JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Lt. Col. Tim Brower took command of the Alaska Army National Guard’s 38th Troop Command during an Aug. 2 change-of-command ceremony here.
Brower succeeded Col. Joel Gilbert who had served as the 38th TC commander since September 2018.
The 38th TC comprises 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment; 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment; 49th Missile Defense Battalion; and 103rd Civil Support Team…Click to read the full story.
ŚWIĘTOSZÓW, Poland — U.S. Army Soldiers from the Alaska National Guard’s 297th Regional Support Group and U.S. Army Reserve’s 266th Ordinance Company, out of Puerto Rico, and Bravo Company, 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, out of Missouri, spent the afternoon engaging with Polish scouts at Camp Watra near Osieczów, Poland, July 17, 2020.
The Soldiers learned about the history and values of the Polish scouting organization while sharing their units' mission and high-mobility multipurpose wheeled and medium tactical vehicles that are assigned to nearby Forward Operating Site Swiętoszów.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska Air National Guard rescued four distressed hikers from Crow Pass Trail, which runs between Girdwood and the Eagle River Nature Center, July 20.
The hikers had reached approximately the halfway point and were substantially low on food. They didn’t have enough for the journey back or to continue forward. Additionally, one of the hikers was experiencing arthritic knee and ankle pain, causing him to become increasingly concerned.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — A coalition of more than 60 church leaders, state representatives, chaplains, and other Alaska citizens gathered together this morning via a Zoom video conference to pray for the state of Alaska and for racial reconciliation in light of the recent racial tension across the nation. The Alaska National Guard’s State Command Chaplain Col. Richard Koch, represented the National Guard’s effort to be a part of this unified fellowship.
Koch prayed that the National Guard and those in government would be equipped with humility and grace to treat everyone they serve with dignity and respect. He prayed that they be released from the prejudice that holds them back.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Responding to a rescue request from the Alaska State Troopers for a hoist-capable helicopter, the Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing rescued an injured hiker at Hatcher Pass July 14.
Six pararescuemen from the 212th Rescue Squadron boarded an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from the 210th Rescue Squadron to respond to the injured hiker who was isolated on a grassy ledge, said Alaska Air National Guard Master Sgt. Heidi Gould, Alaska Rescue Coordination Center controller.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Last December, 45 Alaska Air Guardsmen assigned to the 176th Civil Engineer Squadron deployed to Kuwait, Niger, Qatar and United Arab Emirates.
“What makes this deployment unique is the size of the team that we sent,” said Lt. Col Kass Larson, the commander of the 176th CES. “That’s roughly half of our entire squadron, and it is a particularly complex deployment since we have teams at four locations and one team even forward deployed to a fifth location."…Click to read the full story.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska Air National Guard rescued three people on two separate occasions July 7. The first rescue mission involved an aircraft crash 16 miles east of Farewell Lake, and the second was a medevac mission for a woman experiencing life-threatening medical complications in Seward.
The first mission was opened around 10 p.m. Tuesday night when a Good Samaritan called the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center about a crashed Stinson 108-2 aircraft near Farewell Lake.
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.
