Legislature(2017 - 2018)GRUENBERG 120
01/19/2017 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
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| Start | |
| Overview: Department 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
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS
January 19, 2017
1:05 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Chris Tuck, Chair
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Vice Chair
Representative Justin Parish
Representative Ivy Spohnholz
Representative George Rauscher
Representative Lora Reinbold
Representative Dan Saddler
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative David Eastman
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW: DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
MAJOR GENERAL LAURIE HUMMEL, Commissioner Adjutant General
Office of the Commissioner/Adjutant General
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA)
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-provided a PowerPoint presentation,
titled "FY2018 Department Overview."
BRIGADIER GENERAL KAREN MANSFIELD, Commander
Alaska Air National Guard
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-provided a PowerPoint presentation,
titled "FY2018 Department Overview."
BRIGADIER GENERAL Joe Streff, Commander
Alaska Army National Guard (AK ARNG)
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-provided a PowerPoint presentation,
titled "FY2018 Department Overview."
MIKE O'HARED, Director
Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (DHSEM)
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA)
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-provided a PowerPoint presentation,
titled "FY2018 Department Overview."
COLONEL ALASKA JOHN JAMES, Commanding Officer
Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF)
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA)
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-provided a PowerPoint presentation,
titled "FY2018 Department Overview."
VERDIE BOWEN, Director
Office of Veteran Affairs
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-provided a PowerPoint presentation,
titled "FY2018 Department Overview."
BOB ROSES, Director
Alaska Military Youth Academy (AMYA)
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA)
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-provided a PowerPoint presentation,
titled "FY2018 Department Overview."
BRIAN DUFFY, Director
Division of Administrative Services (DAS)
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA)
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-provided a PowerPoint presentation,
titled "FY2018 Department Overview."
ROBERT DOEHL, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA)
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-provided a PowerPoint presentation,
titled "FY2018 Department Overview."
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:05:21 PM
CHAIR CHRIS TUCK called the House Special Committee on Military
and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 1:05 p.m.
Representatives LeDoux, Parish, Spohnholz, Rauscher, Reinbold,
and Chair Tuck were present at the call to order.
Representative Saddler arrived as the meeting was in progress.
Also in attendance was Representative Eastman.
^Overview: Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs
Overview: Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs
1:06:41 PM
CHAIR TUCK announced that the only order of business would be an
overview from the Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs.
1:06:56 PM
MAJOR GENERAL LAURIE HUMMEL, Commissioner Adjutant General,
Office of the Commissioner/Adjutant General, Department of
Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA), began a PowerPoint
presentation, titled "FY2018 Department Overview." She referred
to slide 2, titled "Mission," and stated that the constitutional
and statutory mission of DMVA is to provide military forces that
are properly resourced, trained, equipped, and ready to
accomplish military missions within the state or, when deployed,
around the world. She noted the department mission of
addressing homeland security and matters of homeland defense
when activated to do so, and she also mentioned DMVA is the
state's force for emergency preparedness response and recovery.
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL related that DMVA is the primary link for
the 74,000-plus veterans in the state of Alaska to the federally
granted services and the entitlements they have earned. She
added that DMVA has the Alaska Military Youth Academy (AMYA)
ChalleNGe Program, which provides youth with military-style
training and education. She reiterated that these provisions
are all required by the state's constitution and statutes.
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL referred to slide 3, titled "Alaska GF
Budget by Department" and showing a pie chart illustrating the
general fund budget by department. She pointed out DVMA's
portion of the state budget, which is 0.36 percent, making it
the smallest department in state government.
1:11:33 PM
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL moved on to slide 4, titled "Operating
Budget Impact," and offered that DMVA brings to Alaska a large
number of federal dollars. She called slide 4 her "iceberg
slide," as it visually depicts the $16.2 million of current
fiscal year state dollars spent, the portion of the iceberg
"above the water," and the $618,569,893 coming into Alaska from
the federal government, the portion "under water." The federal
funds, she stated, come into Alaska either through the state
budget or as direct compensation to Alaskans. She declared the
federal dollar return on state operating dollars to be 38 to 1.
