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Maj. Daniel Klinkner, left, and Staff Sgt. Cidjomor Fischer furl the company colors during the 2nd Battalion, 641st Aviation Regiment casing ceremony at the unit's aircraft hangar on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, July 9, 2021. The traditional casing ceremony was held as the unit prepares to leave for the mobilization station at Fort Bliss, Texas, prior to deployment overseas. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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Maj. Daniel Klinkner, left, and Staff Sgt. Cidjomor Fischer furl the company colors during the 2nd Battalion, 641st Aviation Regiment casing ceremony at the unit's aircraft hangar on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, July 9, 2021. The traditional casing ceremony was held as the unit prepares to leave for the mobilization station at Fort Bliss, Texas, prior to deployment overseas. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

Maj. Daniel Klinkner, left, and Staff Sgt. Cidjomor Fischer furl the company colors during the 2nd Battalion, 641st Aviation Regiment casing ceremony at the unit's aircraft hangar on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, July 9, 2021. The traditional casing ceremony was held as the unit prepares to leave for the mobilization station at Fort Bliss, Texas, prior to deployment overseas. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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Maj. Daniel Klinkner, left, and Staff Sgt. Cidjomor Fischer furl the company colors during the 2nd Battalion, 641st Aviation Regiment casing ceremony at the unit's aircraft hangar on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, July 9, 2021. The traditional casing ceremony was held as the unit prepares to leave for the mobilization station at Fort Bliss, Texas, prior to deployment overseas. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

Sgt. Annalisa Copeland holds the company colors while Maj. Daniel Klinkner shares his remarks during the 2nd Battalion, 641st Aviation Regiment casing ceremony at the unit's aircraft hangar on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, July 9, 2021. The traditional casing ceremony was held as the unit prepares to leave for the mobilization station at Fort Bliss, Texas, prior to deployment overseas. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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Sgt. Annalisa Copeland holds the company colors while Maj. Daniel Klinkner shares his remarks during the 2nd Battalion, 641st Aviation Regiment casing ceremony at the unit's aircraft hangar on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, July 9, 2021. The traditional casing ceremony was held as the unit prepares to leave for the mobilization station at Fort Bliss, Texas, prior to deployment overseas. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 641st Aviation Regiment stand for the National Anthem during a casing ceremony at the unit's aircraft hangar on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, July 9, 2021. The traditional casing ceremony was held as the unit prepares to leave for the mobilization station at Fort Bliss, Texas, prior to deployment overseas. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 641st Aviation Regiment stand for the National Anthem during a casing ceremony at the unit's aircraft hangar on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, July 9, 2021. The traditional casing ceremony was held as the unit prepares to leave for the mobilization station at Fort Bliss, Texas, prior to deployment overseas. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Five Alaska Army National Guard Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 641st Aviation Regiment, left for Fort Bliss, Texas in preparation for an upcoming deployment overseas. The unit will depart later this month for their deployed location in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

During the deployment, the Guardsmen will be operating C-12 Huron aircraft, providing essential cargo and personnel transport in support of the CENTCOM combatant commander and commanders of all service branches and joint agencies within the region.

“We’re going to be providing transportation support,” said Maj. Daniel Klinkner, the commander of Charlie Company, 2-641st Aviation Regiment, Alaska Army National Guard. “If anybody needs to move around the area of operations, the request will come through us.”

For the last year, the Guardsmen have been conducting aircrew flight training in preparation for the deployment. This training included passenger and cargo transportation missions across Alaska and the continental United States.

Despite members of the unit deploying, the Alaska Army National Guard will maintain C-12 Huron flight operations for all Department of Defense organizations within the state of Alaska.

National Guard Soldiers to Compete in Best Ranger Competition
April 10, 2026 — Six of the National Guard’s most lethal Ranger-qualified Soldiers will compete for the coveted title of ‘Best Ranger’ at the 42nd annual Lt. Gen. David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition, April 10-12, at Fort Benning, Georgia. The National Guard is represented by three two-man teams: U.S. Army Capt. Erik Gorman and Capt. Christian Thompson; 1st Lt. Zachary Thompson and Sgt. 1st Class Robert Flora; and 1st Lt. Talan Saylor and Cpl. Brendan Fox... MORE

U.S. Army Capt. Erik Gorman, a plans officer with the Alaska Army National Guard, is one of six National Guard Soldiers competing in the 42nd annual Lt. Gen. David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition, April 10–12, at Fort Benning, Georgia. Representing three two-man teams, National Guard Soldiers are competing alongside 61 teams from across the Army in a grueling three-day event that tests physical endurance, technical proficiency and leadership under pressure. Their participation highlights the National Guard’s readiness, lethality and ability to perform at the highest levels of military excellence.

