Legislature(2023 - 2024)GRUENBERG 120

04/27/2023 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS

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Audio Topic
01:50:51 PM Start
01:52:04 PM Overview(s): Alaska Army National Guard.
02:21:55 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --
+ Presentation: Overview of the Alaska Army TELECONFERENCED
National Guard by Director/Assistant Adjutant
General James Palembas
*+ HB 158 MILITARY; UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE TELECONFERENCED
<Bill Hearing Canceled>
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
+= HB 155 ESTABLISH AK MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMISSION TELECONFERENCED
<Bill Hearing Canceled>
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
   HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS                                                                  
                         April 27, 2023                                                                                         
                           1:50 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stanley Wright, Chair                                                                                            
Representative Laddie Shaw                                                                                                      
Representative George Rauscher                                                                                                  
Representative Cliff Groh                                                                                                       
Representative Andrew Gray                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ben Carpenter                                                                                                    
Representative Dan Saddler                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
OVERVIEW(S): ALASKA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
No previous action to record                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
JAMES PALEMBAS, Brigadier General, Commander and State Director                                                                 
Alaska Army National Guard                                                                                                      
Fort Richardson                                                                                                                 
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Presented an overview of the Alaska Army                                                                 
National Guard.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:50:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  STANLEY  WRIGHT  called the  House  Special  Committee  on                                                             
Military  and Veterans'  Affairs meeting  to order  at 1:50  p.m.                                                               
Representatives Shaw, Groh, Gray, and  Wright were present at the                                                               
call to  order.  Representative  Rauscher arrived as  the meeting                                                               
was in progress.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
^Overview(s): Alaska Army National Guard.                                                                                       
            Overview(s): Alaska Army National Guard.                                                                        
                                                                                                                              
