Legislature(2017 - 2018)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/23/2017 11:30 AM House ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
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| Briefings: Lieutenant General Kenneth S. Wilsbach, Commander, Alaskan North American Aerospace Command Region; Commander, Alaskan Command, U.s. Northern Command; Commander Eleventh Air Force - Major General Bryan R. Owens, Commanding General, U.s. Army Ak - Rear Admiral Michael F. Mcallister, Commander, Seventeenth U.s. Coast Guard District - Major General Laurel J. Hummel, Adjutant General, Ak National Guard; Commissioner, Ak Dept. of Military & Veterans' Affairs. | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
March 23, 2017
11:34 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Scott Kawasaki, Co-Chair
Senator Mia Costello, Co-Chair
Representative Zach Fansler
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux
Representative Geran Tarr
Representative Lora Reinbold
Senator John Coghill
Senator Shelley Hughes
Senator Bill Wielechowski
PUBLIC MEMBERS PRESENT
Nelson N. Angapak, Sr. (via teleconference)
Brigadier General Julio ("Randy") Bañez - retired
Jerry Beasley, Chief Warrant Officer, USCG - retired
Colonel Tim Jones - retired
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Justin Parish
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Dave Talerico
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Pete Kelly
PUBLIC MEMBERS ABSENT
Colonel George Vakalis - retired
Charles ("Chick") Wallace
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
BRIEFINGS: LIEUTENANT GENERAL KENNETH S. WILSBACH~ COMMANDER~
ALASKAN NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE COMMAND REGION; COMMANDER~
ALASKAN COMMAND~ U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND; COMMANDER ELEVENTH AIR
FORCE - MAJOR GENERAL BRYAN R. OWENS~ COMMANDING GENERAL~ U.S.
ARMY AK - REAR ADMIRAL MICHAEL F. MCALLISTER~ COMMANDER~
SEVENTEENTH U.S. COAST GUARD DISTRICT - MAJOR GENERAL LAUREL J.
HUMMEL~ ADJUTANT GENERAL~ AK NATIONAL GUARD; COMMISSIONER~ AK
DEPT. OF MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS.
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
MAJOR GENERAL LAUREL J. HUMMEL, Adjutant General
Alaska National Guard;
Commissioner
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA)
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave introductory remarks and offered an
update of the activities of the Alaska National Guard.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL KENNETH S. WILSBACH, Commander
Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Region
Alaskan Command
Eleventh Air Force
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a briefing on the activities and plans
of military branches which he commands.
MAJOR GENERAL BRYAN R. OWENS, Commanding General
U.S. Army Alaska
Fort Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a briefing regarding the U.S. Army in
Alaska.
REAR ADMIRAL MICHAEL F. MCALLISTER, Commander
Seventeenth U.S. Coast Guard District
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a briefing on the U.S. Coast Guard in
Alaska.
CHAPLAIN (COLONEL) RICK KOCH
Alaska National Guard
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed ethics during the briefing on the
DMVA and Alaska National Guard.
ACTION NARRATIVE
11:34:10 AM
CO-CHAIR SCOTT KAWASAKI called the Joint Armed Services
Committee meeting to order at 11:34 a.m. Representatives
Fansler, LeDoux, Reinbold, Tarr, and Kawasaki and Senators
Coghill, Hughes, Wielechowski, and Costello were present at the
call to order. Public members present were Nelson N. Angapak,
Sr. (via teleconference), Brigadier General Julio ("Randy")
Bañez - retired, Jerry Beasley, Chief Warrant Officer, USCG -
retired, and Colonel Tim Jones - retired.
^BRIEFINGS: Lieutenant General Kenneth S. Wilsbach, Commander,
Alaskan North American Aerospace Command Region; Commander,
Alaskan Command, U.S. Northern Command; Commander Eleventh Air
Force - Major General Bryan R. Owens, Commanding General, U.S.
Army AK - Rear Admiral Michael F. McAllister, Commander,
Seventeenth U.S. Coast Guard District - Major General Laurel J.
Hummel, Adjutant General, AK National Guard; Commissioner, AK
Dept. of Military & Veterans' Affairs.
BRIEFINGS: Lieutenant General Kenneth S. Wilsbach, Commander,
Alaskan North American Aerospace Command Region; Commander,
Alaskan Command, U.S. Northern Command; Commander Eleventh Air
Force - Major General Bryan R. Owens, Commanding General, U.S.
Army AK - Rear Admiral Michael F. McAllister, Commander,
Seventeenth U.S. Coast Guard District - Major General Laurel J.
Hummel, Adjutant General, AK National Guard; Commissioner, AK
Dept. of Military & Veterans' Affairs.
11:35:17 AM
CO-CHAIR KAWASAKI announced that the only order of business
would be briefings from the heads of the military branches in
Alaska: Lieutenant General Kenneth S. Wilsbach, Major General
Bryan R. Owens, Rear Admiral Michael F. McAllister, and Major
General Laurel J. Hummel.
11:37:08 AM
MAJOR GENERAL LAUREL J. HUMMEL, Adjutant General, Alaska
National Guard; Commissioner, Department of Military & Veterans'
Affairs (DMVA), stated that Alaska Statute directs the adjutant
general as the official liaison between the state and active
military within the state, which she said gives her the
opportunity to work with military service members and leaders of
all service branches, while representing the state in military
matters. She stated, "Teamwork and a sense of common purpose
are the touchstones for the military in Alaska." She proceeded
to introduce the other military leaders in the room.
11:40:03 AM
LIEUTENANT GENERAL KENNETH S. WILSBACH, Commander, Alaskan North
American Aerospace Defense Region, Alaskan Command, Eleventh Air
Force, emphasized the cooperation and compatibility of the
military branches and leadership in Alaska and his appreciation
of the support received from the State of Alaska. He talked
about the unique experience military personnel receive in
Alaska, where Alaskans welcome them to their homes as family
members, which he said is why so many military members end up
staying in Alaska.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH began a PowerPoint presentation
[hard copy included in the committee packet]. He directed
attention to slide 2, and indicated he would offer an overview
of the past year, the present, and the future. He turned to
slide 3, entitled "Exercises," and highlighted two of the
exercises. The first exercise was called "Arctic Chinook,"
which involved all factions of the military in a practice of a
hypothetical rescue of cruise ship passengers traveling through
Arctic regions. He said the impetus for creating this exercise
was the cruise ship "Crystal Serenity's" voyage through the
Bering Strait, across the northern coast of Canada, to New York,
and the desire to be prepared if a voyage such as that resulted
in a need for rescue. The second exercise was "RED FLAG-
Alaska," which he said involves three to four events a year,
based out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, as well as Eielson
Air Force Base, with nations from all over the world that
participate - 16 nations in 2016. The area used is the Alaska
Range, and the exercise involves "the high end of aerial
combat." He said the other nations that participate receive
what is often the best training they have had, and they want to
come back. Working with other nations provides the training
necessary should a situation arise in which nations must
integrate with each other. He commented on the space that is
necessary to operate fifth generation aircraft and that the
range meets that need.
