INDIANAPOLIS — A little Alaska creativity, a little Hoosier horsepower and a bear behind the wheel proved to be a winning combination at the National Guard Association of the United States’ 148th General Conference and Exhibition in Indianapolis.
Lt. Col. Yutashea Zirkle, director of staff for the 168th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, designed Alaska’s “Frontier Grit, Indy Speed” pin, which won Best State Pin during the first-ever National Guard Association of Indiana state pin competition at this year’s conference.
Hawaii won Best Integration of Assigned Number for its “50” design, creatively incorporating the state’s assigned number into its pin.
More than 3,880 National Guard members, spouses, retirees, and guests attended the conference, with representatives from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and three U.S. territories.
For decades, pin trading has been a popular tradition at NGAUS conferences. Each state brings its own commemorative pins, which attendees trade with one another to share pride in their state and learn more about fellow Guard members from across the country.
This year, the tradition took on a competitive twist.
The National Guard Association of Indiana introduced the first state pin competition, challenging participating states to incorporate Indianapolis into their designs. Among the requirements, entries had to feature a car and the state’s assigned number.
Zirkle already had a concept in mind before hearing about the competition.
“I had already had my pin design with the car because I thought, Indy, that would be so cool to see a bear driving a car,” said Zirkle. “All I had to add to it was the state number based on the criteria.”
The resulting design, titled “Frontier Grit, Indy Speed,” features an Alaska bear behind the wheel, surrounded by the Indianapolis racetrack tower, racing imagery, checkered flags, Alaska’s Big Dipper stars, and mountain peaks.
The design represents the strength, resilience, and adaptability of the Alaska National Guard while connecting Alaska’s rugged identity with Indianapolis’ racing heritage.
“Alaska hits the gas at NGAUS 2026 in Indianapolis with frontier grit and Guard pride,” Zirkle wrote in her submission. “From the Last Frontier to the finish line, Alaska is all in.”
The design features an Alaska bear behind the wheel, symbolizing the strength, resilience, and adaptability of the Alaska National Guard. Racing colors, checkered flags, and Indy-inspired speed meet Alaska’s iconic Big Dipper stars and mountain peaks, uniting heritage with momentum. Just like Alaska Guardsmen, this pin reflects a force that thrives in extreme conditions, proving that no matter the terrain or the track, Alaska is built to lead and ready to race.
The competition drew a strong response from participating states, giving attendees an opportunity to see the creativity and pride represented throughout the National Guard.
Zirkle said Alaska pins have traditionally been popular at NGAUS conferences.
“They usually love Alaska pins,” she said.
Over the years, she has designed many pins for Alaska, including 168th Wing polar bear pins, an Alaska moose pin, and a puffin pin to represent the state. The pins are conversation pieces and offer an opportunity to share Alaska’s story.
She said pin trading has become a fun tradition for both Guard members and their families.
“Many of the spouses who attend love to collect all 54,” Zirkle said. “My very first year attending, my goal was to collect all 54. In subsequent years, I only collected the ones I really thought were really cute. It is another activity for everyone attending, and it’s super fun.”
Competition was steep.
“They had a good turnout of states that put in their states to compete,” said Zirkle.
“It’s always fun to see the cool designs that all the states come up with,” said Zirkle. “South Dakota always puts a feather behind their pin – They carry the feathers in a bag, and they give you a feather with the pin. Kansas always does The Wizard of Oz, and for this year they put Dorothy and Toto in a Rolls-Royce. Vermont did a Super Troopers pin. They made a pin in the shape of a face with glasses, all green, with maple syrup. They didn’t meet the competition criteria, but it was cool. Washington did their pin in the shape of Bigfoot. Those were my three favorites outside of our pin.”
The designs reflect each state’s unique culture and personality.
South Dakota, for example, is known for incorporating feathers into its pins. Kansas frequently draws inspiration from “The Wizard of Oz.” Washington has used Bigfoot, while Vermont created a pin with maple syrup inspired by the movie “Super Troopers.”
“It’s just fun, and you get to see the creativity,” Zirkle said.
The pins often become conversation pieces and provide an opening for conversations about the states they represent and their heritage.
“Oftentimes, as you attend different meetings, folks will come up and see on your badge that you’re from Alaska,” she said. “They ask for a pin, or you learn that they always wanted to come to Alaska — a lifelong dream or bucket-list item — or you learn that they have been once, usually on a cruise.”
