Guard News - The National Guard

176th Air Defense Squadron Fields State-of-the-Art Battle Command Center
April 9, 2025 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Two Russian Tu-95 Bears and two Chinese H-6 Badgers with Su-30 and Su-35 Flanker fighter escorts speared across the sky July 24, 2024, in formation over the... MORE

Alaska National Guard Exercises Disaster Response During Vigilant Guard
April 4, 2025 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska– Alaska National Guard, state defense forces, and Coast Guard District 17, in partnership with Alaska Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management... MORE

Col. Matthew Komatsu, director of Plans and Strategy for the Joint Staff, Alaska National Guard, discusses the role of Women, Peace, and Security during mission planning with Maj. Chelsea Aspelund, State Partnership Program director, Alaska National Guard, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, March 6, 2025.

Alaska Army Guardsmen Rescue Injured Skier
April 2, 2025 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Army National Guard Soldiers with G Co., 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion rescued an injured skier, March 27, in the Tordrillo Mountains at... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Soldiers with G Co., 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion rescued an injured skier, Mar. 27, in the Tordrillo Mountains at the base of Mount Torbert, 10 miles north of Mount Spurr.

Alaska Army Guard Rescues Plane Crash Victims on Glacial Lake
March 26, 2025 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Army National Guard Soldiers with G Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, rescued three people from the wreckage of a crashed PA-12... MORE

An Alaska Army National Guard HH-60M Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter is pulled out of hangar six at Bryan Army Airfield on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson as part of a routine training mission March 26, 2025. Soldiers with G Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, rescued three people from the wreckage of a crashed PA-12 Super Cruiser partially submerged in glacial ice March 24, 2025.

Senior Leaders Discuss Army’s Future with War College Students
March 21, 2025 — LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – In an engagement with future military leaders, Army Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs and Command Sgt. Maj. James Brian Kendrick visited Command and General Staff Officer Course students Feb... MORE

Lt. Gen. John Stubbs and Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Kendrick traveled to the Army War College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to talk with students attending the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Core Course, also known as the Pre-Command Course or Command Sergeants Major Course, on Feb. 28, 2025.

Alaska Air Guardsmen Conduct Hoist Rescue at Hatcher Pass
March 14, 2025 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Air National Guard rescue Airmen of the 176th Wing rescued an injured paraglider March 8 at Hatcher Pass.The Alaska State Troopers requested assistance... MORE

A 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk with 212th Rescue Squadron pararescuemen onboard searches for an injured paraglider March 8, 2025, at Hatcher Pass. The rescuers found, treated and transported the patient to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.

Alaska Army Guard Black Hawk Crew Touches Down on Train
March 4, 2025 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Army National Guard aviators assigned to Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 211th General Support Aviation Battalion, landed an HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter... MORE

An Alaska Army National Guard HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter assigned to Golf Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, lands on an Alaska Railroad train car while supporting Special Operations Forces Arctic Medic 2025 near Fairbanks, Alaska, Feb. 20, 2025. SOFAM 2025 is a Special Operations Command North training and validation event for unit medics that conduct exercises and operations in the North American Arctic.

Alaska Guard Doctor Creates Innovative Casualty Care System
February 28, 2025 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Historically, battles are won by the side that carries momentum throughout the fight. Taking casualties can stop that momentum in its tracks. In Alaska, those... MORE

Exercise Special Operations Forces Arctic Medic 2025 participants transport a simulated combat casualty using a CASEVAC Ecosystem sled prototype at Yukon Training Area, Alaska, Feb. 18, 2025. SOFAM 2025 prepares medics to operate in extreme cold.

Guardsman Surmounts Combat Trauma to Command Infantry Battalion
February 21, 2025 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - “I wasn’t going to leave that fight unless it was in a body bag.”Alaska Army National Guard Lt. Col. Luke Bushatz, 297th Regional Support Group operations... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Lt. Col. Luke Bushatz, right, outgoing commander for the 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, was rewarded the Meritorious Service Medal by Col. Michele Edwards, the commander of the 297th Regional Support Group, Oct. 20, 2024, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Bushatz was recognized for his commitment to improving his battalion’s readiness in the two years he served as commander.

Alaska Air Guard Rescues 8 People in 4 Missions
February 10, 2025 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - The Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing rescued eight people during four rescue missions in Alaska and Yukon Territory Jan. 26-31.A 210th Rescue Squadron... MORE

An Alaska Army National Guard CH-47F Chinook assigned to 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, operates Feb. 2, 2025, at the Whitehorse airport, Yukon Territory, Canada. The Chinook crew supported the repair of a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk that had rescued two victims of a Jan. 26 ultralight plane crash near Faro, Yukon Territory.

Alaska Guard Deploys to Eastern Europe to Support NATO Allies
February 4, 2025 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - The Alaska Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 297th Regional Support Group, will deploy about 80 Guardsmen to Eastern Europe for... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Col. Michele Edwards and Command Sgt. Maj. Russel Throckmorton, the commander and command sergeant major of the 297th Regional Support Group, case the unit colors during a deployment ceremony at the Alaska National Guard Armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Jan. 24, 2025. The Alaska Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 297th RSG, will deploy approximately 80 Guardsmen on a nine-month mission to Eastern Europe to support U.S. Army Europe and Africa’s Operation European Assure, Deter and Reinforce.

Alaska Guard, Mongolia Conduct Cybersecurity Exchange
January 16, 2025 — EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - The Alaska Air National Guard launched a new partnership with Mongolia through the State Partnership Program. The collaboration aims to develop cybersecurity training... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Brandy Thanos, Master Sgt. Bjorn Nielson, Tech Sgt. James Gilchrest, and Staff Sgt. Steven Laszloffy of the Alaska Air National Guard pose for a photo with their cyber defense counterparts in Mongolia while discussing cyber defense training and information exchange opportunities. The Alaska National Guard and Mongolia are State Partnership Program partners.