11:45:16 AM
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH turned next to slide 4, entitled
"Operations and Events," and he brought attention to information
highlighted in yellow on the bottom-right of the slide. He said
there is a rescue coordination center that works 24/7, in
combination with the U.S. Air Force and the National Guard of
Alaska, "but often times U.S. Army aircraft are involved with
the rescue." He said, "This past year, we had 53 Alaskans that
were saved by this rescue force." He said the average is one
save per week. Lieutenant General Wilsbach informed the
committee that another 24/7 mission, which operates out of Joint
Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Eielson Air Force Base, is the
defense of North America. He continued as follows:
We're partnering up with Canada and we ... have
fighters on alert - they are able to launch in a few
minutes - and we also have an [airborne warning and
control system] (AWACS) aircraft for not being able to
surveil any air space that we might want to surveil in
response to any threats that we perceive, as well as a
tanker that sits alert up at Eielson, which is able to
refuel those assets once we get airborne. And so, in
addition to that National Guard squadron that operates
24/7 is [the] monitoring [of] the numerous radar feeds
that come in from all over the state that monitor the
air space around Alaska.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH pointed to "Operation Colony
Glacier" - shown at the top-left of the slide, and noted that in
1952 a C-124 cargo aircraft crashed on Colony Glacier, killing
everyone on board, and it was missing for several decades, until
a National Guard helicopter spotted wreckage a few years ago.
He said recovery of the remains has been conducted "over the
last few summers," and the work will continue in the summer of
2017 through National Guard and U.S. Airforce efforts.
11:47:53 AM
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH directed attention to slide 5,
entitled "Strategic Importance," to the bottom of the slide, to
a quote by Brigadier General Billy Mitchell during his testimony
to U.S. Congress in 1935, which read as follows: "Alaska is the
most strategic place on earth." The map on the slide shows a
map with Alaska at the center of an oval, and everything within
the oval - including South America and the major cities of the
Northern Hemisphere - can be reached in 9 hours or less of
flying time. He said that "presents a great force projection
capability" and explains why Alaska has military forces to
provide humanitarian assistance around the world or to respond
to conflict. He reported that currently there are forces in
Southwest Asia executing daily missions against ISIS. Further,
he related that "the 525 fighter squadron F-22s have been
dropping numerous weapons and destroying targets in both Iraq
and Syria over the last several months," and he noted that those
involved got their training in Alaska.
11:49:39 AM
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH moved on to slide 6, entitled
"Evolving Arctic." He said the bottom-right image shows where
the ice used to be in the Arctic and how it is receding, which
has opened opportunities for human activity in the Arctic. The
top-right image shows transit routes in the Arctic, which save
considerable time in transit. He said other reasons to be in
the Arctic include tourism and natural resources. The image in
the top-left of the slide shows the claims in the Arctic by many
countries. He said while those claims are overlapping, they
have been resolved peacefully. The bottom-left image, he noted,
shows Russia's claim at the top of the globe, and he said it is
concerning, because it overlaps with many other nations. He
stated:
We want the Arctic to remain a peaceful place, but one
thing that concern me, as a military person, is I look
at Russia and what they're building, as far as Arctic-
capable combat forces - significantly offensive
capability. They have as many as 40 ice breakers,
which makes sense, given that much of their country
boarders the Arctic and they have to keep those sea
lanes open; but ... the offensive capability certainly
concerns me.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH said one of his responsibilities as
Northern Command (NorthCom) commander is to ensure good Arctic
strategies. He emphasized a commitment to maintaining peace in
the Arctic.
11:52:04 AM
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH showed slide 7, entitled "Eielson F-
35." He said the plan is to acquire 54 aircraft, the first of
which will arrive in the spring or summer of 2020 and the last
of which should arrive on or before the winter of 2022. In the
meantime, he stated, there is much building to do: about $500
million in military construction - several buildings to bring on
the new mission. He explained that the military will not be
trading something else for the F-35s but are installing them as
a new mission, which will bring about 3,500 additional personnel
to the base, doubling the population. He highlighted that base
housing will be maxed out, and he has been talking to mayors in
the areas of Eielson Air Force Base, North Pole, and Fairbanks,
to ask them to consider construction for housing to accommodate
young families moving to the area.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH turned to slide 8, entitled "FY17
MILCON," which shows military construction (MILCON) information
for fiscal year 2017 (FY17). The branches of military are color
coded on the slide and he said Alaska is doing well in terms of
economic impact through the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD),
with $563 million invested in Alaska - number one in the nation
and $120 million more than any other state. He said the
national leadership recognizes the strategic nature of Alaska,
and "we have to invest here to be able to be ready to execute
our mission."
11:54:23 AM
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH directed attention to the final
PowerPoint projection, slide 9, entitled "On Our Scope," and he
said homeland defense is the number one priority. He said if
there is a significant threat, the number of forces dedicated to
homeland security could be increased. He said, "We keep a very
close eye toward the threat." All threats have "some sort of
implication to us here in Alaska." He named the following
countries: Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. He said North
Korea has nuclear aspirations, as well as has been developing an
intercontinental ballistic missile, which is concerning. He
said if Iran were ever to employ intercontinental ballistic
missiles against the U.S., those missiles would "go by here,"
and forces at Ft. Greely would be responsible for intercepting
those inbound missiles.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH, regarding international terrorism
or violent extremist organizations, stated, "We certainly are
fighting that now as we have forces downrange fighting them even
today." He asked the committee to think about the families that
are left in Alaska while their loved ones are fighting - to
"keep them in your thoughts and prayers if you're so inclined."
