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U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Loh, director, Air National Guard, speaks with Airmen of the 168th Wing, Alaska National Guard, during a unit visit at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, August 9, 2022. Loh thanked the Airmen for their dedication to the Arctic mission and asked them to thank their families and employers for helping to deliver Air Power for America. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey)

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Rachel Sallaffie, right, and her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Sallaffie, left, hug family and friends as they pass through a receiving line following a retirement ceremony at the National Guard armory in Bethel, Aug. 19, 2022.

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Octavia Thompson, left, the Alaska National Guard’s Warrior and Family Services director, thanks Rachel Sallaffie for her support of Guardsmen and families in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta area of western Alaska during a retirement ceremony for her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Sallaffie, right, at the National Guard armory in Bethel, Aug. 19, 2022.

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Alaska Army Guard Maj. Walter Hotch-Hill, 49th Missile Defense Battalion (Ground-based Midcourse Defense), presents Rachel Sallaffie with a certificate of appreciation for her support to the organization during a retirement ceremony for her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Sallaffie, at the National Guard armory in Bethel, Aug. 19, 2022.

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Alaska Army Guard Maj. Walter Hotch-Hill, 49th Missile Defense Battalion (Ground-based Midcourse Defense), presents a gift to 1st Class Joseph Sallaffie, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, during a retirement ceremony at the National Guard armory in Bethel, Aug. 19, 2022.

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Alaska Army Guard Maj. Walter Hotch-Hill, 49th Missile Defense Battalion (Ground-based Midcourse Defense), shakes Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Sallaffie’s, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, hand after presenting him with the Meritorious Service Medal during a retirement ceremony at the National Guard armory in Bethel, Aug. 19, 2022.

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Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Sallaffie, then a staff sergeant, right, and his wife, Rachel, to the left of him, spend time demonstrating the process of drying and cutting salmon strips to participants of the Alaska National Guard Warrior and Family Services cultural camp at thier subsistence fish camp on the shores of the Kuskowim River near Bethel, July 21, 2016. The youth learned the importance of subsistence living during the five-day program that focused on cultural-based service and learning projects.

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Rachel Sallaffie, right, hands a salmon strip to her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Sallaffie, then a staff sergeant, while demonstrating the process of drying and cutting salmon strips to participants of the Alaska National Guard Warrior and Family Services cultural camp at thier subsistence fish camp on the shores of the Kuskowim River near Bethel, July 21, 2016. The youth learned the importance of subsistence living during the five-day program that focused on cultural-based service and learning projects.

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Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Sallaffie, then a staff sergeant, navigates his boat in the Kuskowim River to return participants from the Alaska National Guard Warrior and Family Services cultural camp after visiting Sallaffie’s subsistence fish-camp near Bethel, July 21, 2016.

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Alaska National Guard State Command Chaplain (Col.) Ted McGovern, right, delivers the opening prayer as Tim Barto, the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks Booster Club president, bows his head in unison during a military appreciation baseball game in Chugiak, Alaska, July 14, 2022. In addition to serving the Alaska Guard family, McGovern serves the communities surrounding Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson as an assistant coach for a local collegiate baseball team. (Alaska National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Balinda O’Neal)

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Alaska National Guard State Command Chaplain (Col.) Ted McGovern leads a Chapel Service for Alaska Guardsmen serving during drill weekend at the AKNG Armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Aug. 7, 2022. The service, focusing on watchfulness, paralleled the importance of readiness in the Guard. (Alaska National Guard photo by Mr. Dana Rosso)

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Alaska National Guard State Command Chaplain (Col.) Ted McGovern reads scripture from Luke 12:35-40 during a Chapel Service for Alaska Guardsmen serving during drill weekend at the AKNG Armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Aug. 7, 2022. The service, focusing on watchfulness, paralleled the importance of readiness in the Guard. (Alaska National Guard photo by Mr. Dana Rosso)

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Alaska National Guard State Command Chaplain (Col.) Ted McGovern coaches baseball players during warm-up exercises before a baseball game at the Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage, Alaska, July 23, 2022. In addition to serving the Alaska Guard family, McGovern serves the communities surrounding Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson as an assistant coach for the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks, a local collegiate baseball team in Chugiak. (Alaska National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Balinda O’Neal)

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Alaska National Guard State Command Chaplain (Col.) Ted McGovern pitches a baseball during a warm-up exercise before a game at the Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage, Alaska, July 23, 2022. In addition to serving the Alaska Guard family, McGovern serves the communities surrounding Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson as an assistant coach for the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks, a local collegiate baseball team in Chugiak. (Alaska National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Balinda O’Neal)

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Alaska National Guard State Command Chaplain (Col.) Ted McGovern coaches baseball players during warm-up exercises before a baseball game at the Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage, Alaska, July 23, 2022. In addition to serving the Alaska Guard family, McGovern serves the communities surrounding Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson as an assistant coach for the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks, a local collegiate baseball team in Chugiak. (Alaska National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Balinda O’Neal)

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Arctic Guardians contracting earns Mission Execution Team Award

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Alaska Army National Guard Col. Thomas Elmore delivers his remarks during a change of responsibility ceremony at the Alcantra Armory in Wasilla, Alaska, Aug. 1, 2022. Command Sgt. Maj. Julie Small relinquished responsibility as the 297th Regional Support Group's Senior Enlisted Leader Command Sgt. Maj. Ryan Weimer. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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Alaska Army Guard Sgt. Seth LaCount sings the National Anthem and state song during a change of responsibility ceremony at the Alcantra Armory in Wasilla, Alaska, Aug. 1, 2022. Command Sgt. Maj. Julie Small relinquished responsibility as the 297th Regional Support Group's Senior Enlisted Leader to Command Sgt. Maj. Ryan Weimer. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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Alaska Army Guard Sgt. Seth LaCount sings the National Anthem and state song during a change of responsibility ceremony at the Alcantra Armory in Wasilla, Alaska, Aug. 1, 2022. Command Sgt. Maj. Julie Small relinquished responsibility as the 297th Regional Support Group's Senior Enlisted Leader to Command Sgt. Maj. Ryan Weimer. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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Alaska Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Ryan Weimer delivers his remarks during a change of responsibility ceremony at the Alcantra Armory in Wasilla, Alaska, Aug. 1, 2022. Command Sgt. Maj. Julie Small relinquished responsibility as the 297th Regional Support Group's Senior Enlisted Leader to Weimer. (Alaska National Guard photo by Victoria Granado)

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