NEW YORK New York Air Guard supports Canadian Forces’ arctic exercise By Staff Sgt. Madison Scaringe and Master Sgt. Jamie Spaulding New York National Guard | MARCH 1, 2023
NEW MEXICO
RESOLUTE, Nunavut, Canada - The New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing and 105th Airlift Wing are partnering with the Vermont Army National Guard and Canadian Armed Forces to sup- port Exercise Guerrier Nordique 2023 in the Canadian Arctic. The 109th Airlift Wing, based at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, New York, deployed more than 60 personnel to Resolute Bay in Canada’s northern Arctic territories to act as tactical airlift support for the exercise, conducted by the Canadian Armed Forces from Feb. 22 through March. Personnel will be transported by C-17 aircraft from the 105th to Resolute Bay. From there, teams will forward-deploy to establish remote camps. Among the deployers are the 109th’s Polar Camp Skiway Team (PCST), personnel trained to establish a remote camp in extreme cold and then build a ski landing area to support the unit’s LC-130 Hercules aircraft, which will deploy to the area March 4-5. “I’m proud and excited for the hard work of our LC-130 aviators and other multi-capable Airmen in support of the Guerrier Nordique exercise,“ said Col. Christian Sander, the commander of the 109th. “The chief of staff of the Air Force has cited the LC-130 as a critical power projection enabler in the Arctic, and our actions in support of Guerrier Nordique reinforce the chief’s lines of effort as they per- tain to pursuing collaborative planning and exercise opportunities with Canada, a critical U.S. strategic partner,” Sander said. For the first time, Guerrier Nordique will focus on combat capability and lethality in temperatures that stay well below zero during the training period. “Through our collective actions, we demonstrate U.S. commitment to the region and showcase a one-of-a-kind capability through the LC-130 airlift,” Sander said. ”Given the geopolitical state with China and Russia, this demonstration of global reach and agile combat employment could not have come at a better time in the Arctic.”
based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York.
From there, teams will forward-deploy to establish remote camps.
The 109th’s LC-130 Hercules are the largest ski-equipped aircraft in the world, capable of landing on ice and snow in polar environ- ments.
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As the only unit to fly the LC-130H, the 109th provides airlift support to scientific research stations in Antarctica and Greenland.
He added that DEA has coordinated year-round drop off locations at 15,000 pharmacies, hospitals, police departments, and business- es around the nation.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico National Guard assisted in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Among the 109th deployers are the 109th’s Polar Camp Skiway Team (PCST) — personnel trained to establish a remote camp in extreme cold and build a ski landing area for the unit’s LC-130. The team works with the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 440 Squadron, which flies the Twin Otter ski-equipped aircraft to establish ski landing areas. The Canadians fly the New York team to the remote camp, and the 109th Airmen use specially equipped snowmobiles to lay out the landing zone for the larger American LC-130Hs. In the past, Guerrier Nordique has operated as a training exercise for emergency response and domestic operations in extreme weather in Northern Canada.
Romero said that the National Guard plays an important role in the effort.
Spc. Christopher Quintana and Amanda Bryant manned a collection point outside the Albuquerque Readiness Center today.
“For many years, we’ve been partnering with the Guard,” Romero said. “It extends into other relationships such as outreach and Red Ribbon (prevention campaigns).” Besides keeping older drugs from being abused by others, Romero said that Take Back Day prevents accidental poisoning and curbs drug-related violence.
Quintana, who is assigned to the 996th Field Feeding Team, has been a member of the NMNG’s Counterdrug Joint Task Force for three years. Bryant works for the NMNG as a Substance Abuse Pre- vention Coordinator. “The purpose of this is to try and get unused drugs out of the household so children aren’t tempted to experiment with them,” Quintana said. “One of the most important things to emphasize is that you should only take drugs that are prescribed to you,” Bryant said. “It (Take Back Day) helps keep drugs off the streets.” Nick Romero, Group Supervisor for the DEA’s Albuquerque District Office, said that Take Back Day was instituted more than 10 years ago. “We do it two times a year – October and April,” Romero said. “It’s a nationwide event between 10 (a.m.) and 2 (p.m.). We have 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide for free, anonymous disposal. We safely dispose of the drugs in an environmentally approved manner.”
“Prevention of prescription drug abuse and opioid addiction starts at home,” Romero said.
The Vermont Army National Guard, which includes a mountain war- fare battalion, has participated in the exercise since 2012.
Albuquerque citizens dropped off more than 30 pounds of un- wanted prescription drugs in the first half-hour of collection at the Albuquerque Readiness Center this morning. Quintana and Bryant passed out free information pamphlets, drug deactivation systems, and items such as pens and stress balls to the citizens.
“While elements of the Vermont Guard and Canadian Armed forces will be conducting training, the role of the 109th Airlift Wing is as a real-world tactical airlift,” said Chief Master Sgt. Ron Jemmott, the senior enlisted leader for the wing’s maintenance squadron and a member of the PCST. “Our job is to establish the ski landing area as a lifeline for the guys out there training.”
Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers will be transported to Resolute Bay on a C-17 Globemaster III from the 105th Airlift Wing,
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