JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska Military Youth Academy will celebrate the graduation of 10 cadets from the class of 2020, this Friday, July 10 at 10:00 a.m. on a live meeting using the Zoom cloud software.
The cadets will be featured in their dress uniforms with live interactions, including a guest speaker from the class of 2007 and a speech from the honor graduate. The event will include a prerecorded singing of the national anthem by cadets and a Color Guard flag presentation.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — There is a little-known incentive for National Guard Soldiers to receive a sizeable bonus after their 11th year of service. The 297th Recruiting and Retention Battalion is working to identify those who are eligible and who may not know about it.
This issue being brought to light stems from a lack of awareness for an incentive in the newly implemented Blended Retirement System titled “continuation pay.”
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Ten Alaska Air National Guardsmen assigned to the 176th Security Forces Squadron returned home from Kandahar, Afghanistan shortly after midnight this morning, at Ted Stevens’ Anchorage International Airport.
A total of 12 Air Guardsmen deployed to Kandahar to support Operation Freedom Sentinel, a NATO-led continuation of the Global War on Terrorism. The unit’s primary mission was airbase defense. Two of the 12 airmen arrived safely back in Alaska two weeks prior.
“Being back, it hasn’t really sunk in yet, but I’m thankful to be home,” said Master Sgt. Gary Keller, team leader for the 176th SFS deployed personnel.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — In a coordinated effort with the Department of Natural Resources, 12 Alaska Army National Guardsmen assigned to 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment accomplished the successful extraction of a 1940s era bus located west of the Teklanika River near Healy June 18, 2020.
“After studying the issue closely, weighing many factors and considering a variety of alternatives, we decided it was best to remove the bus from its location on the Stampede Trail,” said Commissioner for the Department of Natural Resources Corri A. Feige. “We’re fortunate the Alaska Army National Guard could do the job as a training mission to practice airlifting vehicles, at no cost to the public or additional cost to the state.”
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — An eagle swallowing a dragonfly whole is rather what it looks like when an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter is loaded into the cargo hold of a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.
The load operation was a ballet of coordinated precision as 176th Maintenance Group maintainers worked with 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60 and 144th Airlift Squadron C-17 aircrew to meticulously ferry the helicopter into the Globemaster without damaging either aircraft…Click to read the full story.
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska — An Alaska Air National Guard Airman went missing Sunday, May 10, when he was swept away while fishing in the Tanana River.
Staff Sgt. Alfaz Sajid Khan, 22, drowned while fishing at the confluence of the Tanana and Chena rivers near the Fairbanks International Airport.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Alaska Air National Guard Col. Matthew Komatsu succeeded Col. Keolani Bailey as 176th Mission Support Group commander during a June 11 ceremony here.
The group provides wartime and peacetime mission support of deployment operations, construction, facility maintenance, security, contracting, communications and information services, supply, transportation, personnel support and services for 176th Wing…Click to read the full story.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Alaska Air National Guard Col. Edward Soto took command of 176th Maintenance Group during a June 11 ceremony here.
The 176th MXG Airmen maintain C-17A Globemaster III cargo aircraft, HC-130J Combat King II combat search and rescue fixed-wing aircraft, and HH-60G Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopters. The group supports in-place and deployed contingency operations for airlift, 24-hour search and rescue and full-spectrum operations worldwide.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment will conduct an emergency response exercise in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, June 7.
UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter aircrews will evacuate mock patients from several areas in Mat-Su and transport them to the Providence hospital helicopter landing pad at around 12 p.m. This exercise will be the first time the unit has supported three simultaneous patient movement requests, simulating a mass casualty scenario…Click to read the full story.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Alaska Air National Guard members of 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons, supported by mechanics and other support Airmen of 176th Wing, are scheduled to deploy June 8 to the Africa Command area of operations.
Airmen of 210th RQS operate the HH-60G Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopter.
Combat rescue officers and enlisted pararescue Airmen of 212th RQS are skilled parachutists, scuba divers and rock climbers responsible for rescuing isolated U.S. and allied military members.
