Legislature(1995 - 1996)
02/14/1995 05:01 PM House MLV
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
JOINT HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND
AND VETERANS AFFAIRS AND SENATE FINANCE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
February 14, 1995
5:01 p.m.
HOUSE MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Ivan M. Ivan, Co-Chairman
Representative Eldon Mulder, Vice-Chair
Representative Richard Foster
Representative Ed Willis
HOUSE MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Pete Kott, Co-Chairman
Representative Gail Phillips
Representative John Davies
SENATE MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Randy Phillips, Chairman
Senator Fred Zharoff
SENATE MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Mike Miller
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Confirmation hearing for Major General Jake Lestenkof,
Commissioner Designate, Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs
Joint overview with Senate Finance Subcommittee for the
department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
WITNESS REGISTER
Major General Jake Lestenkof, Commissioner Designate
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
P.O. Box 5800
Fort Richardson, AK 99505-5800
Telephone: (907) 428-6003
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 95-3, SIDE A
Number 001
The Joint House Special Committee on Military and Veterans
Affairs and the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Military and
Veterans Affairs was called to order by Co-Chairman Ivan M. Ivan
at 5:01 p.m. Members present at the call to order were
Representatives Ivan, Foster, Willis. Members absent were
Representatives Mulder, Phillips, and Davies. Senate members
present were Senator Phillips and Zharoff. Senate members absent
were Senator Miller.
CO-CHAIRMAN IVAN M. IVAN noted for the record that Representative
Mulder was expected to arrive shortly to make a quorum. He
recognized Senate Finance Subcommittee on Military and Veterans
Affairs members present.
Number 030
Major General Jake Lestenkof, Commissioner Designate, Department
of Military and Veterans Affairs, summarized his resume
chronologically beginning with birth June 3, 1932, on Saint
George Island, Alaska; education, graduate from Mt. Edgecumbe
High School in 1951; joined the military service 1951-1954,
served in the U.S. and Korea; 1955-1959, U.S. Public Health
Service; 1959-1974, Director of Operations and Training, Alaska,
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; 1974-1975,
Director, Manpower Development, Alaska Federation of Natives;
1975-1976, Executive Vice-President, Alaska Federation of
Natives; 1977-1981, Executive Director, Cook Inlet Native
Association; 1981-1988, Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
U.S. Department of Interior; 1987-1990, Assistant Adjutant
General, Alaska National Guard; 1988-1990, Deputy Commissioner,
Department of Community and Regional Affairs; 1992-present,
Trust Administrator, Aleutian and Pribilof Islands.
Number 103
CO-CHAIRMAN IVAN asked if members had any questions or comments.
He stated the committee would like to move forward with Major
General Lestenkof's confirmation.
Number 111
REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD FOSTER moved and asked unanimous consent
to move forward the confirmation of Major General Lestenkof. A
quorum was not available at this time.
Number 120
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asked Major General Lestenkof if he had
any questions of them.
MAJOR GENERAL LESTENKOF responded, "No."
Number 123
CO-CHAIRMAN IVAN requested Major General Lestenkof to continue
with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs overview.
MAJOR GENERAL LESTENKOF stated folders were available and he
introduced Captain Mike Maller and Jeff Morrison of his staff.
He briefly mentioned how the cold war affected past operations in
Alaska and how the end of the cold war will affect future
operations.
Number 132
CO-CHAIRMAN noted for the record that Representative Mulder had
joined the meeting at 5:18 p.m.
Number 133
MAJOR GENERAL LESTENKOF presented the overview by organization
and major components within the department. As the Commissioner
and Adjutant General of Alaska, he commands air, army and naval
units. Joint staff reporting directly to him include the Judge
Advocate, the I.U.G., the J1 who deals with personal matters and
the J4 who deals with all federal logistical matters.
MAJOR GENERAL LESTENKOF reviewed the major components of the
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs which consist of the
Alaska Army National Guard, Air Guard, Emergency Services, Naval
Militia and Veterans Affairs. These are large full time
organizations within the department. Additionally, there is the
State Defense Force which is a volunteer organization and
traditional support divisions such as administrative services and
facilities management.
MAJOR GENERAL LESTENKOF continued the overview by division. The
largest component is the Army National Guard. He stated the most
significant change in the Army National Guard is down sizing
activity. This is due to the entire country's military structure
down sizing. The agreement entitled, Off Site Agreement,
recently reached between the active Army, the Army Guard, and the
Army Reserves sets ceilings. This down sizing will affect the
number of personal in Alaska from approximately 3,900 to 2,300.
He reviewed the Doctrinal changes regarding how Eskimo Scouts
operate in a war environment. The scouts were originally
designed to remain in place which meant fighting in the village.
