U.S. Air National Guard cancels Alaska National Guard personnel changes after warnings • Alaska Beacon

Federal government backtracks on pending changes to Alaska Air National Guard after state staff and congressional delegation warned that changes could decimate force.

On Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Duke Pirak, acting director of the Air National Guard, sent a letter to Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, saying the “full-time leveling” program will not be implemented in Alaska.

The program was intended to standardize pay and benefits across the country, but Alaska Air National Guard members said it would result in a reduction in their pay, and many said they were likely to quit if the changes went through.

Pirak said the program “did not fully take into account” the requirements of the Alaska Air National Guard’s missions and that the proposed changes were “incompatible” with the Guard’s work.

The changes were due to take effect on October 1.

This week’s letter comes three weeks after Sullivan suspended Pirak’s promotion to lieutenant general, saying the suspension would not be lifted until Alaska was exempt from the full-time upgrade program.

“The exceptional men and women of the Alaska Air National Guard – and the families who support them – can rest a little easier today, now that we have successfully eliminated the threat of budget cuts in Washington, D.C. that would have negatively impacted their unique mission and ability to defend our nation,” he said in a written statement.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, also praised the National Guard’s decision.

“This will fully restore all 80 active Guard Reserve positions at Eielson Air Force Base, Clear SFS and JBER. The recent invasion of Chinese and Russian bombers off the coast of Alaska made it clear that the United States cannot afford to cut corners when it comes to our homeland defense mission,” Murkowski said. “Our ability to respond that day was made possible by the professionalism demonstrated by the many Airmen involved and the seamless integration of our active, Guard and Reserve forces. The ANG’s recent decision is a victory not only for Alaska, but for the United States of America.”