250521-Z-UF872-1003

Master Sgt. Philip Nelson and Master Sgt. Jonathan Wilson of the 168th Communications Flight pose for a photo while installing broadband satellite, and 5 G Cellular Service in Shishmaref, Alaska. The installation, completed over five demanding days, was part of a larger initiative funded by a $29.5 million grant awarded to Alaska Tribal Networks, a nonprofit focused on expanding broadband access to rural villages. The recent Shishmaref deployment marked the beginning of a broader plan that includes coordinating the provision of Broadband satellite and 5G fixed and mobile wireless services in 45 communities across the Arctic. Nelson and Wilson of the 168 CF and ATS Lead Technician Brian Vaughn collaborated closely with the Department of Defense's Innovative Readiness Training program to execute the installation in Shishmaref. They extended the existing Starlink service from a community building into a 4G/5G broadcast signal, blanketing the entire village with reliable connectivity. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey)

May 22, 2025 | Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey

Media relations

Airmen load NBC Nightly News equipment onto a Rhode Island Air National Guard C-130J cargo aircraft at Savannah Air National Guard Base, Georgia, Sept. 25, 2017. The NBC team embedded with the unit to cover the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. The trip included stops in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Media are authorized to embed with the National Guard to obtain news coverage of disaster relief so long as it does not affect missions. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith)

PHOTO BY: Master Sgt. Michael Smith

VIRIN: 170925-Z-SM234-007

FULL SIZE: 2.06 MB

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