1:12:37 PM
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL referred to the first part of slide 5,
titled "FY2018 Areas of Major Emphasis," and said that when she
assumed her position of adjutant general, she created a
divisional vision with "four lines of effort." She listed the
four lines as follows: to develop and execute a viable Arctic
strategy; to increase capacity for emergency management
throughout the state; to engage robustly with Alaska's
communities; and to do all of these things while achieving
federal mission assurance for the U.S. Department of Defense
(DoD). She asserted that these lines of effort really "come
together" in the first area of major emphasis, which the
department refers to as its "rural engagement initiative." She
went on to say the rural engagement initiative "is kind of a
sweet spot, because it sits at the intersection of all of those
planks of our vision."
1:13:52 PM
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL turned to slide 6, titled "Rural
Engagement," and said that the situation for Alaska and for the
nation is that there is an increased amount of interest in and
traffic around the Arctic regions. She said DoD has major
concerns for defense of the nation in regard to four countries
"intent to do us harm" and also violent extremist organizations.
She specified that three of those four countries, the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), Russia, and China, are
right at Alaska's door, and foreign military operations are of
increasing concern to Alaska as "we may soon find ourselves on a
new kind of front."
1:14:57 PM
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL related that since [the terrorist attacks
of September 11, 2001], the United States has innumerable
dollars and efforts engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan. She said
the operational expertise that the U.S. military formerly had in
the Arctic has waned, as it has concentrated in other areas, and
DoD now acknowledges the need to "get back to business of
understanding how to survive, how to thrive, how to fight, and
how to defend in the Arctic."
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL reminded the committee of the catastrophic
earthquake in 1964 and the pictures of the Alaska National Guard
coming to the assistance of Anchorage and other Southcentral
Alaska communities. She offered that the Alaska National Guard
was able to respond in that way because on that particular
weekend, Alaska National Guard members from all over the state
had converged at Fort Richardson for annual training. She added
that although there were a number of Southcentral guardsmen who
were victims of the earthquake, there were others from around
the state who were able to assist. She asserted that this
scenario could not exist today, because the Alaska National
Guard no longer has robust participation from around the state.
In fact, she inserted, the vast majority of active members come
from the urban areas and road system, mainly from Southcentral
Alaska.
1:16:52 PM
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL concluded that "all these things have come
together in our minds to remind us that we need to put effort
into pushing the Alaska National Guard back out across Alaska,
and we need to vigorously ... recruit and enlist and engage in
our rural communities." She further offered, "That's a
problem," because the DoD controls everything about the Alaska
National Guard and all of the 54 state national guards. It sets
the mission essential task list determining how the fore-
structure will look in terms of numbers and type of units, and
it sets the standards for recruiting, enlisting, and retaining
members. She stated that DMVA has engaged very vigorously with
leaders in Washington, both within DoD and the U.S. Department
of the Army. It has hosted a number of high ranking and
influential military personnel and taken them to Bethel and
villages in the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta to show them the
challenges in recruitment, the vastness of our state, the
sparseness of our infrastructure, and the tyranny of our weather
and climate.
1:18:24 PM
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL disclosed that Alaska has received
concessions from the federal government, both through waivers
and other additional money, to improve recruitment, but the
changes in this area require considerable effort and time. She
declared that what DMVA would like to do in the interim, as it
builds conditions for more robust participation in the Alaska
National Guard across the state, is to concentrate on increasing
the participation and footprint of the Alaska State Defense
Force (ASDF). The Alaska State Defense Force, she explained, is
part of the organized state militia, which cannot be federalized
and is not associated with DoD. She drew the committee members'
attention to Colonel John James, present in the room, and to his
army service uniform, and made the point that his rank is
"colonel in parenthesis Alaska." This means he holds the rank
of colonel in the Alaska organized militia but does not hold
that rank federally. She reiterated that
ASDF is an organized militia only for the state of Alaska;
therefore, Alaska can control it, determine the standards for
enlistment and retention, and determine the mission-essential
tasks. The sole commander in chief, she said, is the governor
of Alaska. She declared that ASDF can be brought to active duty
to help in times of emergencies but can never be deployed out of
state for homeland defense.
