‘Mission Degraded to the Point of Failure’: Commander Warns Staffing Changes Will Harm Alaska National Guard

Staffing changes ordered by the National Guard Bureau will jeopardize national security missions conducted in Alaska, local national guard officials say.

A KC-135 Stratotanker from the 168th Air Refueling Wing refuels F-22 Raptors from the 3rd Wing over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex flying along side with an F-15 Eagles from the 144th Fighter Wing, on April 18, 2022. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Charles Vaughn

The Alaska Air National Guard’s ability to conduct vital national security missions for the United States is being degraded by staffing changes ordered by the National Guard Bureau, according to a local guard commander.

The Alaska Air National Guard is under the direction of the Adjutants General Association of the United States, which provides state and national military security to 54 states and territories through the National Guard Bureau, headquartered near Washington. In January, the Air National Guard announced staffing changes across all Active Guard Reserve (AGR) positions in every state to take place by Sept. 30.