Cathy Jorgensen, of Eagle River, became the first female to make the rank of general in Alaska Guard history Friday, Sept. 13

Eagle River AFJROTC cadets and their families gathered outside the school Sept. 11 to conduct a flag retirement ceremony 12 years after four terrorist attacks killed nearly 3,000 people.

The first “Sparta Week” celebrating the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division wasn’t all fun and games. In the midst of five days of activities that included athletic competitions, a barbeque and a ball, the “Spartans” paused to honor 81 of their fellow paratroopers who have died in the brigade’s eight-year history.

My family and I can now say we have been camping in Alaska. I know, some will quibble with my definition of camping; there was no tent involved. However, an RV on the Homer Spit coupled with making S’mores over an open fire classify what we did as camping in my book.

Airmen and civilians of 673d Security Forces Squadron performed their annual high-risk response training during Police Week, training that is part of a Pacific Air Forces-wide program. The U.S. Air Force partnered with Analytical Services Incorporated to conduct a diverse range of high-risk response exercises. Headquartered in Shirlington, Va., ANSER is a public service research institute that worked with the Air Force in 1958 to help with the research and development of more proficient ways of assessing situations that threaten the security of America and its people. A cadre consisting of ANSER senior analysts devised several exercises, which utilized the concepts of responding to high risk situations.