Military

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)