He said all the threats that have been named as the top
priorities for DoD have "some sort of implications to us here in
Alaska"; therefore, "we are ready to fight tonight." He said
one of his boss's objectives is a readiness to "deploy and fight
at any time," and he confirmed that is a reality.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH talked about Arctic advocacy, and he
said he is frequently in the position of being the Arctic expert
because of the amount of time spent operating in the region. He
said his colleagues are [experts] in their respective services.
He mentioned "Northern Edge," which is an exercise much like RED
FLAG-Alaska but with a maritime component added, and he said it
would be taking place May 1-12, 2017. He said Alaska Native
fisherman, as well as commercial fisherman, have expressed
concern about the maritime portion of the exercise, and the
military has listened to those concerns and modified the
exercise to try to stay as far away from the fishing activities
as possible. He said the exercise brings together air and
maritime forces to "fight jointly in an exercise environment,
which is how we actually fight in the real world." He expressed
appreciation to the State of Alaska for providing both the air
and maritime space that make it possible for these exercises to
take place.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH drew attention to the last item on
slide 9, regarding the care of families. He said many military
members come to Alaska and fall in love with it, but they are
far away from home. The military wants to take care of them
while they are in Alaska, as well as their loved ones while the
members are deployed. He indicated that the aim is for
retention and to offer military personnel "a good quality of
life as they serve their country."
11:58:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD referred to slide 8 and noted that her
father was site manager of the [ballistic missile early warning
system] in '60s, at Clear Air Force Station, and she requested
an update.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH suggested Major General Hummel could
better respond to the question. Notwithstanding that, he
offered that there have been upgrades to the radar, which he
said is "integral to the defense of North America" and can keep
track of spacecraft. He explained that the radar can detect any
missile fired [towards Alaska] and feed the coordinates to the
missiles at Fort Greely, which would "conduct the intercept."
He emphasized the importance of continually updating the radar.
He noted that some of the facilities [at Clear Air Force
Station] are old; therefore, they are being renovated or new
ones are being built. The site is remote, so it is important to
the military to create a [comfortable] place for its members
there to live.
12:01:24 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if the threat level has "legitimately
increased" or is being exaggerated by the press. Further, he
inquired whether Alaska, because of its proximity, is a likely
target.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH, to the first question, said it
depends on the country; however, he said the rhetoric and
activity coming from North Korea gives him cause for concern
that the threat has increased. To the second question, he said
there are facilities in Alaska that could be considered targets,
which is why the military has forces in Alaska that can defend
the nation.
12:02:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX, regarding the previous mention of Russia,
asked, "Under what color of international law is it making those
claims, and does anybody else claim the Arctic? Do we claim the
Arctic?"
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH referred back to [slide 6] and
explained how the various colors represent different claims, and
he reiterated that the claims overlap. He indicated that [the
claims] are connected to international law, many to maritime
law. Many countries make the claim based on their historical
association with the area. He reemphasized that thus far, all
the countries have managed the overlapping claims in a peaceful
and diplomatic way, and if that method is continued, then
differences regarding economic rights will continue to be
solved. He noted that the areas are either water or ice,
depending on the time of year. In response to a follow-up
question, Lieutenant General Wilsbach said most operations of
ours and other countries are done on vessels but occasionally on
the ice. He mentioned an operation called, "Ice-X," which is
where a submarine is "punched" through the ice and a camp set up
on top of the ice, and he said other countries are doing similar
things. He indicated that military exercises on international
waters are legal and "understandable," and he said, "Up that far
north, we're not claiming any territory there." He offered his
understanding that everyone has been operating in accordance
with international law, and "these claims ... are in ... the
international dialogue, and if they continue to be diplomatic in
nature, I think we're going to be good."
12:06:15 PM
COLONEL TIM JONES - retired noted that the House and Senate [of
the Alaska State Legislature] are currently considering
legislation to enact REAL ID compliant identification, and he
offered his understanding that without such legislation,
hundreds of Alaskans working as contractors on military
installations will be denied entry onto military bases,
beginning June [2017]. He referred to the [over] $500 million
spent in MILCON in 2017 and the $512 million spent to
accommodate the F-35s, and over $400 million for the long-range
discrimination radar (LRDR). He stated that the military is a
big portion of Interior Alaska's economy. He opined, "I think
it's important that this committee support this legislation in
general." He questioned whether additional [MILCON] labor will
be possible should [REAL ID-compliant] legislation fail to pass,
and he asked Lieutenant General Wilsbach for his thoughts on the
impact to the military.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH said according to his briefing of
the [federal] law, starting June anyone without REAL ID
compliant identification will have to be escorted on a military
base. He relayed that REAL ID compliant identification
includes: a passport, military identification, or a driver's
license from another state that is REAL ID compliant. It would
include an Alaska driver's license if Alaska becomes REAL ID
compliant. He noted that having to escort those without REAL ID
compliant identification on base creates "a little bit of an
extra burden." He said he would not have the authority to grant
waivers.
12:08:31 PM
SENATOR HUGHES offered her understanding, based on something she
had read about three years ago, that Russia was planning a $10
million buildup of unmanned aircraft on its side of the Arctic.
She asked Lieutenant General Wilsbach if that plan has proceeded
and, if so, if the military situation in Alaska is "balanced" in
terms of its capabilities.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH replied that although he cannot
confirm "the figure," he knows [Russia] is advancing in terms of
its unmanned vehicles and plans to put them in the eastern
portion of the country, which would be close to Alaska. He
offered to provide additional information later, but said,
"We're postured for that."
12:09:41 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 12:09 p.m.
12:10:00 PM
MAJOR GENERAL BRYAN R. OWENS, Commanding General, U.S. Army
Alaska, expressed appreciation for the military support from
Alaskans, including individuals, business owners, local
governments, and the legislature.
MAJOR GENERAL OWENS began a PowerPoint presentation [hard copy
available in the committee packet] and explained that the photo
[of a soldier dressed in winter gear and walking outside] was
taken in Deadhorse, Alaska, with an outside temperature of minus
60 degrees Fahrenheit. He directed attention to slide 2,
entitled "Trained and Ready Forces." He said the U.S. Army
Alaska (USARAK) has active duty troops stationed primarily in
Fort Wainwright and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER).
