Legislature(2019 - 2020)SENATE FINANCE 532
02/06/2020 12:00 PM House JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
February 6, 2020
12:01 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Geran Tarr, Co-Chair
Senator Joshua Revak, Co-Chair
Representative Chris Tuck
Representative Ivy Spohnholz
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux
Representative Laddie Shaw
Senator Mia Costello
Senator Lora Reinbold
Senator Donald Olson
PUBLIC MEMBERS PRESENT
Colonel Tim Jonesretired, Fairbanks
Brigadier General Julio "Randy" Banezretired, Fairbanks (via
teleconference)
Commander James Chaseretired, Anchorage
Nelson N. Angapak, Sr., Anchorage
Colonel Robert Doehlretired, Anchorage
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Scott Kawasaki
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Sharon Jackson
Senator Peter Micciche
Senator Mike Shower
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATIONS TO THE JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
- MAJOR GENERAL TORRENCE SAXE, Adjutant General, Alaska National
Guard; Commissioner, Alaska Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs
- DR. MICHAEL SFRAGA, Director, Polar Institute & Global Risk
and Resilience Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for
Scholars
- DR. MICHAEL SFRAGA, Director, Polar Institute & Global Risk
and Resilience Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for
Scholars
- LIEUTENANT GENERAL THOMAS BUSSIERE, Commander, Alaskan
Command, United States Northern Command; Commander, Eleventh Air
Force, Pacific Air Forces; Commander, Alaskan North American
Aerospace Defense Region
- CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT DAVID WOLFE, Senior Enlisted Leader,
Alaskan NORAD Region, Alaskan Command; Command Chief Master
Sergeant, Eleventh Air Force
- MAJOR GENERAL PETER ANDRYSIAK, Commanding General, United
States Army Alaska; Deputy Commander, United States Alaskan
Command
- CAPTAIN MELISSA RIVERA, Chief of Staff, on behalf of Rear
Admiral Matthew T. Bell, Seventeenth District
United States Coast Guard
- COMMAND CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT WINFIELD HINKLEY JR., Command
Senior Enlisted Leader, Alaska National Guard
- JASON SUSLAVICH, Director, National Security Policy and Senior
Advisor, Office of U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan
- HEARD
WITNESS REGISTER
MAJOR GENERAL TORRENCE SAXE, Adjutant General, Alaska National
Guard; Commissioner, Alaska Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided introductory remarks on JASC
presenters; and delivered an overview of the Alaska Department
of Military and Veterans Affairs, and the Alaska National Guard.
DR. MICHAEL SFRAGA, Director, Polar Institute &
Global Risk and Resilience Program
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Washington, D.C.
POSITION STATEMENT: Delivered a presentation entitled,
Navigating the Arctic 7Cs.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL THOMAS BUSSIERE, Commander, Alaskan Command,
United States Northern Command; Commander, Eleventh Air Force,
Pacific Air Forces; Commander, Alaskan North American Aerospace
Defense Region
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-delivered a presentation entitled,
Command Overview Briefing.
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT DAVID WOLFE, Senior Enlisted Leader,
Alaskan NORAD Region, Alaskan Command; Command Chief Master
Sergeant, Eleventh Air Force
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-delivered a presentation entitled,
Command Overview Briefing.
MAJOR GENERAL PETER ANDRYSIAK, Commanding General, United States
Army Alaska; Deputy Commander, United States Alaskan Command
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Delivered a presentation entitled, America's
Arctic Warriors.
CAPTAIN MELISSA RIVERA, Chief of Staff
Seventeenth District
United States Coast Guard
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Delivered a presentation entitled, Coast
Guard Update.
COMMAND CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT WINFIELD HINKLEY JR., Command
Senior Enlisted Leader
Alaska National Guard
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Delivered an overview of Alaska National
Guard operations.
JASON SUSLAVICH, Director, National Security Policy and Senior
Advisor
Office of U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan
Washington, D.C.
POSITION STATEMENT: Delivered a presentation entitled, Arctic
Security.
ACTION NARRATIVE
12:01:22 PM
CO-CHAIR JOSHUA REVAK called the Joint Armed Services Committee
meeting to order at 12:01 p.m. Present at the call to order were
Senators Reinbold, Costello, Olson, and Co-Chair Revak; and
Representatives Tuck, Spohnholz, LeDoux, Shaw, and Co-Chair
Tarr. The public members present were Colonel Tim Jonesretired,
Brigadier General Julio "Randy" Banezretired (via
teleconference), Commodore James Chase, Nelson N. Angapak, Sr.,
and Colonel Robert Doehlretired.
CO-CHAIR REVAK recognized that Senator Micciche was in the
audience.
12:03:59 PM
At ease.
^Presentations to the Joint Armed Services Committee
12:06:55 PM
CO-CHAIR REVAK called the meeting back to order and thanked
Senator Coghill for his work on Senate Resolution 2 (SR 2) that
expresses the Senate's support for federal legislation
establishing the United States Department of Defense Regional
Center for Security Studies in Alaska.
He advised that the legislature established the Joint Armed
Services Committee (JASC) in the 1990s in response to one of the
first Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) rounds.
JASC is comprised of five House representatives, five Senators,
and six public members who represent the interest of military
services and agencies, local government, the Alaska Department
of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), and Alaska Natives.
CO-CHAIR REVAK explained that the JASC mission is to monitor and
address potential realignments of military facilities and
missions in the state of Alaska, advocate for the National
Missile Defense System (NMDS), seek ways to attract new missions
to Alaska bases, and support increased joint military training
in Alaska.
CO-CHAIR REVAK said everyone should keep in mind that Alaska's
military services and agencies are essential for national
defense, joint training, preparedness, force protection, public
safety, and the stability of the state's economy. He thanked all
military attendees for their service to the nation and state.
CO-CHAIR REVAK recognized that Representative Jackson was in the
audience.
12:09:00 PM
CO-CHAIR REVAK reviewed the agenda and advised that Major
General Saxe would introduce the presenters.
12:11:16 PM
MAJOR GENERAL TORRENCE SAXE, Adjutant General, Alaska National
Guard; Commissioner, Alaska Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, said the first
presenter is Dr. Michael Sfraga who has some very good
information in his presentation.
12:11:43 PM
DR. MICHAEL SFRAGA, Director, Polar Institute & Global Risk and
Resilience Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for
Scholars, Washington, D.C, said he was speaking both as the
director of the Polar Institute at the nation's think tank and
as an Alaskan. He spends most of his time in Washington, D.C.
but his mortgage is in Fairbanks. He said his job is really a
mission to elevate the presence of Alaska in the national and
international forum on the issues that the JASC and presenters
are addressing.
DR. SFRAGA commenced his presentation entitled, Navigating the
Arctic 7Cs. He explained that Congress established the Woodrow
Wilson International Center for Scholars (WWICS) 51 years ago.
He said that as the nation's think tank, it is significant that
WWICS thought the Arctic was important enough to create the
Global Risk and Resilience Program three years ago.
He said he developed the "Arctic 7Cs" as a framework to explain
why anybody should care about the Arctic and Alaska, but the
bigger play is about the power competition between China,
Russia, and the United States. He described the competition
between the three countries in terms of a geopolitical game
board.
DR. SFRAGA said China is playing the long-term strategy game
"Go" so it's important to think about that regime's motives in
everything the state and nation does. China has money, resource,
and through that it has bought influence.
He said Russia is playing the game "Survivor." Much like Alaska,
Russia's economy is built on oil and gas, petrochemicals, and
natural resources. Russia is an oligarchy with an aging
presidency with superior authority. Russia has a declining
population of 150 million and a gross domestic product (GDP) the
size of Italy. He said foreign direct investment from China has
kept the regime afloat.
DR. SFRAGA said he's not being pejorative when he says the
United States is playing the board game "Twister." It's just
that the U.S. is everywhere, which is the way it should be as
the global superpower. He said this is the lens through which
the nation's think tank sees the great power competition.
He explained that he inserted the Arctic into the great power
competition because it frames how the three nations look at the
world. No longer is the Arctic isolated from any of these
competitive values. Alaska and the Arctic are part of the major
geopolitical issues that the world faces and the United States
should position itself accordingly.
12:14:50 PM
DR. SFRAGA turned to the slide, A New Ocean. He suggested that
the United States has a fourth coastline to protect. It is 1.5
times the size of the United States and half the size of the
continent of Africa. The new ocean is large and that is why so
many are interested.
He displayed the slide, Navigating the Arctic's Seven Cs. These
are the key issues facing the Arctic. First is climate; it is
real, rapid, and relentless because the Earth is changing. Next
is commodities. He said there probably wouldn't be a discussion
on the Arctic if it weren't for the price of commodities and
access to resources. Commerce addresses shipping everywhere,
especially in the Arctic. Connectivity addresses all venues:
internet, ports, charting. Communities encompasses local
decision making all the way to threatened villages. He said
there is a lot of cooperation in the Arctic as well as a lot of
competition emerging from the Far East, Iceland, the Greenland-
Iceland-United Kingdom (GIUK) Gap, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and
the Baltics.
DR. SFRAGA said when he frames the Arctic, he uses "Navigating
the Arctic 7Cs" as a marketing line to frame why a policymaker
or anyone should care.
He turned to the slide, Climate, and pointed out that the Arctic
ice pack is at its lowest in recorded history. The more the
Arctic ice pack shrinks, the more opportunities and threats
there will be.
12:16:50 PM
DR. SFRAGA displayed the slide, Commodities. He said Alaskans
know what the commodities game is all about. If the Arctic pack
ice were not changing, there would not be access to these
commodities. He noted the photo that shows Russia's LNG plant in
the Port of Sabetta on the Yamal Peninsula. The plant in Sabetta
is one of many that the Russians are building along the Northern
Sea Route (NSR) with more than $20 billion from China and money
from Total, a French multinational oil conglomerate in the
Arctic on the Russian side. Seventeen million metric tons of
natural gas will come out of Sabetta every year.
DR. SFRAGA displayed the slide, Commerce. He noted that the
northern sea route (NSR) is not going to challenge the Panama
Canal or the Suez Canal, but it will continually be important to
Russia and that should be on the United States' radar.
He addressed the slide, CommerceNorthern Sea Route. He
described the Russian Arctic as a metaphorical "sandwich in the
making." Russia has ground base ports and economic development
along the NSR. Above the NSR are several islands that Russia has
militarized either by refurbishing Soviet-era bases or new
military base installations. He said President Putin has built
himself an economic zone protected by military might.
