By Matt White at coffeeordie.com - The day after Christmas, a pregnant woman crashed on a snowmobile outside an Alaskan village so remote that it is closer to mainland Russia than to the nearest hospital. The woman was riding a snowmachine in Kipnuk, a tiny village on the Bering Sea, just over 400 miles from Russian soil but closer to 500 miles from Anchorage, home to the closest hospitals with obstetric emergency care.

Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Hamilton, a 212th RQS senior PJ, said the exercise was designed to validate new team leaders and to further sharpen skills taught during the rigorous two-year training pipeline that every PJ passes through.

Photo: Dana Rosso

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing partnered with good Samaritans to rescue two distressed boaters early Oct. 10 at the mouth of the Kuskokwim River near Eek.

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued seven people in two incidents, aiding plane crash victims and hikers.

Photo: Stephens Harper