JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., - Why does Inuvik sound familiar to you? Probably because you saw a Season 2 episode of “Ice Road Truckers,” which started in Inuvik in the northwest territory of Canada located two degrees north of the Arctic Circle.
That’s where 37 members of the 139th Civil Engineer Squadron (CES) recently deployed in support of an engineering exchange program with Canada.
The Canadian Armed Forces maintains a forward operating base in Inuvik with only two full-time personnel. All others are in temporary duty status to support the alert mission.
Joint efforts with allies are common in the Air National Guard. The Missouri National Guard has a long-standing partnership with Panama in which several exchange missions have taken place in recent years.
“It is because of this (engineer exchange program) and Canada’s maintaining FOBs for their alert mission that we received an invitation to be part of the program to Inuvik,” said Maj. Tracy Beattie, 139th base civil engineer.
The 139th CES was tasked to complete projects that will greatly enhance the quality of life for the people of Inuvik, especially during the cold winter months, Beattie said.
Specifically, the unit completed construction of a larger insulated guard shack and canopies to cover three barrack entryways.
“Overall the trip was a great success,” said Beattie. “The Inuvik people were welcoming as well as the Canadian Armed Forces members.”
The 139th CES was the first of two rotations and will be replaced by the 147th CES of the Texas Air National Guard.