JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska National Guard's 103rd Civil Support Team participated in Exercise ORCA 2019 at various training locations in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, in partnership with multiple local emergency responders and other Guard CST units from July 15-17.
"The overall goal of the ORCA exercise is to strengthen the relationships between the local first responders, Civil Support Teams from other states, and the 103rd CST in a training environment in order to better prepare us in the unfortunate event of a real-world natural or man-made disaster," said Lt. Col. Mortrud, commander of the 103rd CST.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska National Guard, in a joint effort between the Army Guard's 2nd Battalion, 104th Aviation and the Air Guard's 212th Rescue Squadron, saved two hikers this morning near Penguin Peak, between Bird Creek and Girdwood in the Chugach Mountain Range.
One of the hikers was injured after falling about 30 feet from a ridge into a saddle, and was unable to walk. After receiving a 9-1-1 emergency call from the hikers, the Alaska State Troopers contacted the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center with a request for assistance.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — In partnership with the Alaska State Troopers, Airmen with the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons rescued two distressed hikers near Isabel Pass north of Paxson.
According to Alaska Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Evan Budd, Alaska Rescue Coordination Center superintendent, the mission was opened in response to a request for assistance from the Alaska State Troopers.
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska National Guard’s 103rd Civil Support Team will participate in Exercise ORCA 2019 at various training locations in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, in partnership with multiple local emergency responders and other Guard CST units. ORCA is designed to allow all participants to respond to hazardous materials incidents, test interoperability between the agencies, increase working relationships and practice requests for assistance methods.
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 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.