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL maintained that ASDF benefits Alaska by
building strong, resilient communities, which is possible
through a mission task list that includes training in search and
rescue assistance, training in first aid and long wave emergency
communications, and assisting local authorities by making door-
to-door health and welfare checks. She added that the best
thing about ASDF is that it is inexpensive. It not only employs
volunteers, but soldiers are only compensated for exercises and
for actual assistance rendered when called to active duty in
times of state emergency. She concluded by saying that DMVA has
asked the legislature this year for a small amount of money,
$200,000, to help the department "grow detachments" of the ASDF
across the state. She mentioned recent detachments established
- a communications detachment in Bethel and a defense force
detachment in Quinhagak.
1:22:23 PM
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL moved on to slide 8, titled "Organizational
Chart," and addressed the two boxes with dashed lines leading to
her position as shown in the chart - the Alaska Aerospace
Corporation (AAC) and the United States Property & Fiscal Office
(USPFO). She pointed out that DMVA has administrative oversight
of the AAC, which was moved over from the Department of
Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED) a number of
years ago. She then explained that USPFO is not a state
organization but the management and compliance office that
administers the National Guard grant coming to Alaska from DoD.
She added that this office works for the Chief of the National
Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C., not her.
1:24:11 PM
BRIGADIER GENERAL KAREN MANSFIELD, Commander, Alaska Air
National Guard, continued the PowerPoint presentation with slide
9, titled "Alaska Air National Guard." She began her testimony
as follows:
I am very honored to be here today, but it's the 2,120
Alaska Air guardsmen and the 35 state employees who
support my organization that are really important, and
I'm excited to tell you about their contributions.
They represent an amazing military and state support
capacity for Alaska. The federal government pays to
man, train, and equip the Alaska Air National Guard to
support the nation's warfighting and defense needs, as
we know.
BRIGADIER GENERAL MANSFIELD referred to "the iceberg slide"
(slide 4) and related that the Alaska Air National Guard (AK
ANG) spends about $2.4 million in state funds and concurrently
executes over $197 million in federal money for federal missions
supported. She added that the 35 state employees perform
facility maintenance at AK ANG primary locations. They are 75
percent federally funded, with a 25 percent state match. She
asserted, "It's a very small vital footprint that is necessary
for our federal mission assurance."
BRIGADIER GENERAL MANSFIELD went on to detail the locations and
missions of AK ANG. Eielson Air Force Base (AFB) in Fairbanks
is the 168th Wing, which serves as the parent wing to both the
air refueling squadron located at Eielson and to the space and
warning squadron at Clear Air Station in Anderson. She stated
the 176th Wing is located at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
(JBER) and is one of the most complex organizations in the Air
National Guard nationwide. She relayed that JBER has four
primary mission sets and some smaller mission sets. She added
that "both wings also have the standard supporting units typical
for an Air Force Wing in their mission support groups."
1:26:33 PM
BRIGADIER GENERAL MANSFIELD cited that the refueling mission at
the 168th is comprised of KC-135 Stratotankers, which are unit
owned, maintained, and operated by the Guard. She explained,
"That's relevant because some of the missions we do, we are not
what you would call unit equipped." She added, "For example,
[the 168th] is the parent wing for the space warning and
surveillance squad up there as well, that's Air Force owned, but
we are the force provider. We provide the manpower that
actually executes the mission from the Air Guard."
BRIGADIER GENERAL MANSFIELD paraphrased from her written
testimony, which read as follows [original punctuation provided,
with some formatting changes]:
Several of our missions are in transition during 2017,
the AK ANG will take ownership of the C-17 strategic
(long-range) aircraft and will convert from a classic
association to an active association with the Air
Force - our strong total force partnership continues,
as the active duty continues to maintain a squadron
and flies our aircraft. Our venerable, legacy C-130s
(tactical, short-range airlift) are being divested,
with the last aircraft leaving the state this spring -
we retain all the manning from that squadron,
correcting some historical deficits in other areas,
retraining and retaining our members.
1:27:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if divestiture of the C-130s was
part of an U.S. Air Force wide phase out of C-130s or "is
somebody getting our good, but well-worn, aircraft?"
BRIGADIER GENERAL MANSFIELD responded yes, it was a senior
leader U.S. Air Force corporate planning choice made in 2014.
