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Sgt. Craig Lyons, crewchief, Alaska Army National Guard, B Company, 2-211 General Suppor Aviation Battalion, helps unload two hundred sixety-one gift packagesfrom a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Buckland, Alaska during Operation Santa Claus, Dec. 14, 2021. Operation Santa Claus is an Alaska National Guard annual community outreach program that provides Christmas gifts, books, school supplies and stocking stuffers to children in rural Alaskan communities. This year marks the 66th year of the program, which began in 1956 after the village of St. Mary's experienced a year of hardship and the Alaska Air National Guard flew in gifts and supplies donated by the local community. The Alaska National Guard was able to continue the tradition this year and safely provide gifts despite COVID-19. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Chelsea Aspelund)

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Gifts are unloaded from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Buckland, Alaska during Operation Santa Claus, Dec. 14, 2021. Operation Santa Claus is an Alaska National Guard annual community outreach program that provides Christmas gifts, books, school supplies and stocking stuffers to children in rural Alaskan communities. This year marks the 66th year of the program, which began in 1956 after the village of St. Mary's experienced a year of hardship and the Alaska Air National Guard flew in gifts and supplies donated by the local community. The Alaska National Guard was able to continue the tradition this year and safely provide gifts despite COVID-19. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Chelsea Aspelund)

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Chief Warrant Officer 3 Ross Wise and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Seth Dibble, Alaka Army Natiolal Guard, B Company, 2-211 General Support Aviation Battalion, help load pallets of gifts Dec. 13, 2021 at Nome onto a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in preparation for delivery to Buckland as part of Operation Santa Claus 2021. Op Santa is an Alaska National Guard annual community outreach program that provides Christmas gifts, books, school supplies and stocking stuffers to children in rural Alaskan communities. This year marks the 66th year of the program, which began in 1956 after the village of St. Mary's experienced a year of hardship and the Alaska Air National Guard flew in gifts and supplies donated by the local community. The Alaska National Guard was able to continue the tradition this year and safely provide gifts despite COVID-19. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Chelsea Aspelund/Released).

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Chief Warrent Officer 3 Ross Wise, pilot, Alaska Army National Guard, B Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, flies a CH-47 Chinook helicopter loaded with pallets of Christmas gifts to the children of Buckland as part of Operation Santa Claus 2021. The gifts were delivered to Nome on an HC-130J Combat King II, transferred to the helicopter and flow the rest of the way to be offloaded by Alaska Army National Guard aircrew. Op Santa is an Alaska National Guard annual community outreach program that provides Christmas gifts, books, school supplies and stocking stuffers to children in rural Alaskan communities. This year marks the 65th year of the program, which began in 1956 after the village of St. Mary's experienced a year of hardship and the Alaska Air National Guard flew in gifts and supplies donated by the local community. The Alaska National Guard was able to continue the tradition this year and safely provide gifts despite COVID-19. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Chelsea Aspelund/Released).

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Capt. Trevor Bunkers, left, and Maj. Brandon Burns, right, both pilots assigned to 211th Rescue Squadron fly an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft en route to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska from Nome, Dec. 2, 2021. Arctic Guardians of 176th Wing helped transport gifts to Bethel and Nome for further delivery to the villages of Chevak and Buckland, respectively, for Operation Santa Claus 2021. Op Santa is an Alaska National Guard annual community outreach program that provides gifts, books, school supplies and stocking stuffers to children in rural Alaskan communities. This year marks the 66th year of the program, which began in 1956 after the village of St. Mary's experienced a year of hardship and the Alaska Air National Guard flew in gifts and supplies donated by the local community. The Alaska National Guard was able to continue the tradition this year and safely provide gifts despite COVID-19. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Dana Rosso/Released).

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Members for the 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard unload pallets of gifts from an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft Dec. 2, 2021, at Nome, Alaska, before they are loaded onto an CH-47 Chinook helicopter for further delivery to Buckland as part of Operation Santa Claus 2021. Op Santa is an Alaska National Guard annual community outreach program that provides gifts, books, school supplies and stocking stuffers to children in rural Alaskan communities. This year marks the 66th year of the program, which began in 1956 after the village of St. Mary's experienced a year of hardship and the Alaska Air National Guard flew in gifts and supplies donated by the local community. The Alaska National Guard was able to continue the tradition this year and safely provide gifts despite COVID-19. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Dana Rosso/Released).

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Alaska Army National Guard Sgt. Randell Andrew, an armory attendant in Bethel assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, forklifts pallets of gifts from an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft Dec. 2, 2021, at Bethel, Alaska, before they are loaded onto an UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter for further delivery to Chevak as part of Operation Santa Claus 2021. Op Santa is an Alaska National Guard annual community outreach program that provides gifts, books, school supplies and stocking stuffers to children in rural Alaskan communities. This year marks the 66th year of the program, which began in 1956 after the village of St. Mary's experienced a year of hardship and the Alaska Air National Guard flew in gifts and supplies donated by the local community. The Alaska National Guard was able to continue the tradition this year and safely provide gifts despite COVID-19. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Dana Rosso/Released).

