I spent 22 years in the Alaska Army Guard including two years in Bethel.  In this area I served with some very fine soldiers yet I was also forced to serve with dregs who were there only because of the undue political influence of those who saw (and apparently continue to  see) the purpose of the National Guard in rural Alaska to be nothing more than a "jobs program" intended to inject cash in to rural Alaska.  This article demonstrates again exactly why the Commanding General of the Alaska National Guard should not also be a State Commissioner.  This is the National Guard not AIDEA.  While a General Officer would seriously question the military benefit of this ill-defined program that same State Commissioner can think of no better idea. Creating jobs is not a primary military mission yet it is to politicians.  A person in uniform should not be advocating on either side of this purely political effort primarily intended to inject cash into Alaska communities.