12:18:05 PM
DR. SFRAGA directed attention to the slide, CommercePolar Silk
Road. He said China envisions, One Belt One Road, everything
back to the middle kingdom, including the Arctic. That is why
they have invested so much money in the Port of Sabetta and
throughout the northern routes of Russia.
DR. SFRAGA addressed the slide, China's Investment Abroad, and
the slide, China in Africa. He said China has bought Africa.
China bought countries, infrastructure, roads, natural
resources, and invested in Chinese workers in almost every
African nation. He said he takes China's investment in Africa as
a barometer of motive, but also a cautionary tale.
DR. SFRAGA displayed the slide, Connectivity. He remarked that
he did not know how Alaska has a viable economic development
model if the State does not know what the maritime landscape
looks like. Charting the Arctic is an imperative.
DR. SFRAGA addressed the slide, Communities. He said many
communities in the north are stressed but they also have a great
opportunity before them.
DR. SFRAGA said cooperation is the next "C." There are eight
Arctic nations in the Arctic Council: Canada, Denmark, Finland,
Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. This is
a consensus building body that can only have binding agreements
if all eight nations agree. For the most part there is a
conception that the Arctic is peaceful and the Arctic Council
helps that. However, places like Ukraine and Syria, and other
issues have stressed the Arctic Council.
DR. SFRAGA pointed out that observer nations like Singapore,
South Korea, and Switzerland are interested in the Arctic
because a new ocean is opening, and everyone thinks there is
bounty for them. China is an observer nation and cannot vote,
but they can assert their influence via investment in a country
like Iceland. China may have some leverage as to whether Iceland
is a part of a potential North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) exercise, so the United States needs to think through the
cooperation related to the Arctic.
12:20:25 PM
DR. SFRAGA discussed the slide, Arctic Search and Rescue
Agreement Areas. He pointed out the value of cooperation and the
Arctic Coast Guard Forum. He said all eight Arctic nations are
trying to overcome the tyranny of distance for the good of the
cause for safety, search and rescue, and oil spills.
He directed attention to the slide, New Era of Great Power
Competition. He said the United States resurrected the Second
Fleet: the GIUK Gap, submarine warfare, and the Baltics because
Russia has been so active in the Arctic.
DR. SFRAGA addressed the slide, CompetitionIcebreakers. He
noted that China has the ability to build more icebreakers for
the Arctic and Antarctic, which is something that the United
States should be thinking about.
DR. SFRAGA turned to the slide, Russia in the Arctic. He said
all roads to Russia's future go through the Arctic. Russia is
building along the entire NSR from Murmansk to the Bering
Strait.
DR. SFRAGA displayed the next slide and reiterated that he
refers to Russia's NSR expansion as a "sandwich." He said Russia
has economic development ports, oil and gas development, and
ships within its sovereign territory, but it is also building
military bases.
DR. SFRAGA directed attention to a map that shows the Northern
Sea Route and the traditional route through the Suez Canal. The
NSR shows new or renovated military bases along the route. He
pointed out the military bases in Alexandra Land, an island
located in Franz Josef Land in the Barents Sea.
12:21:58 PM
DR. SFRAGA directed attention to a photo showing a military
trefoil that Russia is building throughout the NSR to protect
its economic interest. He noted that a military installation is
located on Wrangel Island, just a few hundred miles from the
Alaskan coast, that acts as a listening, air force, and radar
station.
He displayed the slide showing NATO's Trident Juncture 2018
exercise and stressed that the United States should not forget
Norway, Sweden, and Finland on the other side of the Arctic. He
said the Russians have overflights and interest in the Baltic
Sea, the North Sea between the GIUK Gap, and activities that
have become the "new great game."
DR. SFRAGA turned to the slide, North Korea's Strategic Threat.
He said do not rule out North Korea because the United States is
in the neighborhood. North Korea is a nuclearized country run by
a dictator. It is a rogue nation that runs like a cult, which is
why the United States has located so much of its assets in the
region.
DR. SFRAGA said he considers Alaska the nation's vanguard
because the Arctic is a new ocean. It is a new landscape of
competition which is why the United States must be diligent in
what it does in Alaska.
DR. SFRAGA concluded his presentation emphasizing that the
United States can no longer see the Arctic or Alaska as
isolated. They are part of the bigger geopolitical play for the
entire world, not just for a boutique issue called the Arctic.
12:23:32 PM
CO-CHAIR REVAK thanked him for the information and recognized
that Senator Shower was in the audience.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK remarked that China's influence is a
concern. He pointed out that the United States decided to get
cheaper goods and support Wall Street by shipping all its
manufacturing to a communist country that economically invades
other countries. He said he believes the United States can be
self-sustaining and manufacture its own goods.
He noted that the United States has two icebreakers that are
sister ships with one providing parts for the other. He said it
is disturbing that the one icebreaker is only used in the South
Pole. He noted that he drafted a resolution to name one of the
new icebreakers coming to Alaska the "Polar Bear" and to
dedicate the vessel exclusively for Alaskan waters.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK emphasized that the United States cannot let
Alaska's economic opportunities slip through its fingers. He
also expressed hope that the United States gets off the board
game Twister and on to the board game Risk to really take
advantage of what Alaska has to offer.
12:26:51 PM
CO-CHAIR REVAK asked Dr. Sfraga to elaborate on China's "Polar
Silk Road" and their One Belt One Road notion; how China's
Arctic strategy presents opportunities and challenges for the
United States; and what their relationship is with Russia in the
Arctic.
DR. SFRAGA replied Russia and China are two countries that do
not necessarily like each other, but they share a boarder. It is
a marriage of convenience.
DR. SFRAGA explained that Russia's President Putin needs direct
foreign investment because the country is a declining super
power demographically and economically. China is the exact
opposite. It is the number-two economy in the world and soon
will be first. Russia just opened an 8,000-kilometer pipeline
between the two countries that is an alliance of convenience
based on Russia's "Survivor" strategy. However, China is
assuring its diversification of energy, agriculture, and other
things as part of its board game Go strategy. China's belt-and-
road thinking is that everything comes into China, not out of
China.
DR. SFRAGA said President Putin and President Xi Jinping of
China knowingly play their relationship against the United
States. They shake hands with big smiles attached. He noted that
Russia and China conducted Arctic military exercises because
they like that it gets under the skin of the United States.
DR. SFRAGA maintained that China does not negotiate, they set
the terms based on their belt-and-road vision of the world where
everything connects to them. Not all of China's investments are
nefarious, but the United States should always question their
investments.
DR. SFRAGA pointed out that China likes choke points to go away.
For example, the world courts have said China has no right to
islands in the South China Sea and negotiations should occur
with the Philippians and Vietnam. But China has built islands in
the South China Sea anyway. China thinks navigation in the South
China Sea is part of their belt-and-road or board game Go
strategy, regardless of the United States Navy (USN) sailing in
those waters or a trade block against them.
DR. SFRAGA said the United States cannot take China's activities
in Singapore, Iceland, Russia, Australia, or New Zealand in
isolation. China's activities are all part of their all roads
lead back to the inner kingdom and that is how they influence
the world with their economic power.
12:30:24 PM
CO-CHAIR REVAK noted that the United States Coast Guard (USCG)
conducted its last surface freedom of navigation with an
icebreaker in the Arctic in 1957. He asked how important United
States operational presence in the Arctic will be in the future.
DR. SFRAGA answered extremely important; presence is power,
whether a Polar Security Cutter, icebreaker, or USN ship.
Presence in the Arctic shows, if for no other reason it
demonstrates possibility. He noted that NATO ran into problems
during the Trident Junction exercise, but the NATO countries
learned a lot. USN presence in the Arctic sends a message back
to China and Russia.
COLONEL JONES asked if China is developing greater military
capability targeted at Arctic operations. For example,
icebreakers or naval vessels suited towards Arctic operations.
12:32:36 PM
DR. SFRAGA answered yes; China's Arctic efforts, whether it's
research, investing in the Sabetta LNG plant, or exercises with
Russia, is one part of the belt-and-road. He said China looks at
the Arctic like they look at the Antarctic and the United States
should not forget that because China is adding more bases in the
Antarctic. They have satellite and telecommunications capacity
in the Arctic and Antarctic. This directly ties to their
military capacity, which directly ties to their space program.
Being a top-down nation allows China to make these things
happen. He emphasized that the United States cannot take China's
activities in isolation.
DR. SFRAGA said China has the ability to build more light, mid-
weight, and heavy icebreakers in their own shipyards to sail
north and south. The vessels will be for research, but they also
have other ways of demonstrating their interest in the Arctic.
There will be more Chinese naval ships in tandem with the
Russians in the Arctic where they say they are peacefully
researching and developing the Arctic. However, their
aspirations and weapons systems are clear, as demonstrated by
their defensive and offensive weapons in the South China Sea.
DR. SFRAGA emphasized that the United States is not going to war
with China over the Arctic, but there could be a miscalculation.
China does not think in soundbites like the United States or in
survival mode like Russia. China has a long-term play, whether
it is looking at Africa or the Arctic.
12:34:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ remarked that the United States does
not have proper Arctic representation. She asked what the
highest priority is for presence: deep-water port, icebreakers,
or the governor's proposal to use the former naval base at Adak
as an emergency oil depot.
DR. SFRAGA replied his answer is a blanket yes. The United
States is making progress on integrating polar security cutters,
F-35 fighters, missile defense, and strategic assets at Joint
Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) for the nation's security. But
the nation needs a deep-water port. Pick one location and do a
Manhattan Project on it, he said. If the deep-water port
location is Nome, then go all in on Nome by making sure the
location can service USN, search and rescue, and USCG assets.
The port should be multipurpose with fiber connectivity. The
state and the nation should proceed in an aggregated fashion.
DR. SFRAGA said it's a good idea to take a hard look at Adak and
Dutch Harbor as well. Adak has a facility that could function as
a fuel depot or a place for USN ships during the season.
DR. SFRAGA said considering his previously noted options is wise
for both the nation's and state's security. The United States
has been talking about a deep-water port for a long time, but
there is not a lot of money available. The State working
together with federal and private companies for a public-private
partnership in one place might seem like the way to go.
12:36:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ agreed that going all in on one deep-
water port makes a lot of sense. She asked if Nome or the North
Slope are possible deep-water locations. The North Slope has an
intersection of many strategic issues for the State to
potentially link crude oil and natural gas with northern
friends.
DR. SFRAGA replied he would go hard on a multi-purpose deep-
water port in Nome or someplace in the Bering Strait. Nome makes
sense considering that the Bering Strait is strategic because of
shipping via Russia and China; fishermen, fisheries, and fish
migrations; and possible oil spills.
