KOTZEBUE, Alaska — The New Hampshire Army National Guard Medical Readiness Detachment led a groundbreaking joint-service humanitarian mission, Operation Arctic Care 2025, this spring to deliver critical health services to some of the most remote and isolated communities in Arctic Alaska.
From April 5-19, a team of 37 New Hampshire Army and Air National Guardsmen served as the lead element for the mission, coordinating a joint force of 137 service members. Teams included Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, sailors, and U.S. Public Health Service officers, representing five military branches and three components.
The teams provided medical, dental and veterinary care to more than 1,100 residents across 12 villages in northwest Alaska, just above the Arctic Circle. The mission covered a region roughly the size of Indiana, where average temperatures hover around 15 degrees Fahrenheit in early spring.
“Operation Arctic Care 2025 was more than a training exercise,” said Capt. Brent Hallenbeck, mission commander. “It was real, impactful work that provided essential care in some of America’s most isolated communities.”
Staff Sgt. Arielle Tango, a Florida Army National Guard combat medic who lives and works as a Maniilaq healthcare provider in Alaska, explained that remote Alaskan villages face serious barriers to consistent healthcare because of their isolation, limited infrastructure and harsh conditions. Providers are often scarce, and residents may wait months or travel long distances for care.
“The medical care in these communities is minimal, often relying on rotating providers with basic resources,” Tango said. “Being able to bring sustained care, even for a short time, made a real difference in these underserved communities.”
The services provided were comprehensive, ranging from primary care and dental exams to gastrointestinal procedures and veterinary support essential to residents’ subsistence lifestyles.
A specialized gastrointestinal team addressed a backlog of colorectal cancer screenings. More than 1,900 procedures were performed throughout the mission, including 67 polyp removals and 1,386 prescriptions dispensed.
“I believe missions like Arctic Care are incredibly important for unit readiness and building trust with the public,” said Sgt. Zackari Lepicier, non-commissioned officer in charge of the New Hampshire team. “This mission brought medical, dental, and veterinary services to communities that are otherwise difficult to reach.”
He added, “We met a real need while gaining invaluable real-world training that can’t be replicated in a lab.”
The teams reported challenging weather, rugged terrain and the logistical complexity of reaching remote sites inaccessible by road. Black Hawk helicopters, chartered planes and snow machines were essential to transport teams and supplies.
One team traveled 40 miles by snow machine between Deering and Buckland after helicopter flights were grounded because of the weather.
“The villagers immediately volunteered to transport us, and they drove back and forth multiple times through the night and into the next day while dealing with poor visibility and very cold conditions,” Lepicier said. “We arrived just in time to treat a patient actively suffering a stroke, and started coordinating a medevac.”
“The entire team was extremely grateful to these volunteers, and I think the entire experience helped create a positive relationship between us and the local residents,” Lepicier added.
Additional units involved included New Hampshire’s 157th Air Refueling Wing, the 4th Dental Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 4, the 6th Communications Battalion, Alaska’s 1-207th Aviation Regiment, and the 1- 11th Airborne Division.
“I feel we were able to provide quality services the community truly needed and help improve overall wellness in the region,” Lepicier said. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and proud that our team successfully fulfilled the mission.”