She stated there was an overall corporate draw down of C-130s,
and the C-130s were not transferred anywhere else.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if there were plans to "beef up"
the C-17 force.
BRIGADIER GENERAL MANSFIELD said that the action was a
concurrent action. AK ANG didn't lose any number of airframes,
because as the eight C130s were divested, it gained the eight C-
17s.
1:29:01 PM
BRIGADIER GENERAL MANSFIELD, continuing her testimony, stated
that the Rescue Coordination Center on JBER is manned solely by
AK ANG guardsmen with the vital mission of allocating any
available state asset to respond to an emergency. She asserted
that the AK ANG rescue triad is a very visible asset, as it is
often seen "on the news." The rescue triad consists of unit-
owned HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters, with long-range response
capacity over water, HC-130 refuelers, and Guardian Angel PJs
trained for high altitude extraction. She concluded that AK ANG
is the resource of last resort for state response and can
respond in ways that other assets in the state cannot. She
added that the Air Defense Squadron represents another mission
that is manned totally by AK ANG operators, and the equipment
there, while owned by the U.S. Air Force, is maintained by
guardsmen as well.
1:30:46 PM
BRIGADIER GENERAL MANSFIELD referred to slide 10, also titled
"Alaska Air National Guard," and asked, "So what's keeping us
busy?" In answer, she paraphrased from her written testimony,
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
In terms of federal relevance and in keeping with the
DoD's focus and prioritization on total force
integration, your Alaska Air Guard seamlessly deploys
with active duty to overseas missions, and just as
notably, integrates to a high level here at home.
In 2016, the 168th wing deployed over 350 tanker
crew/maintainers to Central and Pacific Command, where
they flew 301 combat hours and offloaded 2.9 mil pdns
of fuel in the combat AOR. For the 176th wing, over
140 members were deployed to overseas providing
airlift, airdrop and civil engineering capacity.
Your Alaska Air Guard is also unique in the number of
on-going federal missions being funded/executed,
essentially deployed in-place, 24/7, 365 days a year.
Our tankers sit alert at Eielson in support of the
Alaska NORAD Region, while the Rescue forces provide
alert capability to the 11th Air Force active duty
fighters, enabling their NORAD response and expanded
training capacity. The AIR Defense squadron on JBER
is on duty 24/7, 365, maintaining continuous air
surveillance and defense over the Alaskan area of
responsibility. The 213th Space Warning Squadron also
executes the space surveillance and warning mission,
24/7, 365 - with the Air Guard providing 90% of the
space operators and 100% of the clear AFS defense
forces for the Air Force Space mission.
1:32:14 PM
BRIGADIER GENERAL MANSFIELD referred to slide 11, the third
slide titled "Alaska Air National Guard," and continued
paraphrasing from her written testimony, which read as follows
[original punctuation provided, with some formatting changes]:
In support of state relevance, due to our expanded
federal mission set, the AKANG is over 50% fulltime
manned, which gives us capacity to leverage skill sets
and capability for state needs. In 2016, we were able
to augment fire fighters for the Moss Creek fire. For
the Veteran's Stand Down, the 168th Medical Group
assisted over 500 Fairbanks region veterans with
medical services. The 176th Wing also provided
airlift for the multiple village visits for Operation
Santa Claus, bringing goods/supplies and holiday cheer
to rural regions of the state. I mentioned rescue
earlier, and it is the most visible, immediate and
frequently requested capability - the ANG supported 89
missions in 2016, with 53 saves reported.
BRIGADIER GENERAL MANSFIELD said that inherent in each wing are
the support functions, and she listed them: civil engineer
squadrons; security forces; logistics; medical support; and
communications. She added that these were all skill sets,
personnel, and equipment that can be leveraged for state
response and support.
1:33:48 PM
CHAIR TUCK asked if all 89 missions were to save lives.
BRIGADIER GENERAL MANSFIELD clarified that the 89 missions were
flown only by AK ANG. She offered that there were probably more
missions flown by other assets in the state. She confirmed that
the 89 missions flown by AK ANG were all rescue missions, and
there were 53 saves.
1:34:20 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH asked if the 53 saves represented 53
lives.