Those conversations help connect Guard members from across the country while giving Alaska representatives an opportunity to share their state’s story and its National Guard.
Zirkle’s connection to NGAUS and its Alaska organization began nearly two decades ago.
She joined the Alaska National Guard Officers Association, the Alaska chapter of NGAUS, in 2011 after being encouraged by mentors to become involved as a young company-grade officer.
At the time, she was serving at Kulis Air National Guard Base with the 176th Wing.
“They were looking for young CGOs to help with membership,” Zirkle said.
Since then, her involvement has grown. Zirkle currently serves as the Alaska National Guard Officers Association treasurer and NGAUS conference coordinator for Alaska.
NGAUS serves as the national voice for the nation’s Guard members, advocating before Congress on issues affecting Guard readiness, modernization, pay, and benefits.
Unlike active-duty military members, who face restrictions on lobbying Congress, NGAUS provides a legislative bridge between citizen-Airmen, citizen-Soldiers, and lawmakers.
Each state has a local chapter. NGAUS is comprised of all 54 states and territories, including DC, Guam and Puerto Rico.
One of the organization’s major priorities is ensuring National Guard units have the equipment and resources necessary to remain modern and ready. NGAUS advocates for funding, including National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account resources, to ensure Guard units are not left behind with outdated equipment.
NGAUS also fights for benefits and pay parity. Historically, Guard members did not receive the same benefits as their active-duty counterparts despite deploying to the same combat zones and facing identical dangers. NGAUS works tirelessly to close these gaps.
A primary pillar of the NGAUS Mission is modernization and readiness; thus, NGAUS ensures that Guard units are not left behind with obsolete, secondhand hardware from the active-duty military branches.
The organization also works to protect and improve benefits for current and retired Guard members.
“Overall, NGAUS works on our behalf as Guardsmen — not only to get us the equipment that we need, but also to retain our benefits,” Zirkle said. “They really help to fight on our behalf. Not only to keep us current, but to protect all the benefits we do have. Even once you retire, the privileges we have are still at risk. Think about how many times our Tricare has been attacked.”
Zirkle pointed to the history of Guard benefits as an example of why continued advocacy matters.
“Most people don’t know that as a Guardsman we used to have a chit card, and it was NGAUS lobbying on our behalf that got us unlimited use of the commissary,” she said.
While NGAUS advocates nationally, state organizations such as the Alaska National Guard Officers Association and Alaska National Guard Enlisted Association work to secure benefits specific to Alaska Guard members.
Those organizations have helped establish benefits such as free Alaska fishing licenses, one free vehicle registration, and education benefits through the University of Alaska system. Alaska Guard associations are also working on additional benefits, including expanded access to space-available travel on the train and improvements to state retirement benefits.
“We’re looking at increasing our retirement benefits right now; it’s $ 100 a month from the state,” said Zirkle. “We are currently working with the state legislators to increase that amount. Once you are vested after 5 years of service in the Alaska Guard, then you are eligible for retirement from the state – State retirement. You get $100 per month for every month you served in the Alaska Guard.”
“Every state has different benefits for being in that state Guard. The local chapters ANGEA and ANGOA work for benefits such as education benefits. While NGAUS works on the whole to modernize equipment and protect and update our benefits.”
The organizations also provide professional development and mentorship opportunities for Guard members, preparing them and preserving the heritage of the nation’s citizen-militia.
Attending the NGAUS conference provides a strategic perspective on the future of the National Guard and the issues affecting service members nationwide.
“Each year at the conference we determine which priorities they are going to lobby for us on behalf of and which resolutions they will put forth,” Zirkle said.
Membership in a professional organization is an important part of that process.
“The most important thing we are trying to work on in ANGOA is getting our membership up from the state because when they go to fight on our behalf, there is a huge difference when we say we have 1,000 or we have 10,000 when they go to Congress,” Zirkle said. “Membership is really important.”
The Alaska National Guard spirit of advocacy, service, and connection extends from the halls of Congress to conference floors in cities such as Indianapolis and, this year, to a winning pin featuring a bear racing toward the finish line.
“Frontier Grit, Indy Speed” pin represents Alaska pride, National Guard heritage, and the strength of the Alaska Air Guard force ready to lead wherever the mission is needed. The Alaska Air and Army National Guard are always ready and always there.
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