Courtesy of the Army yet again, I was allowed to travel to someplace new and exciting. I was headed to Alaska to aid in their training efforts to react to a catastrophic event, this case being a simulated massive-magnitude earthquake. It was outside my usual job description for sure, but it was aligned with the main reason why I joined the National Guard, to aid in stateside efforts and to help my local community.
It was going to be a mostly normal work schedule which didn’t leave a lot of time to explore or galavant, but I took what opportunities I could to make the most of it. Most evenings I would stick with the group for dinner plans. I didn’t have my own rental car, but downtown was a healthy walking distance away. So I took the chance to do exactly that. I walked the 3 miles or so to downtown to meet with the group for dinner one night.
I have Maine to thank for acclimating me to the cold. It was the same weather in Alaska, just A LOT more snow. The walk was relaxing despite the constant core engagement and hip soreness from walking on ice the majority of the way. I reflected on the fact that I was in ALASKA! Just an island kid, all the way up in Alaska, never would I ever have dreamed.
I made it a point to try their fish, especially salmon, and none of it disappointed me. Being from Hawaii I felt a little kinship to Alaska, we are not part of the “Lower 48,” or the “Continental United States.” I wish we had more opportunities to learn about the indigenous people and culture in the area.
The absolute highlight of the entire trip was being able to ride on a CH-47F Chinook Helicopter. It has been years since I have even laid eyes on one, let alone stepped foot on one. But I was lucky enough to have deployed with someone currently in the Alaskan National Guard Chinook unit, and they afforded me the privilege to jump on a training flight with them. I got to see moose, and breath taking glaciers. I got to feeling super nostalgic, remembering my days of crewing. Everything, from the smell of the fumes, the vibrations in the floorboards, the sound of the call and responses between non-rated crew members and the pilots, and looking for air traffic. Most of all, letting my feet dangle in the wind right off the ramp, letting the wind chill hit my face so that my eyes barely tear up, and soaking the entire experience in. It really made my trip.
I learned a lot and brought most of my new knowledge back to share with my home state. I’m very grateful for the chance to have been a part of this training mission, and for being able to see aerial sights not very many people get to. I am looking forward to visiting again for leisure, not on Army time.
Hi Moments 