211213-Z-IG207-1001

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Ross Wise and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Seth Dibble, Alaka Army Natiolal Guard, B Company, 2-211 General Support Aviation Battalion, help load pallets of gifts Dec. 13, 2021 at Nome onto a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in preparation for delivery to Buckland as part of Operation Santa Claus 2021. Op Santa is an Alaska National Guard annual community outreach program that provides Christmas gifts, books, school supplies and stocking stuffers to children in rural Alaskan communities. This year marks the 66th year of the program, which began in 1956 after the village of St. Mary's experienced a year of hardship and the Alaska Air National Guard flew in gifts and supplies donated by the local community. The Alaska National Guard was able to continue the tradition this year and safely provide gifts despite COVID-19. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Chelsea Aspelund/Released).