BRIGADIER GENERAL MANSFIELD responded that was correct, but
clarified that these individuals were not necessarily going to
die, just that they were recovered and, therefore, didn't die.
1:34:53 PM
BRIGADIER GENERAL MANSFIELD referred to slide 12, the fourth
slide titled "Alaska Air National Guard," as an overview of past
successes, current operations, and future outlook. She
declared, "Bottom line is we're busy, but that doesn't mean we
don't have our eyes on the future. We want to ensure we stay
vital and relevant to both the nation and the state." She said
AK ANG is looking for ways to help meet the total force tanker
requirements in Alaska, as there is more refueling need than
there is capacity, and that need is growing. She stated that AK
ANG also intends to continue to focus on modernizing its force.
It is currently converting the HC-130s to the new J model. She
said AK ANG continues to innovate in the Arctic, developing
rescue capacity. She gave, as example, the two Arctic
sustainment packages, which are airdrop equipment bundles that
have equipment that can sustain 25 people for up to 72 hours in
austere Arctic conditions. She asserted that even with three
years of positive gains, recruiting remains a focus area, and AK
ANG continues to welcome community support and ideas to innovate
recruiting methods.
BRIGADIER GENERAL MANSFIELD said, "In closing, Mr. Chairman,
representatives, I want to assure you that your Alaska Air Guard
is filled with highly trained and motivated airman. They are
your neighbors, your friends, your co-workers, your employees.
As members of our community, they go above and beyond in their
commitment to serve the nation and the great State of Alaska."
1:36:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked for clarification on the
transference of airframes.
BRIGADIER GENERAL MANSFIELD, in response to Representative
Saddler, confirmed that the eight C-17s are transferring from
active to AK ANG, the C-130s are being decommissioned, and the H
to J upgrade will occur to the tankers and remain with AK ANG.
1:38:22 PM
BRIGADIER GENERAL JOE STREFF, Commander, Alaska Army National
Guard, stated that the Alaska Army National Guard (AK ARNG) is
1,735 soldiers strong. He said "We work hard every day to be
ready to execute our federal missions anywhere in the world but
our state mission any time in Alaska." He relayed that the
federal government pays AK ARNG soldiers' wages and pays to
train and equip them, which, he proclaimed, is a great benefit
to the State of Alaska. He related that AK ARNG has 42 state
employees, who are mostly engaged in facility maintenance, and a
large majority of the salaries are funded by a cooperative
agreement between the state and federal government.
BRIGADIER GENERAL STREFF alluded to the list of units on slide
13, titled "Alaska Army National Guard," and attested that they
represented capabilities. He said AK ARNG consists of "an
infantry, aviation, military police, ground missile defense,
engineer, medical, and signal organization, to include a
training center." It is located in 19 communities across the
state of Alaska and affords Alaskans eligible to serve in the
military the opportunity to be citizen soldiers in AK ARNG.
BRIGADIER GENERAL STREFF went on to say AK ARNG is one of the
components of the U.S. Army. Other components include active
U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Reserves. He maintained that AK
ARNG is unique in that the chain of command reports to the
governor, instead of the President. The governor may order AK
ARNG to active duty for homeland security missions, yet it also
must be ready to fight the nation's wars, so it has federal
operational relevance, as well. He referred to slide 14, also
titled "Alaska Army National Guard," and stated that AK ARNG has
deployed on a number of overseas contingency operations - to
Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and the Balkans. He added that it is
currently deployed to Afghanistan in support of "our Mongolian
friends and our state partners" and also in the Horn of Africa
conducting aviation operations.
1:40:43 PM
BRIGADIER GENERAL STREFF said that the AK ARNG state partnership
program is with Mongolia and is in its 15th year. He added that
this program is regarded as the standard for the U.S. Department
of the Army and the National Guard Bureau. He said that through
the partnership, it is helping to grow the civil response and
military capabilities of Mongolia, which is a significant
contributor to the United Nations peace keeping missions.
BRIGADIER GENERAL STREFF relayed that AK ARNG mans the ground-
based missile defense system at Fort Greely. He said that the
system, established in 2004, is operated by 210 guardsmen who
protect North America primarily from North Korean missiles,
24/7. He asserted that the Arctic is increasingly important and
the United States is working to develop a strategy for that
area. He said AK ARNG is sponsoring the Arctic Interest
Advisory Counsel, created to assist in the development of the
national Arctic strategy. He added that AK ARNG's first meeting
is with a number of northern tier states and will be in Barrow.
