Military

U.S. Marine CorpsU.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornets assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 prepare to take off from the flightline during Red Flag-Alaska 17-2 on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in 2017.

Military leaders: Partnerships are key as Alaska’s strategic importance grows

The Alaska Native community and military must work together, commanders say

 

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick conducts a patrol in Disenchantment Bay, Alaska, near Hubbard Glacier, June 13, 2017. The cutter and crew are homeported in Ketchikan, Alaska, and conduct Coast Guard operations throughout Southeast Alaska. (Coast Guard photo | Petty Officer 1st Class Matt Miller)

Ketchikan-based Coast Guard cutter welcomes new commanding officer

The John McCormick has a new CO.

 

Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire Henry Williams runs from Douglas to the Mendenhall Valley on Memorial Day to honor dead service members, including his relative, Air Force Tech Sgt. Leslie Dominic Williams, who died in Afghanistan in 2011.

Memorial Day passes quietly amid coronavirus concerns, damp weather

People found their own ways to honor the hallowed dead.

 

C-17 Globemaster III cargo planes from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson performed a flyby over Juneau on May 15, 2020, to support the efforts of medical and emergency personnel in the face of the coronavirus. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Coming in hot: Juneau gathers to watch Air Force flyover

The aircraft flew low down the Gastineau Channel.

C-17 Globemaster III cargo planes from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson performed a flyby over Juneau on May 15, 2020, to support the efforts of medical and emergency personnel in the face of the coronavirus. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
A C-17 Globemaster III aircraft of the 517th Airlift Squadron takes off from Bryant Army Airfield on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Monday, March 7, 2016. C-17s from JBER will conduct a flyover of Juneau on May 15, 2020, to celebrate first responders. (U.S. Air Force | Justin Connaher)

Air Force and Air National Guard aircraft to conduct flyover

The demonstration comes on the heels of similar demos in the Lower 48.

A C-17 Globemaster III aircraft of the 517th Airlift Squadron takes off from Bryant Army Airfield on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Monday, March 7, 2016. C-17s from JBER will conduct a flyover of Juneau on May 15, 2020, to celebrate first responders. (U.S. Air Force | Justin Connaher)
Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire Sealaska Heritage Institute President Rosita Worl and Air Force Lt. Gen. Tom Bussiere, Commander for Alaskan Command, stand together following a day of meetings at SHI’s Walter Soboleff Building.

Setting it right: Military could apologize for bombarding Alaska Native villages

Three Southeast Alaska villages were bombarded by the military in the 1800s.

Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire Sealaska Heritage Institute President Rosita Worl and Air Force Lt. Gen. Tom Bussiere, Commander for Alaskan Command, stand together following a day of meetings at SHI’s Walter Soboleff Building.
The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) transits the Gulf of Alaska on May 24, 2019. (U.S. Navy | Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony J. Rivera)

Experts, military officers testify about rising importance, threat in Arctic

The Great Game will be played in the Arctic, expert says.

The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) transits the Gulf of Alaska on May 24, 2019. (U.S. Navy | Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony J. Rivera)
Russ Hazlett (left), a commercial fishing vessel inspector for Coast Guard Sector Anchorage, performs a CFV safety exam in Kotzebue, Alaska, July 10, 2019. (Courtesy photo | U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard pulls out stops in yearlong facilities inspection mission

The state has more than 380 bulk oil facilities to certify, almost all of them remote.

Russ Hazlett (left), a commercial fishing vessel inspector for Coast Guard Sector Anchorage, performs a CFV safety exam in Kotzebue, Alaska, July 10, 2019. (Courtesy photo | U.S. Coast Guard)
An MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to the “Eightballers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8, approaches the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) as the carrier transits the Gulf of Alaska on May 25, 2019. (MC2 Anthony J. Rivera | United States Navy)

Alaska senators introduce Arctic naval ops bill

Activity in the region is soaring as more ice melts.

An MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to the “Eightballers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8, approaches the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) as the carrier transits the Gulf of Alaska on May 25, 2019. (MC2 Anthony J. Rivera | United States Navy)
Wayne Smallwood lines up with the Southeast Alaska Native Veterans honor guard to lead dance groups parade through downtown Juneau on Saturday, June 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

As the ice melts, military ambitions in Alaska heat up

Russian encroachment in Alaska airspace is also a growing issue.

