Alaska National Guardsmen delivered nearly 14,000 pounds of frozen beef, chicken and pork this month to Toksook Bay, Alaska, helping residents still recovering from losses sustained when Typhoon Merbok flooded thousands of communities in September 2022.
The storm’s impact and ensuing power outages caused vital meat stores to spoil. After Typhoon Merbok, Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives and the rural Alaska community action program worked closely with the Nunakauyarmiut Tribe in Toksook Bay to secure funding to aid the recovery process.
That collaborative effort led to the delivery of thousands of pounds of meat.
The delivery is part of the Defense Department’s innovative readiness training program, which connects U.S. communities in need with military units that can provide services and apply training to real-world situations.
The Alaska Air National Guard transported the frozen meat from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to Bethel, Alaska, via an HC-130J Combat King II, the same aircraft that routinely conducts civil search and rescue missions across the state.
“The Alaska National Guard is well suited to provide assistance of this kind,” Army Maj. James Goddard, the innovative readiness training program manager, said. “We’re the only ones in the state that have fixed-wing aircraft and rotary aircraft that can deliver in a timely manner for a need like this.”
This was not the only successful delivery in Alaska by DOD’s innovative readiness training program. National Guardsmen also have provided aid in the form of medical services, construction, cybersecurity and transportation.
Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Morgan Osborn, left, a UH-60L Black Hawk pilot greets local resident, Nick Therchik, after delivering thousands of pounds of frozen meat during an innovative readiness training mission at Toksook Bay, Alaska, Nov. 18, 2024. © Army Staff Sgt. Seth LaCount
