Military exercise offers free care in rural Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The reach of the U.S. military is being felt across rural Alaska as part of aid exercises.

The Coast Guard, the Alaska National Guard and members of the U.S. Public Health Service are conducting Operation Arctic Crossroads. The training exercise brings military and government doctors, medical teams, and veterinarians to isolated parts of the state to offer their services to villagers free of charge.

So far, the teams have examined more than 100 patients, and treated 120 animals. The Coast Guard is also testing out some of its rescue equipment in the rural areas to see if it can handle the shallow Western Alaska coastline.

The operation is based in Kotzebue. Crews were in Selawik Friday and will continue to conduct daily visits to some of the state's most isolated villages.