Alaska National Guard Human Resource Office modernizes to improve customer service
April 2, 2026 — Alaska National Guard Human Resource Office modernizes to improve customer service... MORE

Alaska National Guard Human Resource Office modernizes to improve customer service

Avalanche Company hones lethality at JBER Infantry Platoon Battle Course
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Avalanche Company hones lethality at JBER Infantry Platoon Battle Course

Alaska Air National Guard Member's Readiness and Willingness to Help Saves a Life
March 17, 2026 — FAIRBANKS, Alaska — What began as a father-daughter evening at an Armed Services YMCA Father-Daughter Gala quickly turned into a life-saving moment when an Alaska Air National Guard Airman used his training to assist an unresponsive Fairbanks resident... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Master Sgt. Anthony Lesle, 168th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 168th Transportation Flight, discusses vehicle maintenance statuses at the 168th Wing, ensuring fleet readiness in support of operations and winter conditions.

Arctic Connect validates HF communication across Alaska
March 5, 2026 — “Harpoon 1-2, this is Midnight Sun 1, radio check, over.” A brief pause stretches across the 545 miles of Arctic terrain, mountains and tundra between Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Nome. “Midnight Sun 1, this is Harpoon 1-2. I read you loud and clear. How me?” The response cuts clean through the static. In Alaska, that simple exchange is more than a radio check, it’s reassurance that when distance, weather or infrastructure fail, communication does not. ... MORE

Arctic Connect 26 is high-frequency radio communications exercise conducted across Alaska, designed to validate select Alaska Organized Militia units’ ability to communicate with the AKNG’s Joint Operations Center and with each other.

Director of the Army National Guard visits with Alaska Army Guard Soldiers
March 3, 2026 — When Alaska Army National Guard Land Component Commander Col. Aaron Kelsey greeted Director of the Army National Guard Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs at the entrance of the Alaska Army National Guard Readiness Center on JBER Feb. 20, the mercury had plummeted to 6 degrees below zero with the chill condensing the air to the point the bronzed Minute Man statue standing watch over the Army officers’ meetup was festooned in a layer of frigid frost. Standing as representation of the 1,542 citizen Soldiers and Arctic capable, mission-ready forces within the Alaska Army National Guard, the statue’s symbolism as a guardian sentry over the North emerged throughout the director’s visit. ... MORE

Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs, Director of the Army National Guard, speaks to Alaska Army National Guard Soldiers Feb. 20, 2026, at the Alaska Army National Guard Readiness Center at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Stubbs and Command Sgt. Maj. of the Army National Guard Brian Kendrick also met with AKARNG Soldiers at Fort Wainwright and Fort Greely.

Alaska Air National Guard rescues injured snowmachiner near Cooper Landing
February 26, 2026 — Alaska Air National Guard personnel conducted a rescue mission Saturday, Feb. 21, after receiving a request for assistance from the Alaska State Troopers through the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center. The mission was initiated to recover an injured snowmachiner in the Cooper Landing area, approximately 60 air miles south of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The Alaska Air National Guard accepted the mission, located the individual, and transported them to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage for further medical care. ... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard pararescuemen assigned to the 212th Rescue Squadron prepare to hoist an injured snowmachiner from a heavily wooded, mountainous area near Cooper Landing, Alaska, Feb. 21, 2026. The mission marked the first search and rescue operation conducted by the 210th Rescue Squadron using the HH-60W Jolly Green II.

Alaska Army National Guard rescues overdue snowmachiner in remote area north of Bethel
February 19, 2026 — An Alaska Army National Guard aircrew assigned to Bethel conducted a successful search and rescue mission to locate and extract an overdue snowmachiner during a mission coordinated through the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center. The mission opened Feb. 15 in response to a request for assistance from the Alaska State Troopers to perform a search for an overdue snowmachiner who had been snowmachining north of Pilot Station. The Alaska Army National Guard accepted the mission through AKRCC and launched a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter from Bethel to search the area. ... MORE

An Alaska Army National Guard aircrew assigned to Bethel conduct a search and rescue mission to locate and extract an overdue snowmachiner during a mission coordinated through the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center in Western Alaska, Feb. 16, 2026.

Alaska Air National Guardsmen conduct a medical evacuation at night
January 14, 2026 — Alaska Air National Guardsmen assigned to the 176th Wing medically evacuated an individual in Southcentral Alaska, Jan. 12. In response to a request for assistance from the Alaska State Troopers the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center opened a MEDEVAC mission for an individual experiencing a cardiac emergency. Due to weather conditions, the absence of daylight, and the lack of an illuminated airstrip near the distressed individual, local civilian air ambulance services were unable to conduct the mission. ... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard trains with Coast Guard at Air Station Kodiak

Op Santa comes to Anchorage, spreads holiday cheer for Western Alaskans
December 17, 2025 — For nearly 70 years, the Alaska National Guard has worked with partner agencies to spread holiday cheer to rural Alaskan communities. For the first time in recent memory, Op Santa came to Anchorage to serve Western Alaska families displaced by Typhoon Halong... MORE