JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — For several months, a dank 6.5-by-7-foot cell at the Hanoi Hilton served as a crucible that tested the limits of human endurance for retired Air Force Col. Leon Ellis and three of his fellow prisoners.
If it wasn't too cold at night to sleep, if he wasn't too hungry from slurping watery pumpkin soup, or wasn't worried about his parents who didn't know he was shot down over North Vietnam Nov. 7, 1967, Ellis was suffering torture at the hands of his captors.
AUSTIN, Texas — The National Guard Counterdrug Program celebrates 30 years of support to more than 300 federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies across all 54 states and territories, this year.
The program's history is marked by parks that are built in the place of demolished drug houses, record multi-billion dollar drug seizures, positively impacted at-risk youth, and has enhanced law enforcement agency's capabilities to combat illicit drug activities.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska Army and Air National Guard have been assisting the Division of Forestry with fire suppression and additional support on the McKinley and Swan Lake Fires since August 18.
The Division of Forestry submitted a request for resources through the State Emergency Operations Center on Sunday, August 18, requesting support for the McKinley Fire. In response, the National Guard dispatched 10 Guardsmen who are currently regulating traffic within the area at four traffic control points. Eight additional Guardsmen are scheduled to join the effort this week.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Airmen with the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons rescued an injured boater on Twenty Mile River north of Portage Aug. 18.
According to Alaska Air National Guard Capt. Daniel Dickman, Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, the mission was opened following a request for assistance from the Alaska State Troopers.
People with the injured boater called 911 dispatch with a cell phone.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Airmen with the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons rescued an injured sheep hunter last night in the Terra Cotta Mountains about three miles south of the Rohn Roadhouse Safety Cabin, an Iditarod Trail checkpoint.
According to Alaska Air National Guard Maj. Andrew Williams, Alaska Rescue Coordination Center deputy director, the mission was opened following a request for assistance from the Alaska State Troopers after the Troopers were contacted via the hunting party's GPS satellite communication device.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — A groundbreaking ceremony will be held Aug. 15 for construction that begins this month for a new Alaska National Guard facility on JBER.
The new $24-million, 46-thousand square-foot building will modernize capabilities for the National Guard's United States Property and Fiscal Office, which currently operates out of three separate buildings. The consolidation of staff and operations into one building will increase productivity, and allow for more efficient and effective tracking of Guard resources and property within the state.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment is conducting annual training through August 7 at Alcantra Armory in Wasilla, Arctic Valley and Mount Susitna.
Citizens may notice an increase in military aviation activity in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley over the next week as Alaska's Citizen-Soldiers train. Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the Guard's 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment will transport about 50 Soldiers from Wasilla Airport to Arctic Valley and back on Aug. 1, and will transport them to Mount Susitna next week.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Twenty Alaska Army National Guard and active duty U.S. Army Soldiers are participating in the Master Fitness Trainer Course that was offered here by instructors from Fort Benning, Georgia starting July 14, 2019.
The purpose of the MFT program is to train Soldiers in strength and resistance programs, enabling them to then train the Soldiers within their units.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Alaska Air National Guard senior leaders pinned Air Battle Manager badges on eight 176th Air Defense Squadron officers during a July 22 ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
Col. John Oberst, director of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, formally recognized the officers who car-ry out the same training and deliver the same expertise as their regular Air Force counterparts.
The ABM Badge is bestowed to officers and enlisted members trained and qualified for airborne command and control, air surveillance, electronic warfare and airborne weapons capabilities in aircraft.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Members of the Alaska National Guard assisted in the evacuation of Rainy Pass Lodge overnight as a wildfire from a lightning strike two miles away spread toward the lodge where youth were attending a summer adventure camp.
The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center was made aware of the fire and notified appropriate authorities, coordinating with Rainy Pass Lodge, Alaska State Troopers, the Alaska Division of Forestry, Palmer Fire and Rescue and Clearwater Air.