He said regarding the vision for a deep-water port on Alaska's
North Slope, maybe the United States could build a North Slope
version of Russia's Sabetta LNG plant on the Yamal Peninsula. He
said it does not have to be expansive, but it could be yet
another port.
DR. SFRAGA stated that the deep-water ports can serve via an
elevated plan for integrating economic and national security
benefits, perhaps as part of a great public-private partnership.
The North Slope would require dredging, but the location might
be a good place to build a miniature Sabetta plant. In terms of
the nation's security and multipurpose deep-water port, maybe it
is Nome, he said. An overall strategy to secure U.S. energy
makes sense for all locations, but the United States should
choose one lead port between the Aleutians, Nome, and Barrow.
SENATOR OLSON suggested Cape Blossom in the Kotzebue area as a
possible deep-water port. He voiced concern about the
development under way in North Korea and asked Dr. Sfraga to
comment.
12:39:44 PM
DR. SFRAGA replied he has learned from top analysts to hedge
everything that North Korea says, but the country has leveraged
its relationships very well. China does not want to see a
western country have influence on its border. China has
supported the North Korean regime and President Putin has made
sure that North Korea speaks his words as well. North Korea is
far more in the China and Russia sphere than in the western
nations' sphere. The United States will see more saber rattling
from North Korea, but they have not stopped developing their
nuclear arsenal as leverage with China, Russia, and the United
States.
CO-CHAIR TARR noted that the House Resources Standing Committee
will hold a talk on foreign landownership issues tomorrow.
CO-CHAIR REVAK commented that Dr. Sfraga adds value to the
Arctic dialogue and asked where to find more information about
his background.
DR. SFRAGA replied the Woodrow Wilson Center website has a full
program description and contact information.
12:41:43 PM
CO-CHAIR REVAK asked Major General Saxe to introduce the next
presenter.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE said the next presentation is by Lieutenant
General Bussiere and Chief Master Sergeant Wolfe. He described
them as "absolute team players."
12:42:22 PM
LIEUTENANT GENERAL THOMAS A. BUSSIERE, Commander, Alaskan
Command (ALCOM), United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM);
Commander, Eleventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF);
Commander, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD)
Region; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska,
commended Major General Saxe for his leadership. He said he
could not do his mission without the Alaska National Guard; it
is a unique relationship that really does not exist in other
states.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE explained that the first command is
the North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Command. It is the
nation's longest standing bi-national defense treaty with
Canada. NORAD sits alert everyday with fighters, tankers, and
Airborne Warning and Control System (AWAC) aircraft to defend
the sovereign airspace of the United States and Canada.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE reported that NORAD aircraft
intercepted Russian bombers that penetrated the Canadian Air
Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) last week. He said NORAD
started to publicly release Russian intercepts in 2018 and that
is the reason for the uptick in press reporting. NORAD is a bi-
national command with Canadian senior officers and enlisted
officers that help the United States perform its mission in
Alaska.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE said the next command is Alaskan
Command (ALCOM), a sub-unified command under United States
Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). He noted that Major General Pete
Andrysiak, Deputy Commander for ALCOM and Commander for the
United States Army Alaska (USARAK), will also address the
committee. ALCOM is responsible for facilitating homeland
defense operations in the Alaska Joint Operation Area as well as
supporting the governor and Major General Saxe in any defense
support for civil authorities if there is any type of natural
disaster or unnatural disaster.
He said the third command is the Eleventh Air Force which is all
the air forces in Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam. The responsibility
of General Brown and Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is to organize,
train, and equip forces to be ready to deploy anywhere.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE noted that mission partners are
strategically important to their mission's success: Major
General Andrysiak's team at USARAK; USCG partners at District
Seventeen; the National Guard in Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam;
partners in the United States Air Force Reserve; and the mission
support from every federal and state entity. He said Alaska is a
unique environment and the partnership with federal and state
entities is extremely close.
12:46:08 PM
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE displayed the slide, Strategic
Importance of Alaska, and its global geographic importance. He
said Alaska has always been strategically important but
decreasing Arctic sea ice has created a resurgence of awareness.
Alaska is a great military training area as well as an area to
train and equip forces to operate in the Arctic.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE noted that General Terrance J.
O'Shaughnessy, Commander of USNORTHCOM and NORAD Command,
recently talked about how the United States is no longer a
sanctuary. In the past, the United States looked at the Arctic,
Pacific, and Atlantic oceans as a moat and somewhat of a
sanctuary. He said that is no longer the case because the oceans
are avenues of approach for potential adversaries to hold United
States security objectives at risk.
He said their number-one priority is to defend the homeland. In
Alaska, the primary defense is any type of actions in and
through the Arctic. The United States has a very strong
relationship with Canada via a binational treaty.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE addressed the slide, Defense Support
of Civil Authorities (DSCA). He said ALCOM facilitates support
civil authorities in any type of natural disaster. ALCOM
facilitates search and rescue in the state through the Alaska
Air National Guard (AKANG). ALCOM is prepared via routine
exercises to support the governor, Major General Saxe, and lead
authorities, usually the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), in any type of natural disaster. He directed attention
to photos the November 2018 earthquake that occurred in Alaska
to illustrate the point.
12:48:19 PM
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE addressed the slide, Operational
Overview and Two-Year Outlook. He detailed that Arctic Edge will
occur in February and March 2020. It is a major exercise under
USNORTHCOM to train all services in cold weather Arctic
operations. The exercise is an opportunity every other year for
the services to come to Alaska and practice Arctic cold-weather
operations.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE explained that the Joint Pacific
Alaska Range Complex (JPARC) is the air and ground training
range in the Fairbanks area. JPARC provides world-class training
for air and ground joint forces. JPARC facilitates PACAF for Red
Flag-Alaska, a multi-nation air exercise that usually occurs
three times a year during the summer months.
He detailed that Northern Edge is an every other year exercise
that supports joint operations for the United States Indo-
Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) and PACAF that occurs in the May
to June timeframe. He said Northern Edge brings forces into
Alaska's phenomenal training ranges to hone the ability for
forces to operate together as a joint team.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE said Operation Colony Glacier is an
annual operation to recover the 54 multiservice members who
perished in a C-124 aircraft crash on Colony Glacier. As of
2019, some portion of the remains and personal effects of 44
multiservice members have been recovered.
He highlighted that the first F-35 fighter are expected to
arrive at Eielson Air Force Base (EAFB) in March 2020. A team of
civic leaders and the delegation met in Dallas-Fort Worth
several weeks ago to recognize and sign the bulkhead of the
first F-35 fighter scheduled for delivery to EAFB. A ceremony to
commemorate the first F-35 fighter arrival at EAFB is scheduled
in May 2020.
12:51:05 PM
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT DAVID WOLFE, Senior Enlisted Leader of the
Alaskan NORAD Region, Alaskan Command; Command Chief Master
Sergeant, Eleventh Air Force; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson,
Alaska, addressed the slide, Operational Overview and Two-Year
OutlookProfessionalizing Arctic Service Initiatives. He said
the effort to establish an Arctic leader qualification process
is underway. The initiative takes an established course and
provides more opportunities for individuals to become aware of
the different strategic resources and the strategic importance
of Alaska. The initiative will provide a multi-force database of
qualified leaders with Arctic experience should there be a
reason for Arctic deployment.
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT WOLFE said Alaska has world class training
ranges in the air, ground, and the Gulf of Alaska. He noted that
the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the United States Navy
(USN) participate in various joint exercises in Alaska. The
Armed Services have reaffirmed their interest in training
activities within the Alaskan environment, their participation
is congruent with where the nation is and with the near-fear
competition in the national defense strategy.
12:53:17 PM
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE directed attention to the chart that
illustrates that partnerships and engagements are essential for
mission success. He said he quickly learned how important the
Alaska Native community is for learning, sharing different
leadership techniques, and cultural exchanges. This has resulted
in participations with National Security Roundtables, Alaska
Day, and various forums including one held yesterday in Juneau.
He said the participation of federal and state partners, as well
as state and local leadership, is essential to mission success
with NORAD Alaska, ALCOM, and the Eleventh Air Force.
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT WOLFE explained that the Department of
Defense (DOD) focuses on recruiting individuals and retaining
families. There are many initiatives within the state to help
military spouses and DOD appreciates the continued advocacy by
the Alaska State Legislature. DOD supports anything that makes
teaching or nursing certificate transfers easier or encourages
the portable career lifestyle for military spouses. H said they
face challenges when they come from other states, but there are
many success stories in Alaska.
12:55:41 PM
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE addressed the slide, Take Away. He
said they take their responsibilities for homeland defense very
seriously. It is their number-one priority for the nation. The
Arctic's changing conditions from climate change presents both
an opportunity and challenge. The posture at Combined Commands
helps all the Armed Services train at their premiere ranges to
be ready to execute the national defense needs in the Arctic.
CO-CHAIR REVAK stated appreciation for the Combined Commands'
presence and involvement in Alaska, especially with their
increased community involvement in rural areas
SENATOR REINBOLD asked him to provide more detail on who is
taking the lead on the Arctic Edge exercise in March and to
share any goals.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE replied Arctic Edge 2020 is an
exercise that ALCOM, under USNORTHCOM, must execute by law.
Arctic 2020 is roughly 1,300 military members coming into the
state to primarily participate in cold weather exercises on the
North Slope for small ground-team operations to secure long-
range radar sites. Both U.S. and Canadian small team forces will
set up cold weather camps.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE noted that there will be a team of
about 40 USN dive team members in Juneau practicing cold weather
operations. Although the operations in Juneau are not
necessarily part of Arctic Edge, it is aligned with the Ice
Exercise (ICEX) where the USN sets up their cold weather camps
about 20 miles north of the North Slope to practice and do
research from a USN perspective.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE detailed that Arctic Edge 2020
begins the end of February and runs through about the first week
of March.
12:58:41 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK mentioned DOD's continuing strong investment
in Alaska and highlighted the need to help the Port of
Anchorage. He said the State would appreciate anything that DOD
can do to help, whether it is oversite, weighing in, or
leveraging federal dollars.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE said he worked with the mayor of
Anchorage for almost a year. Port of Anchorage update meetings
have occurred with the mayor, port manager, the commanders of
United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), USNORTHCOM,
and other entities. He said DOD recognizes that the Port of
Anchorage is extremely important as well as the financial
stresses that the municipality is under to get the port redone.
DOD is actively engaged to try to help with this.
CO-CHAIR REVAK mentioned the statement about taking care of
spouses and families and asked if there are any specific issues
that military spouses and family members need help with.
