Alaska Air National Guard

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Alaska Air National Guard


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allegiance= Alaska
branch= Air National Guard
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The Alaska Air National Guard is the component of the United States Air National Guard operating within the state of Alaska.

Alaska Air National Guard units are trained and equipped as part of the United States Air Force. The same ranks and insignia are used and National Guardsmen are eligible to receive all United States military awards. The Alaska Guard also bestows a number of state awards for local services rendered in or to the state of Alaska.

One recent development involving the Alaska Air National Guard has been interception of Russian flights that intrude into U.S. territory. According to the website for the 176th Wing of the Alaska Air National Guard, "The 176th Air Control Squadron maintained North American air sovereignty by detecting, monitoring and escorting 22 Russian bombers from within its area of operations." [http://www.176wg.ang.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123091720]

National Guard units can be mobilized at any time by presidential order to supplement regular armed forces, and upon declaration of a state of emergency by the governor of the state in which they serve. Unlike Air Force Reserve members, National Guard members cannot be mobilized individually (except through voluntary transfers and Temporary DutY Assignments TDY), but only as part of their respective units. However, there has been a significant amount of individual activations to support military operations (2001-present); the legality of this policy is a major issue within the National Guard.

See History of the United States National Guard for a more complete history of the guard at a national level.

Units

* 168th Air Refueling Wing, Eielson Air Force Base
* 176th Wing, Kulis Air National Guard Base

ee also

* State Defense Forces
* Militia
* Home Guard

References

External links

* [http://www.ngb.army.mil/ The National Guard Bureau]
* [http://www.goang.com/ The Air National Guard Recruiting Site]
* [http://www.ak-prepared.com/dmva/akang.htm Alaska Air National Guard]
* [http://www.176wg.ang.af.mil/ 176th Wing]
* [http://www.akeiel.ang.af.mil/ 168th Air Refueling Wing (ARW)]