Wayne Smallwood lines up with the Southeast Alaska Native Veterans honor guard to lead dance groups parade through downtown Juneau on Saturday, June 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Airman Dominik Vancini, front, and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Mariaah Romo-Cosgrove chock and chain an MH-65D, attached to Alaska Patrol Division of Air Station Kodiak, on the flight deck of San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) during Arctic Expeditionary Capabilities Exercise (AECE) 2019. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jenna Dobson)

Coast Guard training with Marines and Navy in Alaska exercise

This is the largest-ever exercise of its kind.

Airman Dominik Vancini, front, and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Mariaah Romo-Cosgrove chock and chain an MH-65D, attached to Alaska Patrol Division of Air Station Kodiak, on the flight deck of San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) during Arctic Expeditionary Capabilities Exercise (AECE) 2019. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jenna Dobson)
Coast Guard dismisses 4 in Kodiak for illicit drug activity

Coast Guard dismisses 4 in Kodiak for illicit drug activity

Two people were dismissed from the main base and two from Air Station Kodiak.

Coast Guard dismisses 4 in Kodiak for illicit drug activity
Juneau’s LGBTQ community is unhappy with a Supreme Court order that clears the way for barring transgender people from serving in the military. (Unsplash | Peter Hershey)

Transgender ban means uncertainty for Juneau LGBTQ community

One thing is certain, they’re not fans of the ban.

Juneau’s LGBTQ community is unhappy with a Supreme Court order that clears the way for barring transgender people from serving in the military. (Unsplash | Peter Hershey)
Civil Air Patrol seeks funding for cadet training program

Civil Air Patrol seeks funding for cadet training program

Their funding is up in the air.

Civil Air Patrol seeks funding for cadet training program
New totem pole on Prince of Wales Island honors Alaska’s veterans

New totem pole on Prince of Wales Island honors Alaska’s veterans

KLAWOCK — A well-attended, three-day celebration culminated with a totem pole raising ceremony Aug. 18 at Prince of Wales Island. The 37-foot totem stands to… Continue reading

New totem pole on Prince of Wales Island honors Alaska’s veterans
Alaska Air National Guard Col. Torrence Saxe, Commander of the168th Wing, celebrates the opening of the service branch’s Juneau recruiting office, the first outside the Anchorage and Fairbanks road system. Senior Master Sgt. Vickie Padello, who oversaw the office’s opening, and Technical Sgt. Jasmine Gallatin, a recruiter, hold a ceremonial ribbon in front of the new office at the National Guard Armory in the University of Alaska Southeast Rec Center. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Alaska Air National Guard looks to increase presence in Juneau

New recruiting office opens, aims to get capital on drill flight rotation.

Alaska Air National Guard Col. Torrence Saxe, Commander of the168th Wing, celebrates the opening of the service branch’s Juneau recruiting office, the first outside the Anchorage and Fairbanks road system. Senior Master Sgt. Vickie Padello, who oversaw the office’s opening, and Technical Sgt. Jasmine Gallatin, a recruiter, hold a ceremonial ribbon in front of the new office at the National Guard Armory in the University of Alaska Southeast Rec Center. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
Alaska Air National Guard Col. Torrence Saxe, Commander of the168th Wing, celebrates the opening of the service branch’s Juneau recruiting office, the first outside the Anchorage and Fairbanks road system. Senior Master Sgt. Vickie Padello, who oversaw the office’s opening, and Technical Sgt. Jasmine Gallatin, a recruiter, hold a ceremonial ribbon in front of the new office at the National Guard Armory in the University of Alaska Southeast Rec Center. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Alaska Air National Guard looks to increase presence in Juneau

Both figuratively and literally, the Alaska Air National Guard has landed in Juneau. A recruiting office, the first in Alaska outside of the Anchorage and… Continue reading

Alaska Air National Guard Col. Torrence Saxe, Commander of the168th Wing, celebrates the opening of the service branch’s Juneau recruiting office, the first outside the Anchorage and Fairbanks road system. Senior Master Sgt. Vickie Padello, who oversaw the office’s opening, and Technical Sgt. Jasmine Gallatin, a recruiter, hold a ceremonial ribbon in front of the new office at the National Guard Armory in the University of Alaska Southeast Rec Center. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
The Tianlangxing, a Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy surveillance ship, passed by Japan on July 2, and stayed off the Kodiak coast during the July 11th test of a U.S. missile defense system. (Courtesy Japanese Ministry of Defense)

Chinese spy ship cruises off Alaska

A Chinese surveillance ship was in the Gulf of Alaska last week when the U.S. Missile Defense Agency tested a defense system that China opposes.… Continue reading

The Tianlangxing, a Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy surveillance ship, passed by Japan on July 2, and stayed off the Kodiak coast during the July 11th test of a U.S. missile defense system. (Courtesy Japanese Ministry of Defense)