1:00:42 PM
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT WOLFE answered he characterizes taking
care of military families as healthy and trending in the right
direction. He said the best-case scenario for a military spouse
with a license is to get into the state certification system as
quickly as possible, especially in high demand career fields
where there are shortages. DOD appreciates anything that the
legislature can do to quickly remove the challenges and stress
for military families.
1:02:57 PM
MR. ANGAPAK thanked Lieutenant General Bussiere for his active
participation within the Native community where the net result
has created a desire among Native young people to look at the
United States Armed Forces. He said the hope is for continued
visible participation by the United States Air Force (USAF) and
United States Armed Forces.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE replied being a part of the Alaska
Native community discussions and culture is an honor and he
looks forward to continued engagement.
CO-CHAIR REVAK said Alaska offers some of the best training in
the country, especially at JPARC. Alaska has training air space
the size of Florida, sea space the size of Virginia, and ground
maneuver land space the size of Delaware. Many feel Alaska is
perfect for combined arms live fire training as it relates to
the power competition with Russia and China. He asked what the
legislature can do to assist DOD with their preparation to take
advantage of Alaska's training opportunities and possible JPARC
expansion.
1:05:24 PM
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE replied current air space is
sufficient for joint training needs. He said what would be
helpful is to have the continued education of state and local
leadership for understanding the strategic value of training at
JPARC. Local and community partners in Fairbanks have provided
great support for the airspace around JPARC.
He noted that there are potential opportunities during Northern
Edge to address perceived naval activity impacts to state
fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska. Prior to May 2019, the military
made sure to actively approach local and tribal leadership
around the Gulf of Alaska to provide an education on what the
Northern Edge exercise was doing.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUSSIERE said that from a strategic
perspective, DOD and all services realize that the training
ranges in Alaska are essential for fifth-generation training in
the future, both for United States and international partner
forces.
1:06:52 PM
CO-CHAIR REVAK thanked the presenters. He said JASC looks
forward to finding ways to assist military members, spouses, and
families moving forward.
1:07:15 PM
At ease.
1:13:49 PM
CO-CHAIR REVAK called the meeting back to order.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE announced that the next presenter is Major
General Peter Andrysiak who was previously stationed in Alaska
and has been in the Pacific for quite some time.
1:14:42 PM
MAJOR GENERAL PETER ANDRYSIAK, Commanding General, United States
Army Alaska; Deputy Commander, United States Alaskan Command;
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, expressed his gratitude
to the legislature and JASC members for hosting the meeting as
well as taking care of and recognizing the contributions of
11,000 active duty soldiers, families, and civilian workforce.
He said his goal is to provide committee members with an update
on USARAK, its focus, and its plan over the next year.
1:16:00 PM
MAJOR GENERAL ANDRYSIAK commenced his presentation entitled,
America's Arctic Warriors explaining that USARAK is vital to the
national security and critical to protecting the nation and
projecting military power into the Indo-Pacific. He said Alaska
provides the United States Army (USA) with a forward presence in
support of USINDOPACOM as well as DOD in Alaska and the Arctic
for USNORTHCOM. The unique disposition of USARAK in Alaska
allows for rapid deployment across the Pacific.
MAJOR GENERAL ANDRYSIAK referenced Operational Approach and said
since taking command in July 2019, USARAK headquarters has
focused on laying a strategic approach that addresses more long-
term issues. The top priority is making sure USARAK provides
authentic care for soldiers, civilians, families, and veterans
that is not at the expense of readiness. He said that breaking
out "care" separately makes sure USARAK focuses on the right
things to assure readiness and resiliency. Prioritizing leader
development and growth provides USARAK with its competitive
edge. USARAK prioritizes being a great teammate in Alaska by
building and sustaining mutual trust through cohesive teams via
joint forces and relationship reinvestments with local and
Alaska Native communities.
1:20:48 PM
MAJOR GENERAL ANDRYSIAK addressed Readiness saying that USARAK
tries to leverage and grow its skills within the Arctic
environment. Now they are focused on large scale combat
operations versus their previous 18-year focus on counter
insurgency operations.
He said what is unique to Alaska and not accounted for in models
is the environment. USARAK tries to make sure to properly align
its units within its personnel and funding resources. He noted
that he always tries to tell senior leaders that everything in
Alaska takes longer and is harder during winter.
MAJOR GENERAL ANDRYSIAK detailed that USARAK will receive the
new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) in 2020. USARAK has a
near-term solution to replace its Small Unit Support Vehicle
(SUSV) for winter overland mobility. USARAK is pushing hard for
military construction funding to improve its maintenance
facilities, particularly for the 1-25th Stryker Brigade Combat
Team (SBCT) at Fort Wainwright. USARAK prioritizes accounting
for its environment during the modernization process.
He explained that in USINDOPACOM, Army Forces (ARFOR) focuses on
supporting the Army-Pacific via America's First Corps by
participating in a series of exercises called Courage Sentinel.
The exercises focus on areas of responsibility that are
associated with the Indo-Pacific. In Oceania there are a series
of 2020 exercises taking place in Australia, Papua New Guinea,
Fiji, and New Caledonia. America's First Corps will take command
and control responsibility for the exercises. The National Guard
brigade will rotate through the exercises as well.
MAJOR GENERAL ANDRYSIAK detailed that the 4th Brigade Combat
Team Airborne, 25th Infantry Division (4/25 IBCT(ABN)) is
participating in Defender Pacific, an exercise that focuses on
Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei.
He explained that the other NORTHCOM focus area for USARAK is on
its cold regions. He noted that Alaska is the only state that
borders the Arctic. USARAK has an inherent responsibility to
train and operate in extreme cold weather and does so at the
Northern Warfare Training Center (NWTC) at Black Rapids, Alaska.
USARAK is looking at how to expand training and the ability to
thrive in this environment to units outside of Alaska.
MAJOR GENERAL ANDRYSIAK said USARAK regularly trains with its
partners across the state to support a wide variety of
contingencies that could happen in Alaska. Activities include
supporting a rescue mission under its defense support to civil
authorities and protecting the nation under the Homeland
Defense. USARAK also participates in several training venues
with state and joint interagency, intergovernmental, and
multinational partners. USARAK maintains its readiness to
respond rapidly and decisively.
1:25:47 PM
MAJOR GENERAL ANDRYSIAK mentioned Joint Regional Training Center
Rotation and detailed that the entire rotation for the 4/25 IBCT
(ABN) at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort
Polk, Louisiana is 45 days. This provides the opportunity for
the brigades to fight with coalition partners from Canada and
Japan. The brigade's journey started the previous summer when
they deployed 1,400 pieces of equipment through the Port of
Anchorage as part of a larger emergency deployment readiness
exercise. The exercise provided lessons about the unique
capabilities and the tidal fluctuations that are inherent in the
Port of Anchorage. Joint partners via JBER were instrumental for
a successful exercise.
MAJOR GENERAL ANDRYSIAK referenced Operation Inherent Resolve
and detailed that United States Central Command (USCENTCOM)
deployed the 1-25th Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) to Iraq
in September 2019. He said prayers go out to SBCT for their safe
return. A portion of SBCT remains at Fort Wainwright and they
continue to train in support of other operations with USARAK.
1:28:38 PM
MAJOR GENERAL ANDRYSIAK referenced America's Arctic Warriors
Arctic Tough and said the nation's strategic outlook will
continue to demand USARAK forces answer the call. He said senior
leaders recently visited USARAK and noted the need to strengthen
the strategic footprint of the USA in Alaska through future cold
weather training and long-range weapons testing.
MAJOR GENERAL ANDRYSIAK said USARAK is extremely appreciative of
the community and the support they receive from around Alaska.
He detailed that USA has focused on improving the quality of
life for soldiers and families. Upgrades include updated dining
facilities, improving food quality and quantity, renovating
common spaces, refurbishing barracks, and improving exercise
facilities so that soldiers can prepare for new combat readiness
fitness testing. USARAK recently received $38 million to improve
its winter maintenance facilities to provide a controlled
environment to maintain equipment.
MAJOR GENERAL ANDRYSIAK remarked that he has never served
anywhere that appreciates the military, its service members, and
families more than Alaska. Community leaders continuously
demonstrate their unconditional support and the legislature
enacts legislation that supports the military.
He thanked JASC members on behalf of the USARAK soldiers and
families for making the "Last Frontier" a great place to live
and thrive, and for inviting him to talk at the meeting.
1:32:41 PM
CO-CHAIR TARR expressed appreciation that he addressed quality
of life initiatives. She noted that she was part of the Alaska
Defense Forum that met the fall of 2019 in Fairbanks. She said
she was surprised to learn that soldiers really are not as
integrated into the communities they are adjacent to as some
might think. She asked how the legislature might play a role in
improving the way of life for soldiers.
MAJOR GENERAL ANDRYSIAK replied base closures have contributed
to the military becoming more isolated. He said one community
sponsored program USARAK has setup up connects online-registered
soldiers and community families for special occasions. USARAK
also generates opportunities for community leadership to come to
the installation on a more frequent basis. He said USARAK is
also creating more opportunities on Fort Wainwright for
restaurants and other facilities.
He said USARAK is looking at increasing community interaction
from multiple angles. For example, garrison commander, Colonel
Chris Ruga is working on a program for in-processing and
orientation to do an off-installation bus tour to show what
recreational opportunities exist, where to get a vehicle fixed,
or other things that are available from the Fairbanks community.
He said Fairbanks is the priority but they are working on
something similar at JBER.
1:35:23 PM
CO-CHAIR REVAK asked if a railroad tied to the Lower 48 would
enhance opportunities for units to train in Alaska.
MAJOR GENERAL ANDRYSIAK answered that it is a cost benefit
analysis, but the bigger part of the question is that USA needs
to grow more capability to get units into Alaska for leveraging
JPARC capacity. USA needs to grow coming up to Alaska at
different times to understand the operating limitations for
soldiers and equipment in a cold environment.
1:37:29 PM
CO-CHAIR REVAK thanked him for his service and his work for the
soldiers and the communities. He said JASC looks forward to
working with him in the future to make Alaska an even better
place for service members.
1:37:51 PM
At ease.
1:40:52 PM
CO-CHAIR REVAK called the meeting back to order.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE said the next presenter is Captain Melissa
Rivera, United States Coast Guard (USCG). He noted that she has
spent a lot of time in Juneau and Sitka, most recently as the
commander of cadets, and has served for 29 years.
1:41:14 PM
CAPTAIN MELISSA RIVERA, Chief of Staff, Seventeenth District,
United States Coast Guard, Juneau, Alaska, extended regrets from
Rear Admiral Matthew T. Bell, Commander, Seventeenth District,
who was unable to attend the meeting.