Fort Wainwright is the home of the nation's northernmost Stryker
brigade combat team (BCT) and USARAK Aviation Task Force. "1st
Stryker" just executed a successful National Training Center
(NTC) rotation at the NTC at Fort Irwin, California, this past
January. He explained, "This rigorous training exercise tested
and validated the Arctic Wolves' capabilities across all the
war-fighting functions and ensure[s] the brigade's prepared to
deploy, fight, and win in a complex environment." He relayed
that the general support aviation battalion recently deployed to
Afghanistan; the Flying Dragons sent approximately 300 soldiers
and aircraft to conduct "heliborne" operations to assist in
training Afghan security forces.
MAJOR GENERAL OWENS stated JBER is the home of USARAK
headquarters, which is primarily responsible for providing
"training and readiness authority over the assigned units, as
well as provide oversight for the active duty armed forces in
the state of Alaska." He said maneuver forces located at JBER
include the 4/25 F-trooper (indisc.) combat team, which he said
is "the only U.S. Army airborne brigade in the Asia Pacific
theater of operations." He said JBER is also the home of the
17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB), with diverse
missions and capabilities. He said both units are busy with
exercises "to ensure readiness and deployments in support of
worldwide operations." He reported that approximately 160
soldiers from JBER and Fort Wainwright just deployed to fight
the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), with the 574th
Combat Support Company, which was activated October 14, [2016],
under 17th CSSB. He said, "This will be the unit's first
deployment since activation, but it's the sixth deployment for
the commander." He said 4/25 will head to the Joint Readiness
Training Center in June for a "decisive action training
environment rotation" at Fort Hope, Louisiana.
MAJOR GENERAL OWENS noted that the third location in Alaska is
the Norther Warfare Training Center (NWTC), located at Black
Rapids, near Fort Greely. He said NWTC is the [USARAK's] center
for world-class Arctic and mountain warfare instruction. The
training lands allow the leverage of nearly 1.6 million acres of
joint Pacific Alaska range complex. For perspective, he noted
that the national training center is 2.5 times smaller than the
training area in Alaska. He said troopers are trained to
"thrive, not just survive," in extreme cold conditions. He said
there are historic examples of times when armies were decimated
because they were not prepared to survive and fight in the cold.
12:14:45 PM
MAJOR GENERAL OWENS turned to slide 3, entitled "Unclassified
Operations." He stated, "Our nation depends on its army to help
with recovery efforts in the wake of a natural disaster; to
defeat enemy forces abroad; and to defend the shores of the
homeland." He said professional soldiers work, study, and train
to ensure the success of the U.S. Army in meeting the needs of
the nation. He said USARAK is at the forefront of protecting
America's interest in the Asia Pacific Region, while also
providing "ready and relevant forces to overseas contingency
operations and homeland defense."
MAJOR GENERAL OWENS said Alaska is one of the U.S. Military's
"most centrally located power projection platform[s]" and
[USARAK] benefits from joint training opportunities in varied
environments that provide ideal training grounds that "prepare
our soldiers for the challenges of our times." He stated that
Alaska is the only one of the 50 states that borders the Arctic.
He said that USARAK's location in the Arctic results in both
unique challenges and opportunities. Conditions require Arctic
fuel craft and the knowledge and ability to operate sustained
operations in an environment where temperatures can "hover" at
minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit, storms generate hurricane force
winds, and the terrain is impassable with "Lower 48 land
mobility systems." He said [USARAK] builds its strength with
joint and multinational exercises, which prepares its soldiers
for "the challenges that lie ahead."
MAJOR GENERAL OWENS emphasized the importance of developing
bilateral and multilateral relationships with international
partners with shared goals and mutual interests. He said
[USARAK] trains with foreign partners with cold weather
experience and invites them to Alaska for the Cold Region
Military Mountaineering Collaborative Training Event; the next
one is scheduled for February 2018 and will include cold weather
experts from around the world. Major General Owens said USARAK
also supports Pacific Commanders Theater Engagement Strategy,
which involves exercises and engagements with partners in Japan,
Canada, Thailand, Nepal, India, and Mongolia. He relayed that
in the summer of 2017, the Stryker and airborne brigades will
play a central role in "Pacific pathways ... conducted around
the Pacific in Australia, Singapore, Thailand, and Japan."
12:17:33 PM
MAJOR GENERAL OWENS directed attention to slide 4, entitled
"Unclassified Arctic Anvil 16," and he said he would highlight
two recent exercises that "exemplify the great capabilities of
our units and demonstrate the terrific training that we can
accomplish here in Alaska." The first, Arctic Anvil, was
conducted in the Joint Pacific Alaska Training Complex in the
summer of 2016 and provided "a robust home station training
force on force combat exercise, primarily to test and prove the
readiness of 1st Stryker brigade and the aviation units we had
deploying down in advance of their national training center
deployment." He relayed that Fort Wainwright's newest aviation
units had the opportunity to train in a joint, multinational
combined arms exercise - the largest in Alaska since 2001. He
reported that over 5,000 soldiers participated, including people
from USARAK, the Alaska National Guard, the Iowa National Guard,
and the U.S. Air Force. He expressed appreciation for the
relationship between the varied forces. He mentioned the 196th
Infantry Brigade, the Canadian military, and observers from
Singapore and Japan.
MAJOR GENERAL OWENS stated that Arctic Anvil was selected by
higher headquarters to test the joint Pacific multinational
readiness capability. He said, "It's a deployable training
system with instrumentation and observer/controller trainers
that enhance the ability to conduct our home station training.
So, our army is going more and more to home station training."
He said Arctic Anvil improved the readiness of the Alaska-based
units and was successful in showing training capabilities.
12:20:09 PM
MAJOR GENERAL OWENS turned to slide 5, entitled "Spartan Pegasus
17." He reiterated the extreme cold conditions and expressed
pride in the paratrooper participants of the exercise in
Deadhorse, who jumped into the area and applied their Arctic
mobility training to recover and secure a simulated downed
satellite. He said [Spartan Pegasus] was the third large
airborne operation conducted near the Arctic Ocean. He said
there were generals there from Japan and Canada, as well as
senior leaders from the U.S. Army, U.S. National Guard, and U.S.
Air Force.
