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An Army National Guardsmen from 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment surveys his pistol targets while competing in The Adjutant General’s Match at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 20, 2024.

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Alaska National Guard hosts The Adjutant General’s Match

An Army National Guardsmen from 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment surveys his pistol targets while competing in The Adjutant General’s Match at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 20, 2024. TAG Match, hosted and organized by the Alaska National Guard’s Marksmanship Program, was a multi-day competition that tested the competitors’ reflexive and precision shooting skills with both the rifle and pistol. Competitors included Alaska Air and Army National Guardsmen from across the state, active-duty paratroopers from the 11th Airborne Division, and Coast Guardsmen from Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic. (Alaska National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña)

Alaska Air and Army National Guardsmen conduct a movement to fire during the rifle portion of The Adjutant General’s Match at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 22, 2024.

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Alaska National Guard hosts The Adjutant General’s Match

Alaska Air and Army National Guardsmen conduct a movement to fire during the rifle portion of The Adjutant General’s Match at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 22, 2024. TAG Match, hosted and organized by the Alaska National Guard’s Marksmanship Program, was a multi-day competition that tested the competitors’ reflexive and precision shooting skills with both the rifle and pistol. Competitors included Alaska Air and Army National Guardsmen from across the state, active-duty paratroopers from the 11th Airborne Division, and Coast Guardsmen from Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic. (Alaska National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña)

Alaska Air National Guard Capt. Matthew Swanson, a HH-60G Pave Hawk pilot assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, fires the M18 Modular Handgun System while competing in The Adjutant General’s Match at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 21, 2024.

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Alaska National Guard hosts The Adjutant General’s Match

Alaska Air National Guard Capt. Matthew Swanson, a HH-60G Pave Hawk pilot assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, fires the M18 Modular Handgun System while competing in The Adjutant General’s Match at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 21, 2024. TAG Match, hosted and organized by the Alaska National Guard’s Marksmanship Program, was a multi-day competition that tested the competitors’ reflexive and precision shooting skills with both the rifle and pistol. Competitors included Alaska Air and Army National Guardsmen from across the state, active-duty paratroopers from the 11th Airborne Division, and Coast Guardsmen from Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic. (Alaska National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña)

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Derrek King, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, examines his shot target after firing the M17 Modular Handgun System during The Adjutant General’s Match at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 21, 2024.

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Alaska National Guard hosts The Adjutant General’s Match

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Derrek King, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, examines his shot target after firing the M17 Modular Handgun System during The Adjutant General’s Match at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 21, 2024. TAG Match, hosted and organized by the Alaska National Guard’s Marksmanship Program, was a multi-day competition that tested the competitors’ reflexive and precision shooting skills with both the rifle and pistol. Competitors included Alaska Air and Army National Guardsmen from across the state, active-duty paratroopers from the 11th Airborne Division, and Coast Guardsmen from Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic. (Alaska National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña)

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Marksmanship is a fundamental skill in the military. Alaska Air and Army National Guardsmen from across the state, active-duty Soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division, and U.S. Coast Guardsmen from Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic honed these skills while competing in The Adjutant General’s Match at the Small Arms Range Complex May 20-23.

TAG Match, hosted and organized by the Alaska National Guard’s Marksmanship Program, was a multi-day competition that tested the competitors’ reflexive and precision shooting skills through a series of challenging courses-of-fire with both the rifle and pistol.

Alaska Air National Guard Master Sgt. Jake Seigneur, Tech. Sgt. Alejandro Romero, Tech. Sgt. Zachary Little, and Staff Sgt. Gabriel Pertuset, all HH-60G Pave Hawk aviators assigned the 176th Wing’s 210th Rescue Squadron, comprised the winning Alaska National Guard Team and were presented with The Adjutant General’s Marksmanship Trophy.

The top three individual winners were:
First place ̶ Staff Sgt. Ethan Hopkins, 11th Airborne Division
Second place ̶ Tech. Sgt. Alejandro Romero, 210th Rescue Squadron
Third place ̶ Master Sgt. Jake Seigneur, 210th Rescue Squadron

Alaska Air National Guard Col. Matthew Kirby, 176th Mission Support Group commander, presided over the award ceremony at the conclusion of TAG Match. In addition to trophies for the top team and the top three individual winners, Kirby also recognized the top 20 AKNG shooters and presented them with the Governor’s Twenty Tab that is authorized for wear on their uniform.

By engaging in healthy competition the eclectic group of shooters not only fostered esprit de corps but also gained wisdom and knowledge that they can pass on to their less experienced troops.

In his closing remarks Kirby emphasized the importance of marksmanship as a crucial military skill.

“There is nothing that beats the last 300 meters of American foreign policy which is a small-arms rifle in the hands of one of you, our most lethal warriors,” said Kirby. “I want you to go out and spread the love of shooting to others. Because, if we lose that skill-set of shooting and marksmanship, then we are going to lose the next fight we are in.”

Alaska Organized Militia members arrive in Kotzebue to assist with storm response
October 25, 2024 — A team of service members from the Alaska Organized Militia have deployed to Kotzebue to assist with response efforts after the recent West Coast storm which caused major flood damage throughout the community. The team currently includes six members of the Alaska Army National Guard, three members of the Alaska Air National Guard, and one member of the Alaska State Defense Force, with another Air National Guardsman scheduled to arrive this afternoon to further support the team. One local member of the AKARNG has been on the ground assisting the Kotzebue community since Oct. 24. ... MORE

Members of the Alaska Organized Militia assigned to Joint Task Force Kotzebue assess priority-one damaged homes in the Arctic Circle community of Kotzebue, Oct. 26, 2024. The team’s measurements will help local emergency managers determine supplies needed to repair and rebuild structures impacted by severe flooding along Alaska’s West Coast. Many buildings in the area sustained foundation, sub-floor, and insulation damage due to the storm. The 11-member team, including personnel from the Alaska Air and Army National Guard and the Alaska State Defense Force, was activated by the State Emergency Operations Center to support response and recovery efforts.

Alaska National Guard sending service members to assist with storm response in Kotzebue
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1-297th Infantry Battalion changes command, honors Lt. Col. Bushatz
October 21, 2024 — The 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment held a change of command ceremony on Oct. 19 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The ceremony signified the transfer of authority from the outgoing battalion commander Lt. Col. Luke Bushatz to the incoming commander Lt. Col. Christopher Dailey. ... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Lt. Col. Luke Bushatz, left, outgoing commander for the 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, passes the colors to Col. Michele Edwards, the commander of the 297th Regional Support Group, as part of a change of command ceremony on Oct. 20, 2024, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

Alaska National Guardsmen no longer required in Florida hurricane response
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Alaska National Guard and State EOC to support hurricane response efforts in Southeastern US
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Service after sale: Juneau-based recruiter makes strides in Southeast Alaska
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Alaska Army National Guardsmen to deploy to Southwest border to support Customs and Border Protection
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Alaska Army National Guard stations Black Hawk helicopter in Juneau
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Alaska Army and Air Guard rescue four hunters in back-to-back, same-day missions
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Alaska Air National Guard rescues 8 in 5 Labor Day Weekend missions
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Alaska Air National Guard Maj. Dan Warren (right), 212th Rescue Squadron combat rescue officer, and Master Sgt. Harry Bromley, 212th RQS pararescueman, evacuate an injured airplane pilot Aug. 30, 2024, about 50 miles southwest of Tok to a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk. Warren and Bromley jumped from a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II to quickly reach the injured pilot.