An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

NEWS | Aug. 16, 2022

Arctic Guardians rescue 5 during 3 different missions

By David Bedard , 176th Wing Public Affairs

Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued five people from three separate incidents Aug. 11 and 12 at different locations throughout Southcentral and Interior Alaska.
 
For the first rescue mission Aug. 11, the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received a report from the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Air Traffic Control tower that a Cessna 172 crashed about 20 miles south of Anchorage on the Kenai Peninsula.
 
At the request of the AKRCC, 176th Wing launched a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter with 212th Rescue Squadron Pararescuemen onboard.
 
The Pave Hawk crew located the wreckage, delivered the Pararescuemen to the scene, and extracted the three uninjured occupants from the crash site. The crew transported them to Providence Alaska Medical Center and released them to medical personnel.
 
For the next rescue Aug. 12, the 176th Wing launched a 210th RQS HH-60G Pave Hawk with 212th RQS Pararescuemen onboard at the request of AKRCC to rescue an injured hunter.
 
The Pave Hawk located the hunter about 55 miles south of Fairbanks, extracted him, and transported him to the JBER hospital.
 
For the final rescue, the 176th Wing launched a 210th RQS HH-60G Pave Hawk with 212th RQS Pararescuemen onboard at the request of the AKRCC when they received a report of a crashed Cessna 180 10 miles north of Palmer from the pilot’s spouse. The pilot also used a satellite communication device to talk to AKRCC controllers to aid the rescue.
 
The Pave Hawk located the wreckage, hoisted the Pararescuemen to the scene who extracted the lone occupant from the crash site. The crew transported the survivor to Providence Alaska Medical Center and released him to medical personnel.
 
Alaska Air National Guardsmen Capt. Seth Peterson, AKRCC senior mission controller, said it’s critical to be prepared when going into the Alaska wilderness.
 
“You should pack a survival kit for two or three days,” he said. “With bad weather, you should be able to support yourself until help arrives.”
 
For these missions, 210th RQS, 212th RQS and the AKRCC received credit for five saves.
 
Alaska Air Guardsmen assist National Park Service rescue of Denali climber
May 24, 2023
Alaska Air Guardsmen assist National Park Service rescue of Denali climber

Alaska National Guardsmen, State Defense Force deploy to Bethel, Circle to assist with flood recovery
May 23, 2023
Senior Airman Sean Lake, 168th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, loads gear at Eielson Air Force Base in preparation to help with debris-clearing operations in Circle, Alaska, May 23, 2023. Four Guardsmen and one member of the Alaska State Defense Force will assist with cleanup and flood recovery efforts at the request of the Alaska State Emergency Operations Center. (Alaska Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey)

Alaska's Best Warrior Competition Award Ceremony
May 21, 2023
Command Sgt. Maj. John Phlegar, left, the state command sergeant major of the Alaska Army National Guard, pins the Army Commendation Medal on the 2023 Soldier of the Year, Spc. Adam Macro, a military police Soldier from Alpha Company, 49th Missile Defense Battalion during the Best Warrior Competition awards ceremony held at Camp Carroll, Alaska, May 21, 2023. Throughout the week of May 16, 2023, the Best Warrior Competition tested Soldiers on their physical and mental readiness as well as their knowledge of Army doctrine and common warrior tasks.

Alaska Army National Guard HH-60 hoists injured backcountry skier off Girdwood mountainside
April 20, 2023
On April 19, 2023, an avalanche broke loose at the top of a mountain near Girdwood, Alaska, pulling a backcountry skier 800 to 1000 feet down the face. The red box indicates the injured skier and rescue team. The Alaska Army National Guard’s Golf Company, 2-211th General Aviation Support Battalion received mission request from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center and rescued the skier with a hoist-capable HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter specially designed for medical evacuations.

Bartlett High School JROTC Takes Flight With Alaska Army National Guard
April 14, 2023
Bartlett High School JROTC Takes Flight with Alaska Army National Guard

National Guard, tribal consortium team up in St. Mary’s, Western Alaska
April 6, 2023
Alaska Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Sharon Queenie, a surveillance technician with the 176th Air Defense Squadron, gives a presentation to students from her hometown of St. Mary’s, Alaska, during a recruiting initiative in partnership with the Association of Village Council Presidents at the Andreafski High School, March 31, 2023. The Association of Village Council Presidents recently partnered with the Alaska National Guard to provide recruiting information and resources through their Tribal Job Centers. The initiative kicked off in St. Mary’s with presentations from AVCP and AKNG, where representatives interacted with students, parents, teachers, and community members. AVCP provides community development, education, social services, culturally relevant programs, and advocacy for the people and 56 tribes of Western Alaska.

Alaska Air Guardsmen medevac patient from Little Diomede
April 5, 2023
Alaska Air Guardsmen medevac patient from Little Diomede

Alaska Army National Guard ‘First Scouts’ awarded state’s highest heroism medal for 1955 rescue
March 29, 2023
Alaska Heroism Medals sit ready March 28, 2023, for the ceremony at the John Apangalook Memorial High School gymnasium honoring 16 Alaska Army National Guard First Scouts for their heroism during a 1955 rescue mission after two Russian MiG-15s shot down a U.S. Navy P2V-5 Neptune plane flying a routine maritime patrol over the Bering Sea with 11 sailors on board.

Bethel’s Cama-i weekend a flurry of activity for Alaska National Guard
March 27, 2023
Bethel’s Cama-i weekend a flurry of activity for Alaska National Guard

Alaska Guard, Reserve interoperability aid arctic mobilization proficiency
March 24, 2023
Alaska Guard, Reserve interoperability aid arctic mobilization proficiency