An Alaska Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 144th Airlift Squadron, arrives in Yakutat, Alaska, to pick of members of the Alaska National Guard, the Alaska Naval Militia, and volunteers from the Salvation Army and the AKNG Child and Youth Program during Operation Santa Claus on Dec. 18, 2024. The 144th Airlift Squadron, part of the Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing, provided air transportation for the mission aboard a C-17 Globemaster III, which also airlifted two Army HMMWVs to support the operation. Since 1956, Operation Santa Claus has been a cornerstone community outreach program, partnering the Alaska National Guard with the Salvation Army to spread holiday cheer in rural Alaskan communities. Each year, civilian and military volunteers work together to deliver backpacks filled with toys, books, and other surprises to children living in these remote areas, sharing the spirit of the season. (Alaska National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña)