Alaska Air Guard trains to support NASA human spaceflight program
Tech. Sgt. Edward Peguero, an aircrew flight equipment technician with the 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, inspects and repacks a parachute in Kapolei, Hawaii, Jan. 25, 2021 during Exercise H20. Aircrew flight equipment technicians, detailed to the 212th Rescue Squadron as parachute riggers, are responsible for servicing and maintaining parachutes for the 212th RQS combat rescue officers and pararescuemen. Exercise H20 allowed Alaska Air National Guard personnel to hone their long-range search and rescue capability in support of the NASA human spaceflight program they are responsible for supporting. The Air Guard’s 176th Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, is the only wing in the U.S. Air Force, Guard, and Reserve, with C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and pararescue personnel that combine to provide long-range search and rescue—able to travel the furthest distance in the shortest time, in response to a life-threatening scenario. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Candis Olmstead)