She said her presentation entitled, Coast Guard Update, would
focus on some of the major USCG service activities around the
state.
CAPTAIN RIVERA stated that in November 2019, the Alaska State
Legislature sent a letter to the Alaska delegation asking for
their help in fixing the VHF-FM radio outages that are hurting
emergency maritime communications with USCG. That month the
Alaska congressional delegation sent a letter to Commandant of
the United States Coast Guard, Admiral Karl L. Schultz,
expressing their concerns with the VHF-FM system. Vice
Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, Admiral Charles W.
Ray, testified before the U.S. Senate in December 2019 and was
asked about the Rescue 21VHF-FM communications in Alaska. She
said this issue that has the highest level of attention.
CAPTAIN RIVERA stated that she and the entire service is as
concerned with the communications in Alaska as the legislature.
She said she will discuss what this does and does not affect,
what mariners should do, and what the USCG has done and is
doing.
She detailed that communication issues affect mariners' ability
to contact the USCG on VHF-FM radios in some areas of Southeast
and Southcentral Alaska. VHF-FM is generally good out to about
20 nautical miles, but transmission is based on line-of-sight
and depends on the power and height of both the transmitting and
receiving radio antennas. Sometimes even within the tower's
theoretical range, a mountain or cliff could block a boater's
ability to either transmit or receive.
CAPTAIN RIVERA said current outages are also affecting boaters'
abilities to speak with the USCG on VHF-FM. The outages do not
affect mariners' ability to speak with each other on VHF-FM and
does not affect any other means of communication such as
satellite communication either talk or text, high frequency
(HF) communication, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
(EPIRB), or cellphones, just with the Coast Guard.
She said mariners should always, even with fully operational
towers, have multiple means to communicate distress situations,
especially when operating in areas where the USCG is
experiencing outages. Mariners should always remain vigilant and
monitor VHF channel 16 for distress calls, evaluate their
ability to safely respond, and always relay any distress calls
they hear to the USCG by any means possible.
CAPTAIN RIVERA said the communication problem did not catch the
USCG completely off guard because the equipment is aging. They
started testing new technology a few years ago and it looked
promising and worked well in the laboratory setting. However,
the solid oxide fuel cells the new technology uses failed, which
put USCG back to contracting for generator replacement because
transmission sites were extremely remote and required
independent power generation sources.
CAPTAIN RIVERA said the USCG began experiencing greater than
normal failures with their power generation equipment during the
summer of 2019. At that time, USCG was completing a contract to
replace the power generation equipment at 22 sites with
scheduled completion by 2023. The USCG has since accelerated the
contract to complete the generator replacements at six sites in
2019, seven in 2020, three in 2021, and six in early 2022.
CAPTAIN RIVERA explained that the maintenance and repair
contract for communication sites expired under normal terms in
December 2019. The USCG learned that a new maintenance and
repair contract required expansion in some areas to enable more
services and streamline some services. The new contractor is
Silver Mountain LLC, based in Palmer, Alaska. The USCG is
confident that the new contract will enable quicker response
times for repair and maintenance. She said weather is a major
factor in accessing communication sites, even during the summer
months where strong winds and fog can prevent access or limit
the time contractors can spend on site.
1:47:26 PM
CAPTAIN RIVERA referenced Housing and Homeporting and noted that
the USCG received a $32.4 million appropriation for housing in
Kodiak for FY2020. This is phase two of a multiphase effort to
address a shortage in USCG family housing. The USCG intends to
use the FY2020 funding in combination with phase-one funds,
appropriated in FY2018, to cover costs associated with planning,
design, demolition, site work, construction, and outfitting new
housing units.
She explained that the combined phase funding of $64.7 million
will provide for much of the utility, road, site work, and
construction needed to address the total housing needs. Most
housing units will be three bedroom duplexes and the remaining
will be four bedroom duplexes. The current project is in the
planning phase and the USCG anticipates awarding a construction
contract in FY2022. She directed attention to a photo of the
Upper Government Hill Coast Guard Family Housing Project in
Kodiak that was completed in 2016.
CAPTAIN RIVERA detailed that the USCG used $20.6 million in
FY2020 funding to upgrade waterfront infrastructure in Sitka to
homeport a new Fast Response Cutter (FRC). The planned FRC
upgrades include the installation of a floating dock, moorage,
shore tie upgrades, as well as improvements to the existing
cutter support facility. The USCG anticipates getting six FRCs
with two homeporting in Ketchikan, one in Sitka, one in Seward,
and two in Kodiak.
1:49:18 PM
CAPTAIN RIVERA said the United States is an Arctic nation so the
USCG polar icebreakers are a vital and central part of national
and economic security in the polar regions. To ensure that the
USCG maintains its ability to protect national interests, assert
national sovereignty, and meet international commitments in the
Arctic and Antarctic, they needs six new polar ice breakers, now
designated polar security cutters (PSCs), and at least three
must be heavy.
She detailed that USCG received an appropriation of $675 million
in FY2019 for the first PSC with an additional $20 million for
long-lead-time materials for the second PSC. The USCG and the
USN, through an integrated program office, awarded VT Halter
Marine in Mississippi the contract for the first PSC in April
2019. VT Halter plans to begin construction in 2021 with
delivery scheduled for 2024. The first PSC will be homeported in
Seattle. The Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2020
provided $135 million for long-lead-time materials for the
second PSC. The PSC will be vital for the nation to achieve its
strategic goals in the Arctic.
CAPTAIN RIVERA reviewed the "Three Lines of Effort" from the
USCG April 2019 Arctic Strategic Outlook:
• Enhance capability to operate effectively in a dynamic
Arctic domain.
• Strengthen the rules-based order.
• Innovate and adapt to promote resilience and prosperity.
CAPTAIN RIVERA said the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) remains the
USCG's highest acquisition priority. In June 2019, the United
States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) granted the Eastern
Shipbuilding Group (ESG) extraordinary contract relief for OPC
construction due to the impact of Hurricane Michael. DHS
determined that granting limited relief for the first four hulls
was essential to the national defense, in the best interest of
the government, and necessary to facilitate timely OPC delivery.
ESG facilities have resumed operations but with significant
impact to cost and schedule due to labor availability, increased
overhead expenses, labor pricing, and other factors. The USCG
has begun procurement activities to complete the remainder of
the OPC program of record for OPCs 525. Alaska will receive OPC
hulls three and four from ESG. The vessels will be homeported in
Kodiak, effectively replacing the current USCG cutters Douglas
Monroe, and Alex Haley. ESG originally scheduled delivery for
OPC-3 in FY2023 and OPC-4 in FY2024. However, impacts from the
hurricane have delayed the delivery timeline to a date to be
determined.
1:52:31 PM
CAPTAIN RIVERA stated that the USCG conducts its 11 statutory
missions throughout the state year round. In the summer, a surge
of mission executions occurs in the Arctic. She noted that
Operation Arctic Shield 2019 ended on October 31.
She provided the following statistics for the 2019 USCG
operational season:
• Forward deployed two MH-60 helicopters with crews to
Kotzebue and Utqiagvik from July 1 to October 31.
• Executed 25 search and rescue cases with 13 lives saved and
28 lives assisted.
• 233 personnel conducted 415 deployments to 102 locations.
• Inspected 236 of 380 regulated facilities.
• Executed 475 commercial vessel exams.
• Executed 25 port state control exams.
• Conducted 22 hazardous material container inspections.
• Conducted ice training for 31 first responders in 2 Arctic
communities.
• Provided training to 3,924 children in 24 remote villages
via The Kids Don't Float Program.
• Contacted 59 commercial fishing vessels, conducted 27
boardings, and 5 voyage terminations via The Living Marine
Resource Program.
• Executed 15 C-130 aircraft sorties with over 28,000 miles
flown.
CAPTAIN RIVERA explained that the USCG Sector Anchorage
spearheaded the new Marine Safety Task Force (MSTF) model to
conduct missions in the remote regions of their area of
responsibility. Employing 32 active and reserve search
personnel, the USCG deployed MSTF to execute marine safety and
environmental protection missions in rural villages not on the
road system in the Arctic and rural Western Alaska. The USCG
deployed a hub-and-spoke method to execute MSTF teams from 13
hub communities to complete multiple missions in remote
villages.
CAPTAIN RIVERA highlighted the following MSTF successes:
• Partnership with civil air patrol transportation saved
valuable time, reduced costs, and allowed USCG personnel to
transit seamlessly between villages.
• Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation joined USCG
personnel for two deployments into the Arctic and Western
Alaska.
• MSTF teams inspected over 60 percent of USCG Sector
Anchorage's 380 facilities, a massive improvement over the
sector's prior annual average of only 12 percent.
• MSTF activities include facility and commercial vessel
inspections, container inspections, gold dredge vessel
examinations, commercial fishing vessel dockside
examinations, pollution prevention, response training and
exercises, and boating safety training.
1:55:37 PM
CAPTAIN RIVERA reported that commercial traffic in the U.S.
Arctic off Alaska increased in 2019. She cited the following
statistics:
• Cruise ships increased from 3 in 2018 to 9 in 2019, with 7
more transiting from the Bering Sea to Wrangel Island in
Russian waters.
• Cargo traffic increased 20 percent from 75 to 95 vessels.
• Tug traffic increased 8 percent from 53 to 57 vessels.
• Adventurer traffic increased 240 percent from 5 to 17
vessels.
• Tanker traffic increased 28 percent from 40 to 51 vessels.
• Both government and research vessel traffic decreased.
• Boat cargo vessel traffic remained consistent.
CAPTAIN RIVERA said that after nearly eight years of work, USCG
District Seventeen staff completed the Bering Strait PARS in
December 2017. The USCG composed a joint proposal with Russia
for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to designate a
voluntary two-way shipping route from Nunivak Island through the
Bering Strait. Included in the joint proposal were three areas
to avoid. The IMO approved the proposal in March 2018, and it is
currently in use. She directed attention to the pictures that
show the Bering Strait PARS and noted that the effort provides a
common and safe route for this increasing vessel traffic.
CAPTAIN RIVERA said the current PARS addresses the continuation
of the two-way shipping route from the Bering Strait across the
North Slope to Canada's maritime corridors project. The PARS
comment period opened in December 2018 with an extended closure
of June 30, 2020 due to requests from subsistence hunters, non-
governmental organizations (NGOs), and industry. The USCG
District 17 is working closely with waterway users to plan
public meetings and get as much information as possible to
compose an accurate study of waterway activity to propose a
potential route that meets all waterway user needs.
