Melissa Erhard, was awarded the 2019 First Sergeant of the Year award on Tuesday, Sept. 15 for her accomplishments last year.As an Anchorage resident and Arizona native, Erhard has been a first sergeant with the 176th Air Defense Squadron since October 2015.Erhard is the only first sergeant in the unit of... MORE

Alaska Air National Guardsman takes home regional Airman of the Year award
September 9, 2020 — Staff Sgt. Kailey Mills, a crew chief assigned to the 176th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard, received the regional Airman of the Year Award last week for her accomplishments in 2019.While still wearing the rank of senior airman, Mills executed 44 major inspections, completed five aircraft modifications, had a 100-percent... MORE

Staff Sgt. Kailey Mills, an HC-130 crew chief with the 176th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard, accepts the regional-level Airman of the Year award from the Alaska National Guard’s Senior Enlisted Leader, Command Chief Master Sgt. Winfield Hinkley Jr. Sept. 2, 2020. Mills competed with Airmen from eight states in the northwest region to earn the award. In her civilian life, Mills is employed as a nurse and has introduced approximately 120 civilians to Air National Guard career paths, garnering three accessions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Seth LaCount/Released)

211th Rescue Squadron captures top individual awards for 2019
September 2, 2020 — Alaska Air National Guardsmen Capt. Natasha Sanders and Tech Sgt. Christopher Luther, both assigned to the 211th Rescue Squadron, achieved top honors for 2019 and were awarded with a plaque and coin Aug. 28 for their accomplishments.Both Airmen were evaluated based on leadership and job performance in their primary duty and whole Airman... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard Tech Sgt. Christopher Luther, an instructor/evaluator loadmaster with the 211th Rescue Squadron, is given the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year award from State Command Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Wilson at Hangar 18 on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Aug. 28, 2020. Luther was recognized for his accomplishments in 2019 that included graduating first out of 79 students in his Noncommissioned Officer's Academy class and taking home the coveted Levitow Award. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Seth LaCount/Released)

A lighthouse in the storm: 176th Wing Director of Psychological Health is here to help
August 26, 2020 — A single COVID cell is no more than 140 nanometers in diameter — about 1/500th the width of a human hair — but it has come to dominate daily life the world over.Beyond its physical health impact, Diann Richardson, 176th Wing director of Psychological Health, said the invisible microorganism also has psychological health impacts as Airmen, civilian... MORE

Alaska Army Guard MP keeps marksmanship skills sharp during TAG Match
August 12, 2020 — Dressed in his usual uniform but adding kevlar body armor and a combat helmet, Alaska Army National Guard Spc. Carlos Polidura, a military police Soldier with the Military Police Ground Based Interceptor Security Company at Fort Greely, stood out.His stern demeanor distinguished him from the rest of the competitors with his confidence on full... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Spc. Carlos Polidura is a military police Soldier serving in the Military Police Ground Based Interceptor Security Company, participating in a course of fire Aug. 2, 2020, during the 2020 Alaska National Guard Adjutant General Match at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. TAG Match is a marksmanship competition comprising several timed pistol and rifle events. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Marc Marmeto/Released).

Brower takes command of 38th Troop Command
August 2, 2020 — Lt. Col. Tim Brower took command of the Alaska Army National Guard’s 38th Troop Command during an Aug. 2 change-of-command ceremony here.Brower succeeded Col. Joel Gilbert who had served as the 38th TC commander since September 2018.The 38th TC comprises 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment; 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment; 49th Missile... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Maj. Michael Riley, 38th Troop Command adjutant, presents Col. Joel Gilbert, former 38th TC commander, with a gift during an Aug. 2, 2020, change-of-command ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Lt. Col. Tim Brower (right) succeeded Gilbert during the ceremony. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. David Bedard/Released)

Soldiers stationed in Poland share experiences with local scouts
July 29, 2020 — U.S. Army Soldiers from the Alaska National Guard’s 297th Regional Support Group and U.S. Army Reserve’s 266th Ordinance Company, out of Puerto Rico, and Bravo Company, 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, out of Missouri, spent the afternoon engaging with Polish scouts at Camp Watra near Osieczów, Poland, July 17, 2020.The Soldiers learned about the... MORE

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Eduardo Santiago, detachment commander for the 266th Ordinance Company, a Reserve unit out of Puerto Rico, speaks with Polish scouts about his unit’s mission in support of Atlantic Resolve at Camp Watra near Osieczow, Poland, July 17, 2020. U.S. Army Soldiers from the Alaska National Guard’s 297th Regional Support Group and U.S. Army Reserve’s Bravo Company, 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, out of Missouri, joined the 266th OD to learn about the history and values of the Polish scouting organization while sharing their units’ missions and high-mobility multipurpose wheeled and medium tactical vehicles that are assigned to nearby FOS Świętoszów.

Alaska Air National Guard rescues distressed hiker at Mount Williwaw
July 27, 2020 — The Alaska Air National Guard rescued a distressed hiker July 26 at Mount Williwaw east of Anchorage.Alaska National Guard Master Sgt. Andre Marron, Alaska Rescue Coordination Center controller, said the stranded hiker could not safely ascend or descend and used his mobile phone to contact authorities who contacted the AKRCC. The Alaska State... MORE

An Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter and aircrew assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, with pararescuemen aboard from the 212th Rescue Squadron saved a distressed hiker on July 26, 2020 at Mount Williwaw east of Anchorage. The Airmen extracted and transported the hiker to Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage following the rescue. (Courtesy photo)

297th RSG Taking Care of Soldiers
July 23, 2020 — The Alaska Army National Guard 297th Regional Support Group (RSG) took over running the forward operating sites (FOS) in Poland July 8, 2020. Their jobs are to monitor the contracts that provide critical life support and morale measures for tenant units.297th RSG Soldiers interacting with tenant units build camaraderie between the FOS staff and the... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Specialist Drew Yeager signs a 155mm ammo round during the 1st Battalion 9th Field Artillery Regiments table certification at forward operating (FOS) site Turon, Poland, July 21,2020. Spc Yeager is a member of the FOS staff at Turon, the 1 9 FA allowed the staff to come out and learn about what Paladins capabilities were. (United States Army photo by Staff Sergeant Bethany Hendren)

1st Battalion 9th Field Artillery Regiment Certification tables while in Poland
July 22, 2020 — United States Army Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment launched into artillery table certification at Torun Poland July 21, 2020. The unit then moved to Torun after having completed two major exercises which included Atlantic Resolve and Defender 20 at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area (DPTA) Poland.Atlantic Resolve started in... MORE

United States Army Soldier with the 1st Battalion 9th Field Artillery Regiment pulls the cord, firing the Paladin M109A7 weapons system at forward operating site Turon, Poland, July 22, 2020. Soldiers were preparing the weapon to complete certification tables between major exercises in Poland. (United States Army photo by Staff Sgt. Bethany Hendren)