They are now being trained to operate in a world arena,
converting them into long range scout units. He stated the
aircraft conversion such as aircraft reduction programs will also
affect Alaska. There are 26 UH1 helicopter units leaving our
system. The department is trying to replace these units with
CH47 aircrafts.
Number 265
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER excused his interruption and moved by
unanimous consent to forward the confirmation of Major General
Jake Lestenkof. There being no objection, it was so ordered.
Number 271
MAJOR GENERAL LESTENKOF continued his review of the Army National
Guard. The Army is maneuvering into world training and
operations. They search world wide for mission related
operational training areas. He reviewed the organizational
structure of the Air Guard. Established in 1952, with 16 WWII
veterans and one airplane, the Air Guard has grown to a world
ranging deployable lift and refueling operation. He reviewed the
Air Refueling Squadron, the 210th Rescue Squadron, the Rescue
Coordination Center and the Combat Communication Center. He
stated the Combat Communications Flight Division will increase
from 24 to 54 personal, adding 30 positions in Anchorage. A new
unit under consideration is an Air Traffic Control Squadron.
The National Guard Bureau proposed this unit.
Number 353
SENATOR FRED ZHAROFF asked what is an Air Traffic Control
Squadron?
MAJOR GENERAL LESTENKOF responded the Air Traffic Control
Squadron is an emergency combat air control field operation.
When air units deploy into a combat environment on unimproved air
strips, the Air Traffic Control Division will set up air control
operations within the area. They will also train individuals in
air traffic control.
SENATOR ZHAROFF asked if it is a military or civilian operation?
MAJOR GENERAL LESTENKOF responded military.
SENATOR ZHAROFF asked where will the unit be stationed?
MAJOR GENERAL LESTENKOF responded in Anchorage. It will be a
deployable air traffic control operation. He reviewed the
economic and social impact the Guard has on Alaska. The Guards
payroll consists of 97 percent federal funds or a total of $138
million and $4.5 million state funds. The Guard has over 4,000
full and part-time employees with leadership developed among
members.
Number 387
MAJOR GENERAL LESTENKOF summarized the Division of Emergency
Services, the Alaska Naval Militia and the Alaska State Defense
Force. He stated the Division of Emergency Services has improved
its' standards and works very closely with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) Program during disasters. He stated the
Alaska Naval Militia and the Alaska State Defense Force are both
volunteer organizations. Their primary mission is to back up the
Alaska National Guard, disaster response, maritime support and
support staff for the Alaska National Guard Youth Corps.
Number 433
MAJOR GENERAL LESTENKOF reviewed Veterans Affairs Division. He
stated Alaska has over 73,000 veterans. He expressed concern
over services veterans receive. The department will be
requesting additional funding for Veterans Affairs.
Number 441
SENATOR PHILLIPS questioned re-fund veterans position and is the
position related to the directorship?
MAJOR GENERAL LESTENKOF responded the department is considering a
special assistant position.
Number 448
MAJOR GENERAL LESTENKOF continued the overview with the
Facilities Maintenance and Administrative Support Divisions. He
stated these are both typical support divisions. Administration
provides support to the department and facilities maintenance
covers over 200 state owned facilities in Alaska. The department
requests adequate funding for facilities to ensure safe
maintained buildings. Major General Lestenkof concluded his
overview.
Number 468
CO-CHAIRMAN IVAN thanked Major General Lestenkof for the overview
and asked if members had questions or comments?
REPRESENTATIVE ED WILLIS asked when we deploy units or groups of
personal overseas, are these individuals federalized at some
point?
MAJOR GENERAL LESTENKOF responded they are federalized if they
are being deployed in connection with war or certain peace
keeping situations. They will be federalized individually or as
part of a unit. If they are deployed for training, they are on
state duty or training status and not federalized.
Number 487
CO-CHAIRMAN IVAN stated his support and respect of the National
Guard Program which also provides educational opportunities.
MAJOR GENERAL LESTENKOF added as the Guard is considered world
deployable and actively seeks world wide missions, the
requirement for the individual guardsmen has changed. The
proficiency level increased for guardsmen, additional training
and preparedness have also improved.
Number 510
SENATOR PHILLIPS asked if he was informed on the progress of the
challenge program for juveniles at Camp Carroll?
MAJOR GENERAL LESTENKOF responded he was aware of the program.
It is a good program and Alaska is one of 15 states that have
this program. The program had 43 graduates in 1994, who all have
positive goals and plans for the future.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the House Special
Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, CO-CHAIRMAN IVAN
adjourned the meeting at 5:39 p.m.
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