MAJOR GENERAL OWENS reported that airborne forces are busy
getting ready for a multinational, joint readiness training
center event. He reiterated that the Stryker brigade would be
participating in Pacific Pathways this summer, and he added that
he would be leaving command in July. He expressed gratitude for
being given leadership of USARAK, and he announced his
successor's name is Major General Mark O'Neil, who is currently
the USARAK chief of staff. He expressed confidence in Major
General Mark O'Neil's ability to continue the pattern of "great
accomplishments."
MAJOR GENERAL OWENS announced that a team of USARAK, German, and
Canadian soldiers will attempt to ascend Denali this spring -
bad weather last year having prevented the group from summiting.
He said the airborne brigade has been invited to participate in
"Japan's First Jump" this year, which he explained is an annual
event, and he explained that being able to participate is a
great honor.
12:22:00 PM
MAJOR GENERAL OWENS ended his presentation and thanked the
legislature for its service to the state. In response to Chair
Kawasaki, he explained the reason for his departure from USARAK
is to make a transition "the next chapter, whatever that might
be." He said he and his family would move to Anchorage, Alaska.
12:22:57 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO talked about Alaska's recession and the efforts
being made to address the issue. She opined that the presence
of the military in Alaska is "foundational to ... the success
that we're going to be seeing with our economy." She said she
had read something regarding the U.S. Army that caused her to
have concern. She asked what Alaska could be doing and what the
military is doing to prevent the base realignment and closure
(BRAC) process from occurring.
MAJOR GENERAL OWENS answered that BRAC is not bad in regard to
the ability to "consolidate some pieces." He stated that
currently USARAK has no force structure changes. He noted that
there are some increases for the U.S. Army - 26,000 overall, but
about 16,000 to the active force. He said it is unlikely to see
those changes in Alaska, but there won't be force cuts in the
near future. He told Senator Costello that he is not hearing
anything that shows any kind of reorganization or structure
changes in Alaska.
12:24:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR asked for a brief update on environmental
impact statement (EIS) process taking place at JBER, which she
offered her understanding relates to work on two runways, the
noise involved, and a new process that has been initiated.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILSBACH [off microphone] said the question
is in the scope of the Air Force and offered to put a response
in writing.
12:25:47 PM
SENATOR COGHILL expressed appreciation for [Major General
Owens'] work with the University of Alaska on "the gray eagle"
and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issues.
12:26:20 PM
REAR ADMIRAL MICHAEL F. MCALLISTER, Commander, Seventeenth U.S.
Coast Guard District, offered an opening statement, as follows:
The Coast Guard serves and safeguards the public,
protects the maritime environment and resources, and
defends the nation's interest in Alaska maritime
regions. In a state as vast as Alaska, we can't do
that alone, so we work very closely with federal,
state, local, Alaska Native partners, as well as
through transparent engagement with industries and
nongovernmental and private organizations to meet the
diverse needs of the maritime (indisc.).
REAR ADMIRAL MICHAEL F. MCALLISTER began a PowerPoint
presentation [hard copy available in the committee packet]. He
continued as follows:
The 17th Coast Guard District includes the entire
state of Alaska and its 44,000 miles of coastline.
Coast Guard units and personnel conduct search and
rescue missions in an area responsibility that covers
3.8 million square miles of ocean - an area larger
than the landmass of the entire United States,
including Alaska - and we're continually reminded of
the hazards of the marine environment through such
events as the recent tragic sinking of the fishing
vessel Destination and the loss of her six crew in
February and the successful rescue of 46 crew members
from the fishing vessel Alaska Juris when it sank 690
miles west of Dutch Harbor last July. Coast Guard men
and women are at sea and in the air every day to
provide emergency response.
Coast Guard missions also include homeland security
and military defense, maintenance of aids to
navigation, environmental preparedness and response,
and marine safety of both recreational and commercial
vessels throughout the state of Alaska. As the
nation's smallest armed force, the Coast Guard
performs these statutory missions throughout Alaska
with 2,500 highly professional active duty, reserve,
civilian, and auxiliary or volunteer members that I'm
honored to represent here today.
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER said he would focus his remarks on the
Coast Guard's broad security missions, which cover defense and
environmental and economic security. He said to protect living
marine resources, while ensuring the safety and sustainability
of Alaska's $6 billion fishing industry, the Coast Guard works
closely with both federal and state partners to conduct fishing
vessel boarding dockside and throughout the exclusive economic
zone, which he described as being 200 [nautical] miles offshore.
He said Alaska has a sustainable fisheries program, because all
the participants follow the rules of actively managing the
resource.
12:29:27 PM
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER, while displaying slide 3, entitled
"Illegal Unreported Unregulated Fishing (IUU) Enforcement," said
the Coast Guard works closely with Russia, China, Japan, Canada,
and South Korea. It controls joint patrols and law enforcement
activities to enforce treaties designed to affect highly
migratory fisheries, such as salmon, from illegal, unreported,
and unregulated fishing activity on the high seas. He said
despite global tensions, cooperation among these nations remain
strong and the joint efforts have reduced overfishing.
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER, displaying slide 4, entitled "Oil Spill
Response Coordination," stated that protecting Alaska's valuable
marine resources and marine environment also relies on "a robust
system to prevent and, when necessary, respond to oil and
chemical spills." He noted that the following day - March 24,
2017 - would be the twenty-eighth anniversary of the grounding
of the Exxon Valdez [oil tanker] in Prince William Sound, an
incident that resulted in the spilling of 10.1 million gallons
of crude oil. He said because of that spill, the Coast Guard
has new authorities to be more proactive both in prevention and
response to spills.
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER continued as follows:
As the nation's lead for commercial vessel safety and
the federal lead for spill response in the coastal
zones of Alaska, we work together with state and local
counterparts to manage this system through activities
such as oil spill response planning, training and
exercises, training and certification of oil spill
response organizations, and on-scene oversight of
spill cleanup efforts.
We must focus on continuing to improve our
capabilities over time, and the Coast Guard has
published draft guidelines for the implementation of
vessel response plans, with alternative criteria that
allows us to tailor our approaches to the unique
challenges of working in remote areas of Alaska.
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER talked about coordinated efforts with
the Canadian Coast Guard and exercises conducted at the two
borders [shown on the slide 4]. He said after a number of years
of limited progress, the U.S. Coast Guard has restarted talks
with its Russian counterparts to "update and exercise our
existing U.S./Russia joint contingency plan for oil spills along
our maritime border."
