June 8, 2017 FOR TODAY Release: 17-035

3:30 p.m.

Alaska Air National Guard pararescue squadron returns from deployment

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska Approximately 20 personnel from the Alaska Air National
Guards 212th Rescue Squadron, and a few support personnel, will return from a five-month long deployment to
Afghanistan in support of Operations Resolute Support and Freedoms Sentinel today between 3:30 and 4 p.m.

The deployers mission was to provide personnel rescue capabilities in their area of operation, according to Maj.
Christian Braunlich, a combat rescue officer with the 212th RQS.

We deployed to support personnel recovery for Department of Defense personnel in theater, said Braunlich, for
situations ranging from people getting isolated from their convoys to aircraft crashes. We were standing by to
rescue them.

Many Alaskans are already familiar with the Guardian Angel Guardsmen of the 212th RQS for their numerous
missions saving the lives of Alaskans in peril in often austere conditions and in remote locations.

Braunlich explained that their experience conducting rescue missions across Alaska keeps their members in a
consistently trained and ready status for deployments such as this.

Any time we deploy and have the opportunity to do our mission in a tactical environment, our guys are excited to
do that, he said. The Alaska search and rescue missions we do daily keep our guys sharp, and we take pride in
being extremely proficient in our tactical skill-set.

The squadron took their service dog, TOML, with them on the deployment. This was the first time a service dog
deployed with the unit, fully integrated with the team. TOML is named after the Guardian Angels motto, That
others may live. TOML participated in training missions while deployed and will continue to offer his services and
support to the team as needed. He is trained to provide emotional support to members of the team in terms of
what they need when they are having a hard time or recovering from a difficult situation or experiencing any
impacts of post traumatic stress.

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Details:
What: Service members return from deployment
When: Today, June 8
Where: Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson
Note: Media interested in attending the homecoming should contact Lt. Col. Candis Olmstead at 727-1972.
Please text or leave a voice message with name of news organization and reporter. Plan to meet at the Boniface
gate visitors center at 3:20 p.m. for escort to the event.

IMAGERY
There is no available imagery from the departure or the deployment.
1. Flickr link includes file photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsk34gXU6
2. DVIDS link includes file video: http://dvidshub.net/r/w847g9
Pararescuemen (0:32-1:01); no sound (3:12-04:17); music (04:17-05:47)