He further stated that AK ARNG is aligned with the U.S. Pacific
Command and the U.S. Army Pacific, and its 1st Battalion 297th
Infantry Regiment is part of the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat
Team, which is part of the Hawaii National Guard. He declared
that if called upon to defend the nation, AK ARNG is expected to
deploy with the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He relayed
that AK ARNG also maintains a great relationship with the U.S.
Army Alaska (USARAK), and participates in a number of exercises
and training events with them. This relationship includes
aviation support to airborne operations, cooperation between
their schoolhouses, and Arctic skills training.
1:42:51 PM
BRIGADIER GENERAL STREFF then referred to slide 15, the third
slide titled "Alaska Army National Guard," to highlight some of
the state missions accomplished by AK ARNG in Alaska. He said
that Arctic Care was started in 1995 as a Navy preserve mission
and has expanded to include a multi-branch exercise to provide
free medical, dental, psychological, vision, and veterinary care
in Alaska's underserved communities. The Alaska Army National
Guard works with the Native health corporations to identify
communities, primarily in western Alaska, and rotate through
them. This exercise trains hundreds of service members in
humanitarian disaster relief.
CHAIR TUCK asked if there are AK ARNG personnel in the fields of
vision, dental, health, and veterinary care.
BRIGADIER GENERAL STREFF responded that these providers could be
active duty, reservists, or national guardsmen, but they are
specialists in those fields and are credentialed. He further
explained that the active duty has veterinary services in
Alaska, providing veterinarians to perform rabies shots,
spaying, neutering, and other services.
1:44:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH asked how many communities and individuals
were served through Arctic Care.
BRIGADIER GENERAL STREFF responded it was difficult to enumerate
but estimated it to be over 100. He said that in 2012, for
example, guardsmen visited 11 villages around the Kobuk River
area near Kotzebue and saw hundreds of patients in the various
villages, plus dogs and cats. With 20-plus years of operation,
the number served is fairly extensive.
1:45:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH asked if the funding for Arctic Care was
federal, that is, part of the AK ARNG operational budget.
BRIGADIER GENERAL STREFF responded in the affirmative, and
stressed the opportunity it represents for the state of Alaska
and the health corporations to utilize the services of
reservists and active duty personnel who come to Alaska at the
expense of their own units.
1:46:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ asked for clarification of veterinarian
services in regard to AK ARNG personnel.
BRIGADIER GENERAL STREFF explained that AK ARNG does not have
veterinarian services, but the active duty and reserve personnel
have veterinary services. He added that the veterinary services
also monitor food coming on post, for quality management.
1:47:13 PM
BRIGADIER GENERAL STREFF related that Operation Santa Cause
represented a partnership between the Alaska Army National Guard
and the Alaska Air National Guard. He went on to say AK ARNG
provides support to the Veterans' Stand Down in partnership with
50 agencies. This annual program provides medical, dental,
vision screening, housing, employment, and financial assistance.
He said that AK ARNG Blackhawk helicopters supported the McHugh
Creek fire-fighting efforts, executing dozens of hours of flight
time and dropping nearly 300,000 gallons of water to protect
residents of Turnagain Arm. He mentioned that AK ARNG aviation
and ground teams are prepared to support the rescue coordination
center for whatever missions might require military support.
1:48:09 PM
BRIGADIER GENERAL STREFF asserted that AK ARNG, with facilities
around Alaska, is ready to save Alaskan lives in concert with
the Alaska State Troopers, Air National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard,
and local authorities. He reiterated AK ARNG brings significant
assets to the Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA)
mission. He especially noted the 103rd Civil Support Team
(CST), which is ready 24/7, 365, to identify and assess
chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats in
Alaska. Additionally, AK ARNG advises civil authority and
response measures, and assists with requests for additional
support.
