Alaska National Guardsmen, Naval Militia and State Defense Force deploy across Western Ala

Alaska Army National Spc. Mark Ibay, a petroleum supply specialist with E Company, 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation, left, and Sgt. Maj. Arturo Bautista, operations sergeant major with 38th Troop Command and noncommissioned officer in charge of Joint Task Force – Bethel, exit an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft from the 176th Wing’s 211th Rescue Squadron after arriving in Bethel for disaster relief response Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 service members from the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. A JTF in Nome is standing up concurrently as part of Operation Merbok Response. (Alaska National Guard photo by Dana Rosso)

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Alaska Army National Spc. Mark Ibay, a petroleum supply specialist with E Company, 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation, left, and Sgt. Maj. Arturo Bautista, operations sergeant major with 38th Troop Command and noncommissioned officer in charge of Joint Task Force – Bethel, exit an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft from the 176th Wing’s 211th Rescue Squadron after arriving in Bethel for disaster relief response Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 service members from the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. A JTF in Nome is standing up concurrently as part of Operation Merbok Response. (Alaska National Guard photo by Dana Rosso)

Soldiers of the Alaska Army National Guard transfer their luggage prior to boarding a HC-130 Combat King II for transport to Bethel, Alaska, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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Soldiers of the Alaska Army National Guard transfer their luggage prior to boarding a HC-130 Combat King II for transport to Bethel, Alaska, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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Alaska State Defense Force Staff Sgt. Timothy Henry, left, and Staff Sgt. (AK) Michael Uttereyuk identify storm damage with Maj. Gen. Torrence Saxe, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, in Scammon Bay, Alaska, Sept. 19, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Dana Rosso)

Soldiers of the Alaska Army National Guard board a C-17 Globemaster III for transport to Eielson Air Force Base to pick up additional service members, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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Soldiers of the Alaska Army National Guard board a C-17 Globemaster III for transport to Eielson Air Force Base to pick up additional service members, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

Members of Joint Task Force – Alaska off load equipment and supplies after arriving in Bethel for disaster relief response Sept. 21, 2022, via a HC-130J Combat King II aircraft from the 176th Wing’s 211th Rescue Squadron. Approximately 100 service members from the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. A JTF in Nome is standing up concurrently as part of Operation Merbok Response (Alaska National Guard photo by Dana Rosso)

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Members of Joint Task Force – Alaska off load equipment and supplies after arriving in Bethel for disaster relief response Sept. 21, 2022, via a HC-130J Combat King II aircraft from the 176th Wing’s 211th Rescue Squadron. Approximately 100 service members from the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. A JTF in Nome is standing up concurrently as part of Operation Merbok Response (Alaska National Guard photo by Dana Rosso)

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Members of Joint Task Force – Alaska arrive in Bethel for disaster relief response Sept. 21, 2022, via a HC-130J Combat King II aircraft from the 176th Wing’s 211th Rescue Squadron. Approximately 100 service members from the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. A JTF in Nome is standing up concurrently as part of Operation Merbok Response. (Alaska National Guard photo by Dana Rosso)

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Members of Joint Task Force – Alaska arrive in Bethel for disaster relief response Sept. 21, 2022, via a HC-130J Combat King II aircraft from the 176th Wing’s 211th Rescue Squadron. Approximately 100 service members from the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. A JTF in Nome is standing up concurrently as part of Operation Merbok Response. (Alaska National Guard photo by Dana Rosso)

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Flight crew of Alaska Air National Guard's 144th Airlift Squadron conduct pre-flight checks on a C-17 Globemaster II prior to take off for Eielson Air Force Base, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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Flight crew of Alaska Air National Guard's 144th Airlift Squadron conduct pre-flight checks on a C-17 Globemaster II prior to take off for Eielson Air Force Base, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

Service members of Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing conduct an engine check on a C-17 Globemaster II prior to take off for Eielson Air Force Base, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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Service members of Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing conduct an engine check on a C-17 Globemaster II prior to take off for Eielson Air Force Base, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

An HC-130J Combat King II readies for take-off to transport Alaska Army National Guardsmen to Bethel, Alaska, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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An HC-130J Combat King II readies for take-off to transport Alaska Army National Guardsmen to Bethel, Alaska, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

