Alaska Army National Guard Col. Michele Edwards, the commander of the 297th Regional Support Group renders a salute to signify that the unit is read to deploy during a deployment ceremony at the Alaska National Guard Armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Jan. 24, 2025. The Alaska Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 297th RSG will deploy approximately 80 Guardsmen on a nine-month mission to Eastern Europe in support of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa’s Operation European Assure, Deter and Reinforce. (Alaska National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Seth LaCount)