Alaska National Guard Wraps up Operation Santa Claus
December 20, 2024 — YAKUTAT, Alaska –Approximately 50 Alaska National Guard service members, volunteers from the Salvation Army, AKNG Child and Youth Program, and others visited the southeastern Alaskan city of Yakutat... MORE

Approximately 50 Alaska National Guard service members, volunteers from the Salvation Army, AKNG Child and Youth Program and others visited the southeastern Alaskan city of Yakutat, Dec. 18, 2024.

Alaska National Guard Fields Helicopter Engine Test Stand
December 12, 2024 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - The 176th Maintenance Squadron marked the fielding of a helicopter engine test stand, the first of its kind in the Air National Guard, during a Dec. 9... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard Col. Joshua Armstrong, far left, 176th Wing commander, and Brig. Gen. Brian Kile, far right, Alaska Air National Guard commander, look on as, from center left to center right, Senior Master Sgt. Benjamin Devries, 176th MXS Accessories Flight chief, Senior Master Sgt. Troy Freeman, 176th MXS Propulsion Flight supervisor, and Col. Michael Cummings, 176th Maintenance Group commander, cut a ceremonial ribbon Dec. 9, 2024, to mark the fielding of the Propulsion Flight’s T700 Flexible Engine Diagnostic System at JBER. The test stand will save time and money in diagnosing HH-60G Pave Hawk engine faults.

Alaska Guard’s Operation Santa Claus Brings Holiday Cheer
November 29, 2024 — CIRCLE, Alaska - Alaska Army and Air National Guard members and Salvation Army volunteers boarded a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with Santa Claus Nov. 6 to deliver gifts to the remote village of Circle... MORE

Santa Claus smiles after arriving in Circle, Alaska, on board an Alaska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk to deliver gifts to children during Operation Santa Claus, Nov. 6, 2024. The Alaska National Guard's annual community outreach program has provided toys, backpacks and books to children in remote Alaskan communities since 1956.

Alaska Guard Delivers Meat to Storm-Ravaged Community
November 25, 2024 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Two years after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok flooded communities across thousands of miles of western Alaska, the community of Toksook Bay made a big step... MORE

Alaska Army National Guardsmen from the 207th Aviation Troop Command and Bison Company, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, load frozen meat for transport via UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter during an Innovative Readiness Training mission at the AKARNG hangar in Bethel, Alaska, Nov. 18, 2024. Two years ago, the community of Toksook Bay, whose population is almost entirely members of the Alaska Native Nunakauyarmiut Tribe living a subsistence lifestyle, lost thousands of pounds of meat that spoiled due to extended power outages caused by Typhoon Merbok flooding.

Alaska Construction Management Team to Deploy to Middle East
November 15, 2024 — ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Alaska Army National Guard’s 208th Construction Management Team held a change of command and deployment ceremony on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Nov. 14.The unit will deploy... MORE

Alaska Army National Guardsmen assigned to the 208th Construction Management Team execute a change of command and deployment ceremony at the National Guard Armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Nov. 14, 2024. The 208th will deploy in December to the CENTCOM area of responsibility to oversee military construction projects while providing quality assurance and assessing safety procedures.

Alaska National Guard Joins Flood Response in Kotzebue
October 29, 2024 — KOTZEBUE, Alaska – With winter freeze-up just around the corner, Kotzebue residents and responders from across Alaska are racing against time to clean up and recover from a powerful fall storm that... MORE

Alaska Organized Militia members assigned to Joint Task Force - Kotzebue help the Arctic Circle community recover from severe flooding Oct. 26, 2024, following a storm. The 11-member team, including Alaska Air and Army National Guardsmen and the Alaska State Defense Force, was activated by the State Emergency Operations Center.

Air Force Major Serves as Vietnam Bilateral Affairs Officer
October 24, 2024 — SALEM, Ore. – When the opportunity to become the bilateral affairs officer for Vietnam arose, Oregon National Guard Air Force Maj. Angie Hayes jumped at the chance to live abroad and serve her country... MORE

Oregon Air National Guard Maj. Angie Hayes, the bilateral affairs officer, U.S. Embassy Hanoi, speaks with a member of the Vietnamese delegation following the opening ceremony for the 2024 Disaster Management Engagement Activity at Hue University of Education in Hue, Vietnam June, 10, 2024. The Oregon National Guard and Vietnam have been partners since 2012 through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

From Ohio to Alaska, Airmen Unite for Space Intelligence
October 22, 2024 — FAIRBANKS, Alaska - From the heart of Ohio to the rugged Alaskan terrain, the Polar Surge exercise is uniting Airmen, Guardians and coalition forces in pursuit of unparalleled space intelligence... MORE

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 126th Intelligence Squadron support and train Airmen and Guardians of the 213th Space Warning Squadron at Clear Space Force Station, Alaska, June 21, 2024, as part of the Polar Surge partnership. The joint effort between the 178th Wing and 213th provides space surveillance data to the NORAD Space Control Center.

Army Guard Soldiers Train for Kosovo Deployment

Alaska Air Guard’s 168th Wing Sharpens Readiness with CBRN Training

Air National Guard Drone Training Bridges Gap for First Responders

Massachusetts Air Guard’s 102nd Mission Support Group Conducts Readiness Training

New Hampshire Army National Guard Hosts 2025 Cyber Yankee Training Exercise