1:52:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WRIGHT announced  that the only order of  business would be                                                               
an overview of the Alaska Army National Guard.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:52:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JAMES PALEMBAS, Brigadier General,  Commander and State Director,                                                               
Alaska  Army  National  Guard,  gave  a  PowerPoint  presentation                                                               
titled, "Overview  of the Alaska  Army National  Guard" [hardcopy                                                               
included in  committee packet].  He  moved to slide 2  to present                                                               
an  organization  chart,  with  the Alaska  Army  National  Guard                                                               
(AKARNG) falling within  the Alaska Organized Militia.   On slide                                                               
3, he showed key leaders of the Alaska Army National Guard.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:54:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRIGADIER GENERAL PALEMBAS  moved to slide 4 to  share the vision                                                               
of AKARNG,  which is  to create a  diverse, trusted,  and capable                                                               
organization built  on ready and resilient  soldiers and leaders.                                                               
He said  that AKARNG's  retention rates  have improved,  with the                                                               
guard being in  the ninety-fourth percentile.   He explained that                                                               
AKARNG has two missions: Title  10 federal missions to deploy and                                                               
fight and  Title 32 with  the state  to activate per  orders from                                                               
the governor.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:56:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WRIGHT asked  about usage of sandbags as  depicted on slide                                                               
4.                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
BRIGADIER GENERAL PALEMBAS responded  that during Typhoon Merbok,                                                               
the guard  was activated  and set to  Western Alaska,  and during                                                               
this mission dirt and sandbags were moved.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:58:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRIGADIER GENERAL PALEMBAS returned  to the presentation on slide                                                               
5 to discuss  the guard's units, detachments, and  locations.  He                                                               
stated that  there are 1,741  soldiers across three  major units:                                                               
Joint  Force Headquarters  (JFHQ), 38th  Troop Command  (TC), and                                                               
the 297th  Regional Support Group  (RSG).   He said that  in 1990                                                               
there were 83  armories across the state, but  currently the goal                                                               
is to divest these armories to  allow for municipal or local use.                                                               
He shared that AKARNG has divested 39 armories since 2013, with                                                                 
26 more to go.  He stated that AKARNG will have 19 armories at                                                                  
the end of the divesting process.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:03:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRIGADIER GENERAL PALEMBAS moved to slide 6, which read as                                                                      
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
        th                                                                                                                      
     297 Regional Support Group (RSG) Mission                                                                                   
     The RSG is a deployable  headquarters that manages base                                                                    
     camps or  base clusters with  a population of  6,000 or                                                                    
     more personnel and requires  services beyond basic life                                                                    
     support.  Additionally,  the   297th  RSG  ensures  its                                                                    
     subordinate units are  trained, equipped, and available                                                                    
     for federal and state missions.                                                                                            
     During   Defense    Support   of    Civil   Authorities                                                                    
     operations, the  RSG serves as a  brigade-sized command                                                                    
     responsible for all assigned units.                                                                                        
     Currently  the  297th  RSG is  tasked  to  support  the                                                                    
     transition  of   Fort  Riley,   KS  from   an  inactive                                                                    
     Mobilization  Force Generation  Installation (MFGI)  to                                                                    
     an   active  MFGI   during  Large   Scale  Mobilization                                                                    
     Operations (LSMO)                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
       th                                                                                                                       
     38 Troop Command (TC) Mission                                                                                              
     The  TC   is  a  non-deployable   headquarters  element                                                                    
     designed  to  provide  C2   over  disparate  units  and                                                                    
     ensures  its subordinate  units  are trained,  equipped                                                                    
     and available for service in  the event of a federal or                                                                    
     state emergency.                                                                                                           
     During   Defense    Support   of    Civil   Authorities                                                                    
     operations,  the   38th  TC   serves  as   the  primary                                                                    
     headquarters for Joint Task Force-Alaska.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:05:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRIGADIER GENERAL PALEMBAS moved to slide 7 to present a                                                                        
worldwide deployment map.  He detailed federal deployments since                                                                
2018.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:06:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRIGADIER GENERAL PALEMBAS moved to slide 8, which read as                                                                      
follow [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     The  49th   Missile  Defense  Battalion   operates  and                                                                    
     secures  the   Ground-based  Midcourse   Defense  (GMD)                                                                    
     system at  Fort Greely  24/7/365. They are  prepared to                                                                    
     destroy  intercontinental  ballistic missiles  in  mid-                                                                    
     course  to  defend the  US  and  designated areas  with                                                                    
     assets at Fort Greely and Vandenberg Air Force Base.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:08:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRIGADIER GENERAL PALEMBAS  moved to slide 9  and discussed civil                                                               
support missions that AKARNG conducts in Alaska.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:09:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER  asked about  the Alcantra armory  in the                                                               
Wasilla/Palmer area.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
BRIGADIER  GENERAL  PALEMBAS said  Alcantra  is  still an  active                                                               
armory and  houses units.   He said the  armory is on  state land                                                               
and is the guard's contingency operations site.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  RAUSCHER  asked  if  AKARNG  utilizes  the  Black                                                               
Rapids.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
BRIGADIER GENERAL PALEMBAS  answered yes, as there  is an active-                                                               
duty cold weather training program housed at Black Rapids.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:12:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WRIGHT questioned the benefits of cooperative agreements.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
BRIGADIER  GENERAL PALEMBAS  explained  that  the state  benefits                                                               
from such agreements because of the federal dollars.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:13:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRIGADIER GENERAL PALEMBAS returned  to the presentation on slide                                                               
10, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Alaska  Mongolia State Partnership Program                                                                                 
     Partners since 2003                                                                                                        
     Share similar challenges and opportunities                                                                                 
     Co-deployments for 17 years in Iraq and Afghanistan                                                                        
     Overseas Deployment Training to Khaan Quest Exercise                                                                       
     2006-Present                                                                                                               
     Humanitarian Assistance training: Gobi Wolf Disaster                                                                       
     Response Exercise and Exchange                                                                                             
     Subject    Matter    Expert   Exchanges:    leadership,                                                                    
     engineering,  security,   disaster  response,  medical,                                                                    
     etc.                                                                                                                       
     Whole  of Government  participation  in public  health,                                                                    
     public  policy,   natural  resources,   education,  and                                                                    
     humanitarian assistance                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:16:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRIGADIER GENERAL PALEMBAS moved to slide 11, which read as                                                                     
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Enduring Operations                                                                                                        
     19-unit locations throughout the state                                                                                     
     Full time manning in 11 locations                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Operations Last 90 Days                                                                                                    
     Detachments 1&2 Golf Company  2-211th GSAB, supported a                                                                    
     Combined Arms                                                                                                              
     Life Fire  Exercise at JBER  by providing  24hr MEDEVAC                                                                    
     Operations                                                                                                                 
     103rd  Civil  Support  Team supported  local  Anchorage                                                                    
     security   elements   for   the  2023   Iditarod   Race                                                                    
     Ceremonial Start                                                                                                           
     49th  Missile  Defense  Battalion  trained  on  a  fire                                                                    
     control  software  update  and  an  additional  missile                                                                    
     interceptor field                                                                                                          
     49th   Theater   Gateway  provided   Joint   Reception,                                                                    
     Staging,  and  Onward   Integration  support  to  Joint                                                                    
     Pacific  Multinational  Readiness   Center  (JPMRC)  at                                                                    
     JBER, Clear and Fort Wainwright, Alaska                                                                                    
     Defense  Movement Cell  (AKARNG  G4) with  augmentation                                                                    
            th                                                                                                                  
     from 11   Airborne  managed over  100 convoys  and over                                                                    
     500 pieces of rolling stock in support of JPMRC                                                                            
     1-297th    Infantry    Battalion   conducts    training                                                                    
     supporting  their  upcoming  Joint  Readiness  Training                                                                    
     Center Annual Training and deployment in early FY24                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Community Events                                                                                                           
     Cama-I Dance Festival in Bethel, Alaska                                                                                    
     River Watch                                                                                                                
     Operation Santa                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:18:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY thanked him for his service and shared his                                                                  
son's personal deployment experience.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BRIGADIER GENERAL PALEMBAS commented that the guard is a small                                                                  
organization, so it is hard to not know the people.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:20:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WRIGHT congratulated Brigadier General Palembas for his                                                                   
recent advancement and thanked him for his service.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:20:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SHAW thanked Brigadier General Palembas, and he                                                                  
stated that it seems that through the guard the state is                                                                        
connected in some way.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:21:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no further business before the committee, the House                                                                 
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was                                                                 
adjourned at 2:21 p.m.                                                                                                          

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
DMVA Army Presentation for (H) MVA 27 APR.pdf HMLV 4/27/2023 1:00:00 PM