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER indicated that the Coast Guard is
focused on maintaining its commitment to excellence and building
its capabilities in service to the nation. He expressed
excitement that the Coast Guard received two new fast response
cutters this spring, because they will allow the Coast Guard to
expand its operations, particularly in Southeast, Southcentral,
and the Gulf of Alaska. He also noted that the Coast Guard will
be receiving C-130 J models in 2018, which will provide extended
range and endurance for search and rescue and other missions in
Alaska. Further, he relayed that the Coast Guard has recently
upgraded its marine communications equipment in Southeast and
Southcentral Alaska.
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER highlighted that the Coast Guard
recently awarded a contract to design and build offshore patrol
cutters, which are tailor made to operate efficiently in rough
seas, as are common in Alaska waters. He said the ships should
come off the production line in the early 2020s.
12:32:50 PM
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER announced that 2018 marks the one
hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Coast Guard service in
Alaska, which began when the "revenue cutter service"
transported government officials to Sitka, Alaska, for the land
transfer from Russia in 1867. He continued:
During that same trip, the revenue cutter Lincoln went
on to conduct its first Alaska patrol to put in
coastal surveys, protecting Alaska's natural
resources, and serving as an important and often sole
U.S. federal presence in this vast territory, and
we've been here ever since.
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER said he can attest that the Coast Guard
men and women are proud to serve in Alaska and are welcome in
the state's communities. They are also proud to serve alongside
the other factions of the military. He expressed appreciation
to the Joint Armed Services Committee for its support.
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER talked about the change cause by melting
Arctic ice and extensive annual operations conducted in Arctic
regions for the past several years, called Arctic Shield. He
said in 2016, the Coast Guard had numerous Coast Guard ships
deployed across the Arctic region to conduct patrols, visit
coastal communities, maintain "ace navigation," support research
and development, and conduct exercises. He said shore side
teams conducted training with village fire departments and
volunteers in the area of oil spill response, cold water
survival, and ice rescues. In a continuing partnership with the
State of Alaska's [Office of] Boating Safety, the Coast Guard
visited 23 communities to provide education through the Kids
Don't Float program to over 2,900 children in Alaska.
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER talked about the highlights of 2016.
One was the Coast Guard's deployment of two MH-60 helicopters,
aircrews, and maintenance crew in Kotzebue. The Coast Guard was
given the use of the U.S. National Guard's facility, which was
instrumental in those operations, he said. Another highlight
was the preparation of the historic transit of the cruise ship
Crystal Serenity's 1,600 passengers and crew, through careful
coordination with the cruise line, the Canadian Coast Guard, and
local villages to ensure a safe and productive outcome. He said
there were numerous Coast Guard units working alongside National
Guard and DoD counterparts, as well as other state agencies, to
conduct exercise Artic Chinook, which "simulated the forced
evacuation of a cruise ship far from major population centers."
Rear Admiral McAllister noted that the photographs from that
exercise are shown on slide 5. He said this was the first
exercise under the new Arctic Council Search and Rescue
agreement, with numerous international observers and the
opportunity to collaborate with numerous entities and test the
Coast Guard's interoperability and ability to deploy.
12:36:28 PM
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER moved on to slide 6, entitled "Arctic
Shield 2017: Force Lay-Down," and said the Coast Guard plans to
build on the events of 2016 and further improve its response
capabilities in the Arctic Region. He said the Coast Guard has
plans to: deploy two MH-60 helicopters in Kotzebue again;
position multiple Coast Guard cutters offshore; conduct ice
rescue training in various locations; and conduct oil spill
response exercises and training in Dillingham and Barrow. He
said the Coast Guard does expect the Crystal Serenity to make
another Northwest Passage trip this year, and he said he
understands there are additional cruise ships that may be taking
similar voyages in the future.
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER announced that after working closely
with Alaska Native communities, environmental organizations,
federal and state partners, and industry, the Coast Guard
recently published its Port Access Route Study, which proposes a
700-mile safe shipping route through the Bering Strait to avoid
environmentally sensitive and subsistence-critical areas. He
said in 2017 the Coast Guard will expand on that work, with the
start of a port access route study for the Beaufort and Chukchi
Seas, and it will coordinate with the Canadian [Coast Guard] as
it begins a similar project in the Northwest Passage.
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER emphasized the importance of strong
partnerships with DoD, federal, and state governments and
borough and Native communities. He expressed appreciation for
the support of the State of Alaska through its involvement in
the events in which the Coast Guard participates. He concluded,
"We look forward to continuous and ongoing opportunities to work
with our partners to preserve Alaska's natural resources from
threats to the environment, sovereignty, and security, and raise
the awareness of the strategic importance of Alaska's role as
the nation's sole Arctic state as we start our next 150 years of
service in this region."
12:38:37 PM
SENATOR HUGHES offered her understanding that the federal
administration has proposed a 12 percent cut to the Coast
Guard's budget, and she asked Rear Admiral McAllister what the
impact of that might be. Further, regarding the number of ice
breakers that Russia has, she asked if there are plans in the
future for the U.S. Coast Guard to acquire more ice breakers in
Alaska's waters.
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER responded that on Thursday of last week,
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security put out a press
release, which indicated that Coast Guard funding would be
sustained at current levels, which would allow the continuation
of day-to-day operations, as well as the Coast Guard's
investments in infrastructure and "to recapitalize our fleet."
He said the President's FY 17 budget includes $150 million to
begin the design work for the first heavy ice breaker that the
Coast Guard has built in over 40 years. The anticipation is
that that ice breaker will be completed, with the help of the
U.S. Navy, by 2023. He said the Coast Guard has recommended
that the nation own three heavy ice breakers capable of breaking
ice in both Polar Regions, as well as three medium ice breakers.
12:40:37 PM
CO-CHAIR COSTELLO asked Rear Admiral McAllister to comment on
the absence of the U.S. as a signatory to the "Law of the Sea"
treaty and how that may impact the work of the U.S. Coast Guard.