1:57:46 PM
CAPTAIN RIVERA turned to the Alaska Marine Highway System slide.
She advised that the USCG has locations in 14 communities
throughout Alaska, three of which are accessible by road to
Anchorage, Homer, and Valdez. The remaining USCS locations
require airplane or ferry service for access.
CAPTAIN RIVERA remarked that Alaska communities welcome and
integrate USGC families, including transferring in and out,
schools, activities, sports, travel for medical care, and
vacations. She said Alaska communities probably welcome USGC
members more readily than anywhere else. She noted that the USCG
recently named Cordova as an official "USCG City." Fifteen
percent of all USCG cities in the United States are in Alaska,
which is a testament to how genuinely Alaskans welcome USCG
members and make them feel like a valuable part of the
community.
CAPTAIN RIVERA said just as is happening to all other people
living in coastal communities, reduced goods and services due to
a lack of ferry service during USCG assignments will increase
hardship to service members during their tour in Alaska. To many
USCG service members and their members outside of Alaska, lack
of ferry service may likely decrease the desirability of
assignments to Alaska. The AMHS service cuts are affecting USCG
and community members, she said.
1:59:25 PM
CAPTAIN RIVERA extended thanks for the support and advocacy for
the USCG. She asked for communication to continue and encouraged
committee members to visit their closest USCG unit. She said
USCG members will be happy to provide a ride and show what they
do every single day. She said having all military services
attend the JASC meeting is great. Each service has different
attributes and capabilities, but together the services bring
great strength to Alaska.
CO-CHAIR REVAK asked her to submit her information filled
comments to his office. He said providing a summary would allow
committee members to review her data in depth.
He extended congratulations for her upcoming promotion to the
grade of Rear Admiral. He asked if that was correct.
CAPTAIN RIVERA answered yes.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked if the USCG intends to have most of
its people stationed at Kodiak live on the base.
CAPTAIN RIVERA answered it was not the desire of USCG to have
100 percent of the people live on base, the family housing
project was due to an increase in people coming from new USCG
assets. A USCG study identified an increase of personnel
requirements due to an airframe change from the C-130J to the C-
130H and bringing in two more OPCs to Kodiak.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX remarked that the relationship in Kodiak
between the base and the town is seamless, and she is concerned
with the new on-base housing if everyone starts living on the
base.
2:02:16 PM
CAPTAIN RIVERA agreed Kodiak is one place where the USCG could
be at risk of isolating its people. Kodiak is a place where USCG
personnel are completely involved in the community. She noted
she has done two tours in Kodiak and the integration between the
USCG and the community is one of the things that she loves about
Kodiak. She said the USGC considers upcoming asset upgrades in
Kodiak, but the goal is not to have 100 percent of personnel
living on base. Nothing is changing, but the community
relationship with Kodiak is one of those things USCG must always
think about and work on.
MR. ANGAPAK thanked the USCG for their recent participation in
the search and rescue of four children. He asked if the USCG
plans to expand into areas where they are not physically
present.
2:04:37 PM
CAPTAIN RIVERA replied the search and rescue case was a
combination of work between the USCG, Alaska State Troopers, and
the Alaska National Guard. The children were missing for over a
day and ranged in ages between 214. The children had taken care
of each other amazingly well and the way the search turned out
was a blessing.
CAPTAIN RIVERA said one of the ways the USGC provides seasonal
services to western and northern Alaska is through missions like
Operation Arctic Shield. For the near future, that is how the
USCG plans to continue providing its services to the region. As
the seasons of activity expands in the Arctic, the USCG needs to
address how to potentially expand its service.
2:06:35 PM
CO-CHAIR REVAK expressed appreciation for the USCG presence in
Alaska, especially for its search and rescue activities. He said
JASC and the legislature looks forward to working with the USCG
to seek out how to help their men and women do a great job every
day.
2:07:09 PM
At ease.
2:11:16 PM
CO-CHAIR REVAK reconvened the meeting and announced that Major
General Saxe, DMVA Commissioner and Adjutant General of the
Alaska National Guard, would provide an overview.
2:11:39 PM
MAJOR GENERAL TORRENCE SAXE, Adjutant General, Alaska National
Guard; Commissioner, Alaska Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, said he could
not ask for a better support team and introduced his staff
members: Command Chief Master Sergeant Hinkley, Command Senior
Enlisted Leader, Alaska National Guard; and Chief Warrant
Officer Tucker, Aide-de-camp to the Adjutant General, Alaska
National Guard.
2:11:45 PM
COMMAND CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT WINFIELD S. HINKLEY JR., Command
Senior Enlisted Leader, Alaska National Guard, Joint Base
Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, provided introductory remarks.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE stated that each time he takes a new command
he always poses the fundamental question of whether people or
mission is more important. He said the lower ranked personnel
tend to say people are more important while senior personnel
tend to say the mission is more important. He said his more
nuanced response is that there are times when the mission
unquestionably takes precedence, but creating a culture within
the Alaska National Guard of putting the people first is
important to him as a commander as well as everybody in a
command position.
2:12:59 PM
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE said the Alaska National Guard is the only
portion of the DOD that has a very distinct state and federal
role. The Alaska National Guard is completely out of the
strategic realm for a big military event and into the
operational. He noted that when he first came to the military,
he worked with reservists drafted in Vietnam who never deployed,
but that is not the case now. Many individuals in the guard have
deployed upwards of 15 times. He said he wants a seamless active
duty relationship with the US Army and US Air Force that acts as
one team and one fight.
He noted that the Alaska National Guard continues to build an
unabated relationship with Mongolia, something that is important
to him professionally. He noted that he will be in Mongolia in
May 2020.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE directed attention to photos that illustrate
the Alaska National Guard's involvement with a recent earthquake
and floods in Galena. He said he wants people to understand that
the Alaska National Guard is, "here for all of Alaska."
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE said slide 4 illustrates where the Alaska
Army National Guard (AKARNG) operates. They have 24/7 missions
at Fort Greely with, "the 300 protecting the 300 million."
AKARNG has Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) Platforms
in JBER and other places as well. They continue to expand with
the desire to recruit where ever possible.
2:14:52 PM
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE commended AKARNG supervisors and leadership
for being number one in the nation for recruiting and retention.
He said there is a correlation between deployments and
retention, and younger individuals coming into AKARNG want to
deploy for training purposes.
He noted that AKARNG upgraded and expanded its capacity with
larger CH-47 Chinook helicopters. AKARNG is excited about what
the helicopters bring to Alaska in all aspects.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE said slide 6 illustrates the 297th Military
Police Company (297th MP CO) operating in Kuwait. All portions
of AKARNG are deploying in larger numbers.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE said AKANG is also incredibly operational
with 24/7 missions. He noted that he will address what the 168th
Wing brings to the fight with the KC-135 tanker and some future
initiatives as well.
He explained that Clear Air Force Station (Clear AFS) is a tiny
installation with an incredible amount of resources that
includes long range discrimination radar (LRDR) that connects
with current radar at Fort Greely and a spotter-sniper
relationship that is run mostly by AKANG. AKANG has active duty
members at Clear AFS, but that is not a typical mission for
guardsmen.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE said the 176th Wing is an incredibly
operational wing at JBER. The wing upgrading to the C-130J
aircraft with total C-17 aircraft integration is becoming the
model on how to do things going forward and establishing an
operational bent within the guard and air defense as well. It is
another 24/7 mission.
2:17:06 PM
He said AKANG cannot say enough about their active duty
partners. AKANG is happy with its aircraft upgrade from the C-
130H to the HC-130J model. AKANG has increasing maintenance
issues with the C-130H, but the maintainers are doing a great
job. Like AKARNG, 2019 was the busiest year for AKANG with 385
deployed personnel.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE said AKANG is impressed with everything that
the USCG is doing; they are incredible partners. AKANG just
completed over 2,000 rescues. He commended the 212th Rescue
Squadron (212RQS) 176th Wing and the 211th Rescue Squadron
(211RSQ) 176th Wing for what they do, 24/7, ready to go.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE stated that the Alaska National Guard placed
an emphasis on the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF) over the
past 12 months and their numbers have doubled in the past 12 to
18 months. ASDF is a good force enabler where members are always
going to be state militia and will never activate out of state
or deploy without extreme exception.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE noted that an ASDF couple went to Puerto Rico
a few years ago to work on water purification, communication,
and cyber-related activity. He highlighted that ASDF personnel
have full-time civilian jobs with expertise skills that the
Alaska National Guard tries to capitalize on. ASDF recruitment
numbers are up because the Alaska National Guard is going out
and talking to people where they are at.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE explained that he included the Red Cross in
slide 9 because they are providing equipment and supplies for
deployment to ASDF places in advance of need.
2:19:59 PM
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE said the Alaska Naval Militia (AKNM) is a
small but mighty force. He noted that more state guardsmen and
state militia deployed in 2019 than any time since 1994. He said
he wants to emphasize deployment to make sure the entire team is
getting out to protect Alaska. AKNM is 60 strong with USN and
USMC reservists. Many people do not know AKNM, but the Alaska
National Guard wants to make sure AKNM gets out and protects
Alaska.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE turned to slide 11 and explained that the
Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), along
with a representative from the Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA),
goes out to rural locations to talk to veterans. For example,
DMVA assisted a couple regarding a housing entitlement issue.
Getting out so that veterans can talk to an actual human being
is important. The goal of DMVA is to provide help to every
single veteran that needs help.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE said DMVA thanks all veterans, but Vietnam
veterans are of particular interest to the department. The
Vietnam veteran is a demographic that the department wants to be
very sure to get onto right away.
2:21:56 PM
He said the Alaska National Guard holds the Alaska Military
Youth Academy (AMYA) near and dear. An AMYA graduation is
something that makes one proud to see where kids were and where
they are going in a short amount of time. He said he is glad
that the Alaska National Guard is becoming more involved with
AMYA graduates' direction, physical training, instruction, and
becoming good mentors.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE turned to slide 14, Division of Homeland
Security and Emergency Management. He said he received a text
about a tsunami after the recent earthquake in Anchorage but his
area was not affected. He said the Alaska National Guard will
work alerting people when there are true emergencies.
2:23:38 PM
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE addressed slide 15, Way Ahead, regarding the
future for rural operations, and slide 16, Our Area of
Responsibility. He said the area of responsibility on the
federal level is Alaska Command (ALCOM) and on the state level
is the Alaska National Guard. It is a responsibility that he
takes very seriously.
