The 
Alaska Air National Guard 210th Rescue Squadron’s Det. 1, which is based at Eielson Air Force Base, on Aug. 6 reached the milestone of 10,000 mishap-free flying hours with its two HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters. In fact, the detachment has not had a flying mishap in the more than 14 years since its inception. Lt. Col. William Kupchin, detachment commander, said this stellar achievement is a direct result of all the unit’s hardworking Guardsmen. “It’s not just the aircrews that made this happen,” he said. “It was everyone to include the maintainers and the operations airmen.” SMSgt Charles Wright, the detachment’s maintenance superintendent, said the unit isn’t resting on its laurels. “We want a million mishap free hours … even more. This is just a marker along the path,” he said. The 210th RQS is based at Kulis ANGB in Anchorage. Operating the detachment out of Eielson makes it easier to support military and civil rescue missions across the expansive state. (Eielson report by TSgt. Gloria Wilson)
CCAs and Autonomy Gain Momentum as Focus of Future Force
Sept. 29, 2026
For the past four years, the idea of autonomous drone warfare like Collaborative Combat Aircraft has been discussed as a future concept, rather than near-term reality. But now that promised vision appears imminent, with the Air Force promising at least 1,000 such drones by 2032.