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER answered that all military services have
recommended that the U.S. become a signatory to the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which he said
is the basis for the claims to the Arctic Region that have been
submitted thus far. He said one of the practical impacts is
that until the U.S. becomes a signatory, it cannot make a claim
for the Arctic Region. Notwithstanding that, the U.S. has
agreed to adhere to the stipulations or provisions of UNCLOS
without signing it. He explained, "And so, there is no
immediate change in the way that we have done business; we
continue to interact with other nations around the globe on the
high seas under the provisions of UNCLOS, even though we are not
a signatory."
CO-CHAIR COSTELLO noted that she had asked that question on
behalf of Representative Saddler.
12:42:38 PM
SENATOR COGHILL noted that the Arctic Council would be meeting
to change the gavel from one member to another. He asked if the
Coast Guard is involved in the discussion [of that council]. He
then asked how the Coast Guard "stacks up" in terms of
communication related to navigation and search and rescue.
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER answered that the Coast Guard supports
the Arctic Council and has created an Arctic Coast Guard forum
under the council to focus on "maritime-related issues amongst
the Arctic Council nations." He said the Coast Guard commandant
is the current chair of that forum, but the next chair will be
from Finland. He said the Coast Guard is involved with both
governance bodies. He related that from a local perspective,
his job is to localize those things that are agreed to amongst
the Arctic Council or the Arctic Coast Guard Forum. For
example, he said the Arctic Chinook mass rescue operation that
was conducted was done under "the Arctic search and rescue
agreement."
REAR ADMIRAL MCALLISTER, regarding communications, said the
Coast Guard has improved its communications, which improves all
its missions. He said Alaska's size and climate creates
challenges working in remote locations, and while improvements
have been made, the Coast Guard will try to fill the gaps and
continue to make improvements. He said an "appropriate
communications capability" is a high priority before the Coast
Guard, industry, or communities along the North Slope or Western
Alaska will have a "significant maritime presence."
12:45:17 PM
CO-CHAIR KAWASAKI noted that there is more coastline along the
state of Alaska than in the rest of the United States, and he
expressed appreciation to the Coast Guard for "keeping us safe."
12:46:05 PM
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL began her briefing, regarding the Alaska
National Guard, with a PowerPoint presentation [hard copy
available in the committee packet]. She noted that the
progenitor of the National Guard - the militia - has been around
since 1636, longer than any other military faction in the U.S.
She said that "organized militia" is the statutory term for the
four divisions: the Army National Guard, the Air National
Guard, the State Defense Force, and the Alaska Naval Militia.
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL referred to slide 2, entitled "DMVA
Mission," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
To provide military forces to accomplish military
missions in the state or around the world; provide
homeland security and defense; emergency preparedness,
response, and recover; veterans services; and youth
military style training and education.
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL turned to slide 3, entitled "DMVA Vision
and Core Values." She expressed her belief in the importance of
establishing a shared vision supported by core values. She said
the vision statement outlines "the four major lines of effort"
throughout the entire department, and they are: federal mission
assurance, viable Arctic strategy, emergency management
capacity, and engagement with Alaska communities. She said
common understanding creates efficiency in terms of people,
equipment, and fiscal resources.
12:48:37 PM
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL directed attention to slides 4 and 5,
entitled "Alaska National Guard in the News." She said the
Alaska National Guard divested the legacy C-130 fleet on
Elmendorf "as part of a package where we received ownership of
the strategic airlift platform - our C-17s." She said the
Alaska National Guard is partnering internationally with
Mongolia, Canada, and Denmark for training and exercises. She
highlighted a biathlon championship team. She said the Alaska
National Guard continued its aviation support of the Colony
Glacier recovery operations previously described by Lieutenant
General Wilsbach. She relayed that the National Guard been
actively recognizing soldiers that have been overlooked in the
past.
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL described the photographs on slide 5: Army
Guard military police and Air Guard security police sworn in as
special police by the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police
Department to assist in civilian law enforcement for the
President's inauguration; a book cover aptly titled "Never
Quit," published by a former Air Guard "parajumper"; Lieutenant
Governor Byron Mallott with a former Sergeant First Class Wesley
Aiken, who has served Alaskans for over 70 years, including
currently as tribal representative at age 90; and a gathering of
guard members challenged to lead the initiative in what Major
General Hummel called, "ethical fitness."
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL introduced Chaplain (Colonel) Rick Koch.
12:51:41 PM
CHAPLAIN (COLONEL) RICK KOCH, Alaska National Guard, testified
as follows:
Following the times of troubles experienced by the ...
Alaska National Guard, before the end of 2014, General
Hummel devised a plan to ensure the proficiency and
effectiveness of the military professionalism and
ethical fitness within our organization. Through her
contacts at the national level, she met and
communicated with Rear Admiral Margaret Klein, who
headed the Secretary of Defense Office of Military
Professionalism at the Pentagon.
General Hummel charged me to lead a team from our
organization to be trained at that office. Four of
us, to include our senior listed leader, Chief Master
Sergeant Paul Nelson, attended a week-long training at
the Secretary of Defense Office of Military
Professionalism a year ago. Since that time, we have
created military professionalism and ethical fitness
curriculum, engaged numerous opportunities to share
the material and entertain dialogical interchanges
with personnel of all ranks, and one month ago, we
conducted a formal, two-day training for all of our E-
6 - that's Army Guard staff sergeants and Air Guard
technical sergeants - and we also had some guests from
the active duty, as well as the [Alaska] Naval
Militia.
Noncommissioned officers are the backbone of the
organization, and E-6s are in the middle of the pack;
they influence everyone from the highest to lowest
ranks.
Our objectives were to get them engaged as young
leaders to call us all to meet professional and
ethical standards, to be the best professional
military culture anywhere. So, living and learning a
military professionalism never rests. Abiding in
service values, just like exercising for physical
fitness, takes daily discipline and effort.
12:53:51 PM
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL returned to the PowerPoint, to slide 6,
entitled "Federal Mission Assurance." She said the Army and Air
National Guard continues to "train, deploy, operate, and ...
return, as part of our federal mission sets." She highlighted
some of the exercises, operations, and missions listed on the
slide: Ice-X, 200 miles north of Prudhoe Bay; training
Mongolian forces for peace-keeping operations during "Khaan
Quest"; Operation Deep Freeze, which supported National Science
Foundation efforts in Antarctica; cargo and aircraft moving
4,000 personnel; deployment of soldiers and airmen in support of
"the war fight"; and 24/7 missions conducted.