He remarked that the Alaska National Guard is too focused on
Anchorage and Fairbanks. He said his goal is to get back into
the portions of the state where the Alaska National Guard has
not been in a while, something that will solve a lot of issues
regarding recruiting, retention, and buy-in all over Alaska.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE said rural operations is something that the
Alaska National Guard has already started via operational
capacity expansion in six or seven spoke-and-wheel hubs
throughout Alaska. The hubs have long airfields that the Alaska
National Guard can quickly get to with its aircraft.
He said along with what is going on with the Red Cross, the
Alaska National Guard wants to make sure supplies get to
locations now. Should there be threats to Alaska, the hub
locations have community buildings that are also used for
recruiting and retention. The Alaska National Guard is seeing
evidence that getting out to rural communities results in youths
wanting to come into the military or guard. The Alaska National
Guard intends to cover the entire state and avoid introducing
itself during a crisis.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE called attention to Senior Master Sergeant
Lucy Nagle, Rural Operations Program Manager/Tribal Liaison,
Alaska National Guard who is from Bethel and is the point of
contact for the entire state for rural operations. He said he
cannot say enough good things about what she is doing. The
Alaska National Guard continues to recruit well by getting out,
meeting people, and following up on leads.
2:26:05 PM
He said slide 18 provides a visual of when the Alaska National
Guard needs to deliver food and medicine supplies.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE referenced Innovation and Future Missions and
said the Alaska National Guard wants to make sure it understands
Arctic requirements via a version of forward deployment in rural
operations. The Alaska National Guard wants to make sure its
pilots, crews, and army are familiar with the Arctic area and
more importantly, the local community is familiar with the area.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE detailed that the Alaska National Guard is
going forward with cyber security for AKARNG and AKANG, a main
emphasis point for the state.
He explained that future initiatives include potentially
partnering with active duty mainly in Interior Alaska;
integrating KC-46 aircraft into the force; being ready for a
possible active duty partnership with the F-35 fighters coming
to EAFB; and assuming any active duty role that Clear AFS
requires.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE said Alaska is one of eight states that will
have a Space National Guard. The United States Space Force will
be located at Clear AFS. The Alaska National Guard will have
AKARNG, AKANG, and the Space National Guard.
2:28:31 PM
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE turned to slide 21 and emphasized that he has
no tolerance for any toxic leadership or bullies and no
tolerance for sexual assault or harassment. He said the bottom-
line indicator of an unhealthy unit is a culture where people
are telling inappropriate jokes. It is an indicator for
potential harassment and or assault. The Alaska National Guard
wants to stop jokes and "empowerment." He explained that he
likes the word "empowerment," but the word is incomplete in the
military. He said he has an expectation that people are going to
take charge and move out.
MASTER SERGEANT HINKLEY explained that as a senior enlisted
leader, he is General Saxe's advisor on health, moral, welfare,
and training of the force. He said, "Our guardsmen are our
citizens."
He detailed that 60 percent of the Alaska National Guard force
is at drill-status for one weekend a month, two weeks out of the
year. most of the time they are employed inside of communities,
so the Alaska National Guard partners and builds leaders within
the communities right from the beginning. Some members are part
of the Alaska National Guard unit from when they enlist to when
they retire. Guard members do not want to leave Alaska because
they are proud and vested participants which permeates
throughout the families, businesses, and the workforce.
MASTER SERGEANT HINKLEY noted examples of successful Alaska
National Guard members: Private Erickson from Nome and Airman
Henry from Fairbanks. He said both individuals have taken
advantage of their education and training to carry forward with
their military organizational values inside communities.
MASTER SERGEANT HINKLEY said the Alaska National Guard takes
care of its members. There is zero tolerance for toxic
leadership and sexual assault within their own households and
within their organization.
2:32:15 PM
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE said Team Alaska is everybody - active duty,
guard reserve, and civilians as well. He noted that the Alaska
National Guard is conducting its annual exercise in Bethel for
the first time. Members from AKARNG, AKANG, and civilian
partners will participate in the exercise.
He concluded the presentation stating that "This we'll defend"
is the very best mission statement that the Alaska National
Guard could have.
CO-CHAIR REVAK expressed appreciation for his presence at the
meeting, in the state, and all that he does. He said he is
overwhelmed by all that the Alaska National Guard does in the
state.
He noted that the Alaska National Guard has a large Title 10
component at any given time, from "the 300 guarding the 300
million" at Fort Greely, to the search and rescue scope of
operations within the entire state. He pointed out that the
Alaska National Guard created the Arctic sustainment packages,
and the legislature presented an accommodation for their 2,000th
rescue. He said everyone appreciates all that the Alaska
National Guard does, from working with communities through the
innovative readiness training program, helping construct things
in communities, health care, all the way to the Space National
Guard.
CO-CHAIR REVAK asked him to talk about the Title 10 component of
the Alaska National Guard and how it relates in scope of
operation to other states.
2:34:08 PM
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE replied the Alaska National Guard has more
Title 10 than other states. That becomes a recruiting and
retention tool where a lot of people want to come to Alaska to
work full-time. The National Guard is typically part-time, but
the Alaska National Guard is more operational than just about
any state due to its strategic locale and large military
presence with 24/7 missions. The Alaska National Guard has
continuity with members having the same job for a long time. For
example, some maintainers have been fixing the same aircraft for
30 years and that provides incredible depth.
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ said she was surprised to hear about
maintaining aircraft that are 10 years older than she is and the
focus on cyber security. She asked him to illuminate on what the
Alaska National Guard is doing on the issue of cyber security.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE replied the Alaska National Guard has a
robust cyber security plan going forward. AKANG has com units at
EAFB and JBER for transforming communication and cyber that
looks proactively at threats, but more importantly, Title 32 or
state-status provides the ability to thwart cyber threats. If a
network goes down, depending on the network, the State of Alaska
would be able to go in and help, and AKARNG has a civil support
team to do the same. For individuals in Homeland Security, they
are on the civilian side working with the Office of Information
Technology (OIT) to bring networks back up.
2:36:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ remarked that cyber security is the
frontier that Alaska needs to be spending a lot more time on
because it represents a vulnerability from attacks that can come
from anywhere.
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ expressed appreciation for his
sustained leadership to create a healthy workplace climate
because it's a commitment that helps to lift everybody. She said
true transformation takes place through a sustained, long term
commitment to a subject that can only be effective as personnel
are able to be. Efficacy depends on enabling people that maybe
were victims of inappropriate workplace behavior in the past as
well as those who maybe did not understands that their behavior
was inappropriate.
CO-CHAIR TARR asked if the State funds all ASDF and AKNM
activities.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE answered yes; there are no federal funds when
ASDF and AKNM fight fires because that is all State active duty.
However, it is federal funds when AKNM is in Title 10.
MR. ANGAPAK remarked that during the glory days of the Alaska
National Guard, every male child in rural Alaska could not wait
to be 18 so they could enlist. He said Major General Saxe has
been actively involved with the Alaska Federation of Natives
(AFN) conventions for recruiting young men and women, but he
does not know if rural Alaska will ever get back to those glory
days. He asked how their recruitment of young men and women in
rural Alaska is coming along.
2:40:10 PM
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE answered that recruiting is getting better
via the Rural Operations Initiative by getting out and showing a
presence. However, recruitment findings indicate that having
operational equipment on site in rural Alaska creates interest
from young people. The main reason people join the military is
if a family member is in the military, like a family business.
The "glory days" had a lot of people in the military and people
saw that day after day. He said he has funding for rural Alaska
recruits, but the magic number for a self-sustaining program in
a rural hub-city location requires 12-15 people, which leads to
fulltime people. The Alaska National Guard truly wants to expand
recruiting to all places in Alaska.
He noted that the Alaska National Guard will restart its milk-
run program to assist with recruitment. Personnel will be picked
up on occasion in rural hub-city locations to drill in Anchorage
or Fairbanks. The primary emphasis is to ultimately have people
drill where they are. He said he hears repeatedly that part of
the reason why people do not want to join at various rural
locations is due to not getting to drill at those locations
because there are not enough people. The Alaska National Guard
has openings, is recruiting, and rural locations only require 12
people.
MR. ANGAPAK thanked him for his straight forward answer and
encouraged him to continue his efforts. He said the Alaska
National Guard showing its presence in rural Alaska is
important.
2:42:51 PM
CO-CHAIR REVAK thanked Major General Saxe for his insight.
2:43:14 PM
At ease.
2:43:49 PM
CO-CHAIR REVAK called the meeting back to order. He asked Major
General Saxe to introduce the final presenter.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE announced that the final presenter is Mr.
Jason Suslavich. He said he has known him for quite a while and
he has incredible knowledge and detail level. He added that Mr.
Suslavich toured the 168th Wing at EAFB five years ago.
2:44:10 PM
JASON SUSLAVICH, Director of National Security Policy and Senior
Advisor, Office of U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, Washington, D.C.,
said every time he brings colleagues from the U.S. Senate to
Alaska, he shows off the military in Alaska, especially the
Alaska National Guard. He said he repeatedly hears his
colleagues say that they wish their National Guards were like
the Alaska National Guard. It's an important testament to their
recruitment, retention, and national service in Alaska.
He said he was honored to talk to committee about the critical
role that Alaska plays in national defense. He issued the
disclaimer that while he was appearing on behalf of U.S. Senator
Sullivan, he included some new material that may or may not
align 100 percent with the senator's views.
MR. SUSLAVICH explained that he would address the evolution of
the DOD Arctic strategy, the emerging great power competition in
the Arctic, and the future opportunities and challenges of an
open and accessible Arctic and how that could affect
infrastructure and investment in Alaska, including six areas of
priority for Senator Sullivan. He said it's basically why the
Arctic matters to legislators and their constituents, and how
this committee and the Alaska State Legislature can assist with
advocacy efforts.
2:46:47 PM
MR. SUSLAVICH commenced with his presentation entitled, Arctic
Security. He referenced the slide, Department of Defense Arctic
Strategy and noted that he has been with Senator Sullivan since
his election to Congress.
He noted that early going was a little tough on Arctic issues,
especially with DOD. The 2013 Arctic Strategy Report initially
addressed Arctic issues in a 13-page report that mostly
contained pictures and maps, mentioned climate change 5 times,
and mentioned Russia only once in a footnote.
MR. SUSLAVICH said Senator Sullivan was able to push DOD to
write the 2016 Arctic Strategy. He shared a story about a
meeting with the then chair of the Senate Arms Services
Committee, Senator McCain, to illustrate the effort it took to
get that second Arctic strategy report in the National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA).