An Alaska Army National Guardsman boards a C-17 Globemaster III for transport to Eielson Air Force Base to pick up additional service members, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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An Alaska Army National Guardsman boards a C-17 Globemaster III for transport to Eielson Air Force Base to pick up additional service members, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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Soldiers of the Alaska Army National Guard prepare to board a HC-130 Combat King II for transport to Bethel, Alaska, Sept. 21, 2022. Approximately 100 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which is comprised of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline.(Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – More than 100 members of Joint Task Force Alaska deployed to the hub communities of Bethel and Nome today, as part of Operation Merbok Response, to support recovery efforts across Western Alaska. The task force includes members of the Alaska Air and Army National Guard, the Alaska Naval Militia and the Alaska State Defense Force.

Today, Alaska Air National Guard HC-130 and C-17 cargo planes transported task force members and mission sustainment supplies from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Eielson Air Force Base to the hub communities of Bethel and Nome. Task force teams will then deploy out to affected communities. In total, JTF - Alaska comprises more than 120 Alaskan service members, with approximately 20 living in the affected region.

The Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Maj. Gen. Torrence Saxe, activated JTF - Alaska after Governor Dunleavy’s emergency declaration Saturday. Since then, JTF- Alaska has been conducting pre-mobilization preparations and mission planning leading up to today’s deployment.

The JTF’s mission is to assist with recovery efforts across the affected areas of Western Alaska as directed by the Alaska State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). Anticipated missions include debris removal, flood-recovery operations, and movement of critical supplies and equipment. The SEOC receives requests for assistance from affected communities and assigns various state resources to assist.

Task Force members with the Alaska State Defense Force living in Western Alaska mobilized earlier this week and have been assisting with planning and damage assessments. This morning, a ASDF team deployed to Golovin and another team will deploy to Hooper Bay later today.

The Alaska Army National Guard has two UH-60 Black Hawks and one CH-47 Chinook operating out of Nome and one UH-60 Black Hawk operating out of Bethel. They will provide transportation, delivery of critical supplies and equipment, and search and rescue/medevac support. As of today, there have been no reports of injuries or deaths related to the storm. Alaska Air National Guard HC-130 and C-17 cargo aircraft will provide support throughout the operation.

JTF-Alaska will remain activated until it is no longer needed by the state for recovery operations.

Alaska Organized Militia, multi-agency teams join forces to aid Kotzebue flood recovery
October 28, 2024 — With winter freeze-up just around the corner, Kotzebue residents and responders from across Alaska are racing against time to clean up and recover from a powerful fall storm that flooded the town, displaced more than 80 residents, and damaged dozens of homes. The Alaska Organized Militia, local responders and support teams from across the state joined forces to provide recovery assistance to the community. ... MORE

Alaska Organized Militia members assigned to Joint Task Force - Kotzebue assist the Arctic Circle community with recovery efforts, Oct. 26, 2024, following a recent storm that caused severe flooding along Alaska’s West Coast. 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 Organized Militia members arrive in Kotzebue to assist with storm response
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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
October 16, 2024 — The Florida National Guard notified the Alaska National Guard, Saturday, Oct. 12, that it no longer required the assistance of the Alaska Guardsmen to provide response and recovery support following Hurricane Milton. The hurricane’s impact was not as severe as anticipated, and Florida’s state, county and local organizations were able to meet the immediate response needs of the impacted residents. As a result, the Florida National Guard’s response requirements were significantly reduced, which in turn cut back the amount of out-of-state Guard support required. ... MORE

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
October 3, 2024 — A detachment of approximately 20 Alaska Army National Guardsmen assigned to the 207th Aviation Troop Command will deploy in October for approximately 12 months to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection as part of the federal Southwest Border Mission... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard stations Black Hawk helicopter in Juneau
September 20, 2024 — The Alaska Army National Guard’s 207th Aviation Troop Command, headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, stationed a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter in Juneau, Sept. 19, where AKARNG aviators will fulfill federal training requirements across Southeast Alaska... MORE

Alaska Army and Air Guard rescue four hunters in back-to-back, same-day missions
September 17, 2024 — The Alaska National Guard rescued four hunters Sept. 16 in two separate missions at the request of the Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Rescue Coordination Center... MORE

Alaska National Guardsmen, Naval Militia and State Defense Force deploy across Western Alaska for Operation Merbok Response