166th Civil Engineer Squadron in Canada near the North Pole
Airmen of the 166th Civil Engineer Squadron, Del. Air National Guard at Canadian Forces Station Alert July 30, 2011 on a two-week training mission. Master Sgt. Paul Duca and Chief Master Sgt. Ron Marandola enjoy some Arctic downtime. Chief Marandola, superintendent of the 166th CES, has deployed with his unit around the world for four decades, and served alongside his fellow members on their arctic mission before his retirement later this year. CFS Alert, on the northeastern tip of Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, is the northernmost permanently inhabited place nearest the North Pole, 817 kilometers (508 miles) away. The 166th CES Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force personnel deploy anywhere in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jessica Griffith)