MR. SUSLAVICH detailed that the 2016 Arctic Strategy was a great
first step that resulted in DOD getting the message on the
Arctic. The strategy mentioned Russia 25 times, included focus
on freedom of navigation in the Arctic, defending the homeland,
deterrence, and alliances. The strategy was more serious with
robust military strategy, but it lacked the means for executing
the strategy.
He explained that the 2019 Arctic Strategy was a more robust 19-
page report that focused on building Arctic awareness, enhancing
Arctic operations, and strengthening the rules-based order in
the Arctic. However, the strategy continued to lack the means,
infrastructure, and presence operations needed to secure and
safeguard the Arctic and Alaska. He noted that another Arctic
Strategy report will come out in 2022.
MR. SUSLAVICH said his topic would address the emerging great
power competition in the Arctic.
2:50:28 PM
MR. SUSLAVICH advised that the White House released the National
Security Strategy in 2017 and the National Defense Strategy in
2018. The two documents addressed the return to a great power
competition with Russia and China, and how the United States
would not have the Russia or China that they want to see.
He said the strategy lays out that China is the pacing threat to
the United States in the Arctic over the next 50 years. China
came out with its own Arctic strategy a couple of years ago
called, "The Polar Silk Road," because or their interest in the
resources, transit opportunities, and participation in Arctic
governance. Importantly they called themselves a near-Arctic
state, despite the fact that there is no such thing as a near-
Arctic state. Only Arctic states have the right to participate
in governance of the Arctic region.
MR. SUSLAVICH directed attention to the graphic illustrating
Russia's Arctic build-up. He said he would argue that Russia is
the largest current threat the United States has in the Arctic.
Russia has 16 deep-water ports, 14 operational airfields, a new
Arctic command, and nearly 50 icebreakers, some of which are
nuclear powered. He explained that according to the Council on
Foreign Relations, the reason for Russia's activities in the
Arctic is because 90 percent of their gas reserves are in the
Arctic and 20 percent of their current GDP comes from the
region. He said he is not saying Russia is going to invade
Alaska, but General O'Shaughnessy, commander of USNORTHCOM, had
this to say about Russia and China in the Arctic region:
It has become clear that the defense of the homeland
depends on our ability to detect and defeat threats
operating both in the Arctic and passing through the
Arctic. Russia's fielding of advanced, long-range cruise
missiles, capable of flying through the northern approaches
and striking targets in the United States and Canada, has
emerged as the dominant military threat in the Arctic.
Meanwhile, China has declared that it is not content to
remain a mere observer in the Arctic and has taken action
to normalize its naval and commercial presence in the
region in order to increase its access to lucrative
resources and shipping routes. I view the Arctic as the
frontline of defense for the United States and Canada.
MR. SUSLAVICH said he's thankful that the media has caught on to
this narrative in the past few years.
2:53:28 PM
MR. SUSLAVICH displayed a slide of news clips from major
publications talking about activity in the Arctic. He said
Senator Sullivan likes to point these out at committee meetings
because if the media is getting it, the American people are also
getting that message.
He said there are a lot of issues and threats, but Congress is
helping to lead the way on the Arctic. From FY2017 to FY2019,
the NDAA included dozens of things related to the Arctic,
including strategic Arctic port, new icebreakers, naval Arctic
capability studies and strategies, and a focus on Arctic search
and rescue. Congress is pushing DOD to take the Arctic region
much more seriously.
MR. SUSLAVICH said the last part of his presentation will focus
on the future of the Arctic and why it matters to Alaska. He
said he believes it is about education, presence, and
infrastructure.
MR. SUSLAVICH addressed Arctic education, noting that U.S.
Senators Sullivan and Murkowski ask every DOD nominee to visit
Alaska and see what the state means to the U.S. military.
Present and former senior leader visits with Senator Sullivan
include Secretary of Defense Mattis; Secretary of Defense Esper;
General Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Air Force
Secretary Wilson; General Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the Air
Force; General Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps; Richard
Spencer, former Secretary of the Navy. He said the reason for
bringing the senior leaders to Alaska is that the state sells
itself. Senior leaders get on the ground after their 10-hour
flights and they understand how important and how strategic
Alaska is.
MR. SUSLAVICH said Arctic education matters because it leads to
increased presence. Notable examples includes retaining the
425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB), the only airborne
brigade in the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific at JBER; bringing the
F-35 fighter to EAFB; USMC conducting exercises in Seward and
Adak in 2019; increasing focus on modernizing JPARC; improving
Red Flag Alaska; and upgrading the 18th Aggressor Squadron at
EAFB.
2:56:32 PM
MR. SUSLAVICH directed attention to the slide that illustrates
Alaska's strategic location. He said General Billy Mitchell once
stated, "Whoever holds Alaska will hold the world." Also, an op-
ed in Defense News cowritten by Secretary Wilson and General
Goldfein stated the following:
The Arctic has become even more important to the
nation, both a northern approach to the United States
as well as critical location for projecting American
power; its geostrategic significance is difficult to
overstate.
MR. SUSLAVICH said there is a strong education effort, but the
Arctic also needs investment is infrastructure. He noted that
Congress is working on this as well.
MR. SUSLAVICH addressed the slide, Navy Times: "Worst Orders
Ever?"Pentagon Plans Arctic Ports. He said the slide shows that
the Arctic education effort is breaking through. An article in
the Navy Times referenced Senator Sullivan's provision on a
strategic Arctic port as well as the reopening of Adak. If
retired admirals see fit to author an article criticizing a
provision, that means they fear it, that means it has a chance
of surviving in the bill, and that means the Arctic is starting
to get into the national narrative.
2:58:00 PM
MR. SUSLAVICH referenced the slide, Strategic Importance of the
Arctic. He noted that the slide quoted former Secretary of the
Navy, Richard Spencer, on the need for a strategic Arctic port.
The slide illustrates a comparison between the distances from
the Port of Anchorage to the Arctic Circle: 1,500 nautical
miles, and from Florida to Maine: 1,200 nautical miles. DOD has
10 strategic ports along the eastern coast. He remarked that a
senator or congressman from Florida would never accept a single
port in Maine to cover their shoreline, and that is why Senator
Sullivan is passionate about pushing on the lack of strategic
ports between Anchorage and the Arctic.
MR. SUSLAVICH said Senator Sullivan believes that strategic
Arctic ports is about surge, infrastructure, creating a place
for the USN or USCG to resupply and refuel, oil spill response,
and to project forward presence in the Arctic. Senator Sullivan
is thinking about a series of ports with locations left up to
DOD assessment.
2:59:41 PM
MR. SUSLAVICH addressed the slide, Priorities. He said Gen.
O'Shaughnessy has talked about how the United States sees
threats coming into and through the Arctic. The [Distant Early
Warning] (DEW) Line system in Canada is Cold War era technology.
Russia has made substantial investments in their long-range
missile technology since the Cold War and the United States must
do the same to its defensive systems.
MR. SUSLAVICH noted that General O'Shaughnessy stated during a
recent USNORTHCOM meeting that defensive systems technology is a
key area of effort for him. He said he anticipates the upcoming
NDAA in FY2021 will address long-range missile technology.
He remarked that focus on the Arctic and how Alaska is important
requires bringing more equipment, training, and joint presence
operations to the state. He noted that USMC and the USN recently
held operations in Alaska. He added that Maj. Gen. Andrysiak
previously talked about a replacement for the SUSV, an action
with possible funding in FY2023.
3:01:03 PM
MR. SUSLAVICH said he knows many committee members are
interested in the Ted Stevens Arctic Center. Senator Murkowski
has a bill addressing the center and Senator Sullivan's job is
to get the center into the NDAA this year. The center requires
focus on standing up a cadre of knowledge within DOD
specifically on Arctic issues. The center is similar to the Dan
Inouye Center that is currently in Hawaii.
He thanked Senator Coghill and the Alaska State Legislature for
showing support for the Ted Stevens Arctic Center via SR 2. He
said resolutions from the legislature mean something, they help
Senator Sullivan, Senator Murkowski, and Congressman Young by
showing Alaska "circles the wagons" on initiatives that they
believe in.
MR. SUSLAVICH said previous presenters addressed JPARC and how
amazing the range is. JPARC modernization includes more threat
emitters, better aggressors, and USMC training in JPARC.
Enhanced USMC training at JPARC is a personal issue for Senator
Sullivan.
He noted that Senator Sullivan continues to address how to grow
missile defense. Senator Sullivan was instrumental in adding a
new missile field to Fort Greely for dealing with the North
Korean threat.
MR. SUSLAVICH explained that basing KC-46A aircraft in Alaska is
immensely important to Senator Sullivan. The senator speaks to
literally every senior DOD leader and many journals on the
importance of bringing the KC-46A to Alaska. Fifth-generation F-
35 fighters are beginning to arrive in Alaska and the fighters
require the KC-46A aircraft. He pointed out that Alaska will be
home to over 100-combat-coded, fifth-generation fighters, the
most in the world.
3:03:05 PM
MR. SUSLAVICH said he would like to see more investment in the
Arctic. Alaska has received $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion for
military buildup over the last five years to support the F-35
fighter beddown, homeland missile defense, and a
recapitalization of the USCG. However, the United States must
reflect more on how important the Arctic is to the country.
He noted that both Secretary Mattis and Secretary Esper have
called the Arctic a key strategic terrain. Secretary of State
Pompeo said the region has become an arena for great power
competition and the Arctic sea lanes could become the twenty-
first century Suez and Panama canals. Senator Sullivan and the
rest of the Alaska congressional delegation are committed to
ensuring Arctic investment matches the rhetoric.
MR. SUSLAVICH said in addition to the three pillars, Senator
Sullivan also likes to talk about Alaska in terms of history
pillars, which is: a hub of combat air power, a cornerstone of
missile defense, and a strategic platform for expeditionary
forces. Senator Sullivan sometimes adds a fourth pillar and that
is the Alaska people. He adds that because he understands that
whatever the United States invests or does in the Arctic, input
must include Alaska's great people, especially Alaska Natives
who know the Arctic.
He stated that the Artic is in Alaskans' DNA and the United
States must draw upon Alaskans' generational knowledge to drive
the Arctic focus forward, continue education about the Arctic,
promote additional presence in the very strategic region, and
ultimately fuel the investments that the Arctic region will need
for the upcoming decades.
3:05:02 PM
CO-CHAIR REVAK thanked Mr. Suslavich and noted the committee's
appreciation for the work that the Alaska congressional
delegation does for the military, its presence, and the
appropriations that occur in Alaska. He asked him to relay the
committee's gratitude to the federal delegation.
3:05:48 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Co-Chair Revak adjourned the Joint Armed Services Committee
meeting at 3:05 p.m.
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