On Tuesday, November 22, soldiers and service members gathered at Fort Wainwright's dining facility for the meal, served by unit commanding officers and senior enlisted leaders.
In July, the Veteran Crisis Line changed after the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s old 800 number was replaced by the three-digit extension — 988. Veterans in need of help can dial the new extension and press “1″ to be directed to the appropriate call centers.
As Alaska sees unusually high rates of service member deaths by suicide, Senator Dan Sullivan held a press event on Thursday discussing the issue and the steps being taken to address it.
The U.S. Department of Defense announced Wednesday that the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies will be located in Anchorage as the sixth such type of regional facility.
At least 13 U.S. troops are dead and 18 wounded after an attack early Thursday at Kabul airport in Afghanistan, and officials warn that number could grow. AP reports that the attacks from suicide bombers and gunmen also killed at least 60 Afghans and wounded many more.
60 years after a Fairbanks woman served in the Air Force, she is now signed up for Veterans Affairs benefits. Gloria Desrochers served in the early 1960s as a nurse, but until this week had never been signed up for VA benefits. That all changed when she visited the fair.
Community leaders from around Alaska joined with representatives of defense agencies and legislators to discuss the importance Alaska plays in world politics and how communities can help in that role.
For the first time ever, the Blue Angels will be flying over the skies of Fairbanks. The US Navy Blue Angels are in the Golden Heart City for the ‘Arctic Lightning Airshow’ being held at Eielson Air Force Base this weekend. This is the 75th anniversary of the Navy demo team.
The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin was in Alaska on Saturday visiting Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force Base. He also flew over other military installations in the Interior as part of his tour. While at Eielson he gave a press conference.
On Thursday, Fort Wainwright welcomed a new commander to the post. Colonel Nate Surrey took the title of U.S. Army Garrison Alaska Commander from the previous commander Colonel Chris Ruga during a change of command ceremony. Ruga had served as the commander for two years prior to Surrey taking the position.
Stationed at Eielson Air Force Base are F-16s, but they are not normal F-16s. Referred to as Migs and Ivans, their job is to play bad guys during training mission. They make up the 18th Aggressor Squadron, known as "red air". They help train "blue air", the good guys, as they play war games in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex.
During Red Flag Alaska, airmen from Eielson Air Force Base are tasked with helping train pilots from around the world. In the air they use F-16 pilots pretending to be the enemy, otherwise known as the aggressors. On the ground, there is the 354th Range Squadron.
The Red Flag Alaska training exercises allows pilots from the U.S. Air Force and allied nations to train in simulated combat situations. However, none of it would be possible without the ground crew.
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