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Sgt. Randell Andrew, an armory attendant in Bethel assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, and Tech. Sgt. Michael Cashman, loadmaster assigned to 211th Rescue Squadron, unload pallets of gifts from an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft Dec. 2, 2021, at Bethel, Alaska, before they are loaded onto an UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter for further delivery to Chevak as part of Operation Santa Claus 2021. Op Santa is an Alaska National Guard annual community outreach program that provides gifts, books, school supplies and stocking stuffers to children in rural Alaskan communities. This year marks the 66th year of the program, which began in 1956 after the village of St. Mary's experienced a year of hardship and the Alaska Air National Guard flew in gifts and supplies donated by the local community. The Alaska National Guard was able to continue the tradition this year and safely provide gifts despite COVID-19. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Dana Rosso/Released).

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Members of the 176th Air Defense Squadron load onto an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft Dec. 2, 2021, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, to help transport gifts to Bethel and Nome for further delivery to the villages of Chevak and Buckland, respectively, for Operation Santa Claus 2021. Op Santa is an Alaska National Guard annual community outreach program that provides gifts, books, school supplies and stocking stuffers to children in rural Alaskan communities. This year marks the 66th year of the program, which began in 1956 after the village of St. Mary's experienced a year of hardship and the Alaska Air National Guard flew in gifts and supplies donated by the local community. The Alaska National Guard was able to continue the tradition this year and safely provide gifts despite COVID-19. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Dana Rosso/Released).

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A service member assigned to Task Force Liberty embraces an Afghan child at a park at Liberty Village as she supports Operation Allies Welcome on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Oct. 28, 2021. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities in permanent or temporary structures as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan personnel essential support at secure locations outside of Afghanistan. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Candis Olmstead)

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Alaska Air National Guard Staff Sergeants Sharon Queenie (left) and Judy Phommathep (right) assigned to the 176th Air Defense Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, pause for a photo during a break as public safety team members at TF Liberty Village 3, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Sept. 19, 2021.  The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan personnel essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. John Hughel, Washington Air National Guard)

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Alaska Air National Guard Senior Airman Nancy Ott, assigned to Task Force Liberty, supports Operation Allies Welcome on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Oct. 28, 2021. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities in permanent or temporary structures as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan personnel essential support at secure locations outside of Afghanistan. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Candis Olmstead)

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Service members assigned to Task Force Liberty teach Afghan students songs during class at Liberty Village as they support Operation Allies Welcome at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Oct. 28, 2021. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities in permanent or temporary structures as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan personnel essential support at secure locations outside of Afghanistan. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Candis Olmstead)

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Pratt assumes command chief responsibilities for 176th Wing

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Pratt assumes command chief responsibilities for 176th Wing

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Pratt assumes command chief responsibilities for 176th Wing

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Pratt assumes command chief responsibilities for 176th Wing

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Pratt assumes command chief responsibilities for 176th Wing

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The Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Wing received a visit from the Fairbanks Mayor Jim Matherly as he thanked them for their service and saw the Fairbanks new tail flash on the Wing's KC-135 air refueling flagship aircraft for the first time. Matherly is born and raised in Fairbanks and wanted to stop in and thank the Airmen for their service as events occur around the world. This past December, the 168th Wing dedicated their flagship to honor Fairbanks, Alaska, the city it calls home, with the polar bear and Fairbanks proudly displayed on the tail. Matherly was unable to recognize the Wing's new tail flash, and the Airmen dedicated to the community, state, and nation due to COVID restrictions at the time. The aircraft's tail has a polar bear standing strong on the wing's tail flash, representing Alaska's arctic region and spirit. The geometric design of the polar bear highlights the wing's culture of innovation. The Fairbanks flagship aircraft is one of nine KC-135 aircraft flown by the 168th Wing. The other eight aircraft all have the polar bear tail flash and each have a different community from interior Alaska. Those communities are Minto, Gwichyaa Zhee, Grayling, Huslia, Tetlin, Telida, Tanana, and North Pole. (U.S. Air National Guard photos by Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey)

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The Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Wing received a visit from the Fairbanks Mayor Jim Matherly as he thanked them for their service and saw the Fairbanks new tail flash on the Wing's KC-135 air refueling flagship aircraft for the first time. Matherly is born and raised in Fairbanks and wanted to stop in and thank the Airmen for their service as events occur around the world. This past December, the 168th Wing dedicated their flagship to honor Fairbanks, Alaska, the city it calls home, with the polar bear and Fairbanks proudly displayed on the tail. Matherly was unable to recognize the Wing's new tail flash, and the Airmen dedicated to the community, state, and nation due to COVID restrictions at the time. The aircraft's tail has a polar bear standing strong on the wing's tail flash, representing Alaska's arctic region and spirit. The geometric design of the polar bear highlights the wing's culture of innovation. The Fairbanks flagship aircraft is one of nine KC-135 aircraft flown by the 168th Wing. The other eight aircraft all have the polar bear tail flash and each have a different community from interior Alaska. Those communities are Minto, Gwichyaa Zhee, Grayling, Huslia, Tetlin, Telida, Tanana, and North Pole. (U.S. Air National Guard photos by Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey)

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