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.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska Army National Guard assisted local and state authorities in response to multiple wildfires throughout the state July 2-16, flying helicopters to scoop 600-gallon buckets of water from lakes and releasing over fires and hot spots.
UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the Army Guard's 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, performed nearly 100 hours of firefighting efforts in 14 days, conducting almost 700 water bucket drops at six wildfires.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Seven Alaska Army National Guardsmen from the 297th Regional Support Group's 208th Construction Management Team returned here July 12 following a nine-month deployment to the middle east.
The unit, augmented with three Soldiers from the Arizona National Guard's 198th Regional Support Group, served as the Directorate of Public Works for eight locations throughout Area Support Group-Jordan's region of operations.
CAMP NOVO SELO, Kosovo — Multinational Battle Group East Forward Command Post held a transfer of authority ceremony here, celebrating completion of the outgoing unit's tour and the beginning of the next unit's rotation.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Samuel Scott, commander of the Alaska Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, assumed responsibility from Lt. Col. Kevin Kilbride, commander of the 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. "Lt. Col. Kilbride and his team have done a great job in the area of operations to set conditions for us to be successful," said Scott. "We'll work hard to maintain that progress, and I look forward to working with our brigade headquarters and international partners to continue what they've done here."
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Good Samaritans, LifeMed, and Airmen with the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons worked together to rescue a pilot and passenger of a Super Cub aircraft July 20.
According to Alaska Air National Guard Maj. Andrew Williams, Alaska Rescue Coordination Center deputy director, the mission was opened in response to a signal from a 406 Emergency Transmitter Locator. After receiving the 406 ELT signal, the AKRCC tasked the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons to respond.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — An Alaska Army National Guard medevac unit and two pararescuemen from the Air National Guard's 212th Rescue Squadron rescued two hikers the evening of July 17 at Mount Marathon.
According to the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, the two individuals, who were a father and son from Hungary, were hiking the mountain when they encountered a bear.
They left the trail in an attempt to avoid the animal, when the terrain became increasingly difficult to navigate.