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL turned to slide 7, entitled "Viable Arctic
Strategy." She said, "Alaska is what makes the U.S. an Arctic
nation." She stated that the Alaska National Guard was
underrepresented on DoD working groups charged with crafting
policy for operations in the Arctic. Now, she indicated, her
joint staff has secured membership on the Office of the
Secretary of Defense's working group, as well as having a seat
at the table on U.S. Northern Command's Arctic Capabilities
Working Group; therefore, [the Alaska National Guard] can ensure
that Alaska is recognized as "a stakeholder in the Arctic" and
Alaska's interest will be "taken into account when crafting
policies and identifying military requirements."
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL said the Alaska National Guard hosted
representatives from nine other state National Guards at Fort
Wainwright and Utkiavik for the first National Guard Arctic
Interest Summit, and a charter for the National Guard was
signed. She said, "This organization will be the primary
developer for the National Guard Arctic capabilities and policy
across the country."
12:56:38 PM
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL continued to slide 8, entitled "Emergency
Management Capacity," which she said is the line of effort that
makes the National Guard and the rest of the organized militia
"special." She explained that the National Guard has both a
federal and state mission, and "no other component has this
requirement." She said the State Defense Force and Alaska Naval
Militia are manned by "Alaskans dedicated to helping Alaskans,
especially in the greatest time of need." She continued as
follows:
One of our major accomplishments over the last year
was the complete revision and modernizing of the
fundamental documents for both the State Defense Force
and the [Alaska] Naval Militia. These organizations
now have better defined standards and policies to
support the execution of their state mission sets.
Both of these groups, along with the National Guard
counterparts, participated in last year's Wildfire
Response and the Homeland Security exercise, Alaska
Shield. We also continue assisting our partner nation
Mongolia with developing their own emergency
management capacity, through the earthquake readiness
exercise "GOBI WOLF 2016" and a number of bilateral
engagements.
12:57:46 PM
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL turned to slide 9, entitled "Engage with
Alaska Communities." She stated that community outreach in
Alaska is one of the Alaska National Guard's most satisfying
missions and honoring Alaska service members is the best part of
that. She relayed that in 2017, the Kotzebue Qipqiña Army
Aviation Operations Facility was named after "former adjutant
general and the army's first Alaska Native, two-star general,
John Schaeffer."
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL noted, as shown on slide 9, that volunteers
gave over 30,000 hours, which she said does not accurately
capture the untold volunteer hours put in by the state militia
to serve communities and the state. She talked about "Operation
Santa Clause," which is a community effort to visit communities
during the holidays. She noted that seating is always limited,
but an option to participate is to volunteer to help wrap
presents and help Santa, as did Lieutenant Governor Mallott, as
depicted in another photo on slide 9.
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL highlighted the final slide, entitled "YOUR
National Guard," and she described a hypothetical day to
demonstrate how Alaska's organized militia, in concert with its
organized partners, is "always ready and always there."
1:01:19 PM
NELSON N. ANGAPAK, SR., via teleconference, expressed
appreciation for the work of Major General Hummel, in particular
the programs that have impacted rural Alaska. He indicated that
in approximately 2006, 160 Alaska Native members of the National
Guard were deployed to Kuwait to provide logistical support for
U.S. troops in Iraq, while some were deployed to Afghanistan and
other battlefield theaters. He said, "Some of them came back
with issues dealing with what they experienced out there." He
questioned what kind of reintegration program is available to
assist those trying to get back to their village life.
1:02:51 PM
CHAPLAIN (COLONEL) KOCH relayed that there is a "multi-faceted
care team" through family programs, as well as chaplains in
every battalion. He noted that [the chaplains] have been
trained in the matter of intervention. Further, he said there
is full-time psychological help through a psychological care
team that meets monthly to ensure a "wide net" and "a net that
is not torn in any place," so that no one falls "through the
cracks." He emphasized that problems need to be shared, because
the care team is not clairvoyant; however, once problems are
communicated, the team can respond quickly, efficiently, and
effectively.
CHAPLAIN (COLONEL) KOCH advised there is a Forget-Me-Not
Coalition, which covers all service members, active duty and
reserve, in all branches. The coalition provides services
throughout the state, with the help of businesses, faith
communities, health/mental health communities that have joined
the coalition and promised to serve and aid serve members and
families. He indicated that much of this is coordinated through
the Alaska National Guard, because "we're always here and we can
keep the continuity going."
1:04:52 PM
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL thanked Mr. Angapak, Sr., for his advocacy
for Alaska veterans and congratulated him on his appointment as
a public member of the Joint Armed Services Committee. She
acknowledged that there are over 75,000 veterans living in
Alaska who have at least 150,000 dependent family members. She
said the Office of Veteran Affairs, within DMVA, is headed by
Verdie Bowen and works to reach out to all veterans across the
state, recognizing that those who are not doing well need extra
support. She estimated there are just over 100 tribal veteran
representatives trained by the Office of Veteran Affairs to help
veterans negotiate "the labyrinth maze of veterans' programs"
for the benefits and entitlements that have been earned, and
those representatives are willing to help "every step of the
way" so that no one is left behind.
1:07:09 PM
CO-CHAIR KAWASAKI thanked each of the presenters and, on behalf
of the committee, expressed appreciation for their service to
the country and Alaska. He noted that the presenters would be
available for a press conference in the Speaker's Chambers
directly following the meeting.
1:07:53 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the Joint
Armed Services Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:08 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 3.23.17 JASC Meeting Agenda.pdf |
JASC 3/23/2017 11:30:00 AM |
|
| 3.15.17 JASC March 23 - Commander Bios.pdf |
JASC 3/23/2017 11:30:00 AM |
|
| 3.17.17 JASC Biographies of Public Members.pdf |
JASC 3/23/2017 11:30:00 AM |
|
| Updated - 23March2017 ALCOM JASC - PDF.pdf |
JASC 3/23/2017 11:30:00 AM |
|
| 23March2017 USARAK JASC - PDF.pdf |
JASC 3/23/2017 11:30:00 AM |
|
| 23March2017 USCG Briefing - JASC.pdf |
JASC 3/23/2017 11:30:00 AM |
|
| 23March2017 DMVA AKNG JASC.pdf |
JASC 3/23/2017 11:30:00 AM |
23March2017 DMVA JASC |