News

Alaska Air National Guard rescues two men after airplane crash on Mount Hawkins
June 1, 2021 — Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued a pilot and passenger May 31 after they were in an aircraft crash on Mount Hawkins in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve two days prior... MORE

Pararescue personnel with the Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing rescued a pilot and passenger from an aircraft crash near Mount Hawkins in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, May 31, 2021. The rescue was coordinated by the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, and was a combined effort between one of the 210th Rescue Squadron’s HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, an HC-130J Combat King II of the 211th Rescue Squadron, and 212th Rescue Squadron pararescue personnel aboard each aircraft. The National Park Service also collaborated with the AK RCC in a coordinated effort to rescue the stranded personnel. (Courtesy photo)

Alaska Air National Guard, civil SAR partners rescue injured hiker from snow slide
May 27, 2021 — Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing partnered with multiple civil search and rescue partners to rescue a hiker injured in a fall on May 26 near Kennicott, Alaska. National Park Service contacted the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at 6:20 p.m. on May 26 to notify them of the incident and request a hoist-capable aircraft be on standby. Snow conditions and steep terrain on Donoho Mountain made it impossible for the National Park Service A-Star helicopter to reach the injured hiker, and at 8:05 p.m. the NPS requested Air National Guard support... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard pararescue personnel and aircraft of the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, 210th Rescue Squadron, 211th Rescue Squadron, and 212th Rescue Squadron partnered with multiple civil search and rescue (SAR) partners to rescue a hiker injured in a fall on a slope near Donoho Peak in Wrangell-St. Elias Park and Preserve May 26, 2021. (Courtesy photo by Stephens Harper)

Olympic Hopeful, ‘Breakin’ Barriers’
May 23, 2021 — For Staff Sgt. Brianna Pritchard, an Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter mechanic from Anchorage, Alaska, it all started with a dream to become an Olympian... and a little bit of genetics... MORE

Staff Sgt. Brianna Pritchard, an Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter mechanic from Anchorage, Alaska, shows her Olympic breaking moves at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.

National Guard Civil Support Teams, partner agencies conduct Exercise ORCA 2021
May 20, 2021 — National Guard Civil Support Team units from twelve states, along with partnering local, state, and federal agencies and organizations, totaling approximately 250 people, participated in Exercise ORCA 2021 at various training locations in Anchorage, Matanuska-Susitna Valley, and Seward, May 17-20... MORE

Sgt. Andrew Hunt, 103rd Civil Support Team, and Tech Sgt. Eric McComb, 103rd CST, prepare gear to respond to a simulated incident at a parking garage on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus May 18 in support of Exercise ORCA 2021. ORCA is a chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear threats response exercise designed for participants to provide support in the aftermath of hazardous materials incidents. ORCA tests interoperability between agencies, increases opportunities for working relationships, and practices requests for assistance methods. Approximately 250 National Guardsmen from CST units in Alaska, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Idaho, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin are in Alaska to participate in Exercise ORCA 2021. Numerous support units and civilian agencies participated in the exercise as well. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Grace Nechanicky)

Alaska National Guardsmen compete in annual TAG Match marksmanship competition
May 18, 2021 — The Alaska National Guard hosted its annual marksmanship competition sponsored by Maj. Gen. Torrence Saxe, the adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, known as the TAG Match, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s shooting range, May 15-16... MORE

Alaska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen compete amongst one another in a series of marksmanship events at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, May 15, 2021, as part of the 2021 Alaska National Guard Adjutant General Match, or TAG Match. TAG Match is a marksmanship competition comprising several timed pistol and rifle events. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Grace Nechanicky)

Five Alaska Guardsmen compete for title of “Best Warrior”
May 17, 2021 — Five soldiers competed in the Alaska Army National Guard’s annual “Best Warrior” Competition that was held May 12-16 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska... MORE

Alaska National Guardsman Spc. Robert Cline, an infantryman assigned to the 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, tests his marksmanship skills as a part of the Alaska Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition May 15, 2021, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The Best Warrior Competition recognizes Soldiers who demonstrate commitment to the Army values and embody the warrior ethos. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Marc Marmeto).

Palmer Mayor Edna DeVries presents 176th Wing with a key to the city
May 12, 2021 — Palmer Mayor Edna DaVries welcomed the 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard to the Warren “Bud” Woods Palmer Municipal Airport in Palmer, Alaska for the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering with a presentation of a key to the city May 7... MORE

Alaska City of Palmer Mayor Edna DeVries presented the 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard with a key to the city on May 7. This token of trust and honor was received Capt. Matt Seakup, Capt. Chris Brunner and Chief Master Sgt. Andy Reynolds from the 211th Rescue Squadron after they landed an HC-130J Combat King II at the Palmer Municipal Airport for the 2021 Great Alaska Aviation Gathering. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dana Rosso)

Alaska Army National Guard rescues four boaters stranded on Kuskokwim River
May 10, 2021 — A UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter aircrew with the Alaska Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, rescued four individuals and a dog this morning after they became stuck in a boat on the Kuskokwim River near Bethel, Alaska... MORE

The location (circled in red) of four stranded boaters on the Kuskokwim River is visible from the windshield of a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter from 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Alaska Army National Guard, May 10, 2021. The helicopter aircrew rescued the four individuals and their dog after they became stuck on the river between Bethel and Kwethluk because of ice from break up blocking their egress. All four individuals and their dog were hoisted into the helicopter and transported back to Bethel safely. For this mission, the 207th AVN was awarded with four saves. (Courtesy photo by Spc. Kia Hasson)

Alaska Army National Guard rescues two near Knik Glacier
May 10, 2021 — Aircrew from the Alaska Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, rescued a father and his daughter near Knik Glacier after their off-road vehicle was stuck in water Saturday night... MORE

A hoist-capable UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and aircrew from the 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Alaska Army National Guard, arrives in Bethel, Alaska, April 27, 2021, as part of the State of Alaska’s effort to prepare for disaster response in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region during the spring flood season. While stationed in Bethel, the crew will continue to train on their federal mission and remain ready to respond to any requests for support from civil authorities through the State Emergency Operations Center.

Alaska Air National Guard aircrew and pararescuemen save stranded hikers
May 3, 2021 — Members of the Alaska Air National Guard’s search and rescue aircrew and pararescue teams saved two stranded hikers on Rainbow Peak trail early this morning, after one hiker experienced an injury and was unable to continue hiking for several hours as nightfall and colder temperatures set in... MORE

A U.S Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard, conducts aerial refueling from a U.S. Air Force HC-130J Combat King II assigned to the 211th Rescue Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard, over Alaska, Jan. 21, 2021, during Operation Noble Defender. Operation Noble Defender is a North American Air Defense Command air-defense operation which allows dynamic training for operational readiness in an arctic environment.