JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska National Guard is assisting local and state authorities with response to three fires in Alaska today, including the Shovel Creek Fire near Fairbanks, the lower hillside Anchorage wildfire, and the Montana Creek area fire south of Talkeetna.
"Providing emergency response to natural disasters is one of the key missions that we train for," said Brig. Gen. Torrence Saxe, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard and commissioner for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. "We have the equipment, people, and experience, and we are ready to assist as needed when called upon."
FIVE HILLS TRAINING AREA, Mongolia — The Alaska National Guard participated in a multinational peace support operations exercise June 14-28, along with nearly 1,400 service members and civilians from 38 countries.
Khaan Quest is an annual exercise co-sponsored by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and hosted by the Mongolian Armed Forces. KQ19 is the latest in a continuing series of exercises designed to promote regional peace and security. This year's exercise marked the 17th anniversary of this training event and the 16th year of participation for the Alaska National Guard.
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska — If you've ever flown on a commercial plane, you've probably heard the phrase "in the unlikely event of a water landing."
What happens if that really occurs? How do you survive in the water?
Rated air crew members of the Air National Guard continually train for that very situation. Every three years these Airmen put on their water wings and complete water survival refresher training.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — There will be a media open house July 3 at Bethel Airport hosted by the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing. The event will give interested media an opportunity to explore the C-17 Globemaster III and speak with some of the Guard pilots, maintainers and recruiters.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Airmen with the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th, 211th, and 212th Rescue Squadrons, as well as Soldiers of the Alaska Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, rescued a victim of a bear attack June 10 near Galena.
According to Alaska Air National Guard Maj. Andrew Williams, Alaska Rescue Coordination Center deputy director, the AK RCC opened the mission in response to a request for assistance from the Alaska State Troopers.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — An Alaska Army National Guard Soldier died Saturday morning around 2 a.m. when he was swept away by the water current while fishing in Copper River.
Sgt. 1st Class Russell Anthony Hepler, 35, was dip-netting with his wife, Shandra Hepler, in Copper River near O'Brien Creek, south of the town of Chitina. Shandra saw Hepler get swept away and attempts were made to save him, but he was carried downstream.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Alaska Army National Guardsmen of 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, 38th Troop Command, are at Fort Bliss, Texas to train and prepare for an upcoming deployment to Kosovo in support of NATO's Kosovo Force.
The battalion are staying in Texas for approximately two weeks to complete mobilization that began last September. They are participating primarily in administrative, medical and personnel in-processing. They will be flying directly to Europe for their deployment after completion of mobilization.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Dressed in an olive drab flight suit, Alaska Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Fitzpatrick, a C-17 Globemaster III loadmaster with 144th Airlift Squadron, stood out like an eagle among lions.
Her garb starkly contrasted with the MultiCam and tiger-stripe camouflage patterns of the Army and Air Guardsmen who competed in adjacent lanes during 2019's The Adjutant General Match marks-manship competition at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Chief Master Sgt. Teresa Renson was selected as the next command chief for the 168th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard. Renson has been a member of the wing for 26 years, joining the unit in 1993 as a member of the 168th Maintenance Squadron.
In a wing-wide announcement, Col. Bryan White, 168th Wing commander, said, "It is my privilege to announce that Chief Teresa Renson has been selected as the wing's next command chief! From a competitive field of awesome candidates, Chief Renson's experience, skills, and demonstrated leadership were clearly the benchmark for what the wing needs now as its next command chief."
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska National Guard will deliver the Veterans Golden Age Games torch Wednesday morning at Moose Run Golf Course on Arctic Valley Road. A 1.5-mile community fun run will immediately follow.
Pararescuemen from the Air Guard's 212th Rescue Squadron will rappel with the torch from an Army Guard Black Hawk helicopter from the 1-207th Aviation Battalion to commence this national, annual event in support of veterans. The PJs and their squadron's military service dog, named "TOML," (That Others May Live), will carry the torch and lead a 1.5-mile fun run down Arctic Valley Road.