1:48:47 PM
BRIGADIER GENERAL STREFF then referred to slide 16, the fourth
slide titled "Alaska Army National Guard," and stated that "we
are fully engaged in 2017 and look forward to 2018 and beyond to
ensure we are a relevant and ready force." He said AK ARNG will
expand its recruiting in rural, Western Alaska. He added, "Our
intent is to grow that force so that we can increase our Arctic
capability and capacity, but also go ahead and increase our
diversity in our organization."
BRIGADIER GENERAL STREFF relayed that vital to national
security, AK ARNG will maintain its highest level of readiness
with its ground-based missile defense system. He assured the
committee that AK ARNG will work across DMVA to add value to
each of their divisions and endeavors to resolve the challenges
of limited state and federal government funds while improving
mission readiness.
1:49:49 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked for an update on recruitment and
retention within AK ARNG.
BRIGADIER GENERAL STREFF responded that across Alaska there is a
spectrum of diverse candidates, and the current focus is to get
"the right people coming into the right units and making sure
it's an ethical and focused organization."
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked about changes in missions and
staffing and, specifically, if AK ARNG was currently using the
Alcantra Armory in Wasilla to greater advantage.
BRIGADIER GENERAL STREFF answered that there is an evolving
stationing plan for the Alcantra facility. He said that AK ARNG
has asked the federal government, through the National Guard
Bureau, to fund improvements. He related that the Alcantra
Armory houses portions of the infantry battalion, the Military
Police Company, and Alaska State Defense Force residents;
therefore, good use is being made of the facility. He
acknowledged the potential of recruitment in the Matanuska
Valley for decades to come.
1:51:54 PM
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL added that "the refurbishment of a new
Alcantra Armory was number one" on her National Guard Bureau
"wish list" for military construction this past year.
1:53:13 PM
MIKE O'HARE, Director, Division of Homeland Security & Emergency
Management, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA),
referred to slide 17, titled "Division of Homeland Security &
Emergency Management," and stated that the mission of the
Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (DHSEM) is
to foster a prepared and resilient state of Alaska, keeping
Alaskans safe from all hazards, whether they be natural or
manmade. He applauded the 62 workers under him. He reiterated
that the mission is to "save lives, protect property, prevent
suffering" from those hazards. He said that the strategic
direction of the division is to: work collaboratively within
the DMVA integrated team; coordinate resources with the Alaska
Air National Guard, the Alaska Army National Guard, the Alaska
State Defense Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard; and plan, train,
and exercise to enable all communities in Alaska to be better
prepared and more resilient to take care of their citizens.
1:54:44 PM
MR. O'HARE summarized the "Strategic Direction" on slide 18,
also titled "Division of Homeland Security & Emergency
Management," by saying DHSEM constantly strives to be better in
coordinating and improving relationships with all of its
partners and all of its customers to accomplish the task. He
offered that DHSEM tailors its approach to meet a community's
needs and to leverage the strength and resources of all of its
partners, whether local, state, tribal, federal, or non-
governmental faith-based organizations. He offered a binder,
titled "Small Community Emergency Response Plans," for committee
members to pass around and review. He said that typically, in
the past, response plans have been neglected. He offered that
the current response plans consist of easy-to-use flip charts
that "anybody, under any circumstance, can grab this thing and
say, we have a fire, we have a flood, we have ice breakup time.
Who do I call? What do I do? What's the checklist to think of?
What are the thought processes by which I should be executing
first? Who do I call?" He stated that the phone numbers are
all in the plans. He related that his staff are working with
the communities to put together these small community response
plans, referred to as SCERPs. He relayed a success story about
category 2 and 3 hurricanes on the west coast affecting St.
Lawrence Island. He mentioned he received a call from
Shaktoolik, one of the affected communities, expressing
appreciation for the SCERP, which helped them be better
organized, be better prepared, know what to do, and be more
confident and resilient. He declared, "This is the essence,
this is the foundation of community resilience with regards to
disaster preparedness and planning that we're striving for." He
referred to the "really cool" gear shown on slide 18, which
consists of tactical emergency communication devices that can be
located quickly anywhere in Alaska to establish communications,
a mobile emergency operations center that can travel anywhere on
the road system and establish communications if needed, and the
earthquake simulator for outreach to communities.
1:58:04 PM
MR. O'HARE referred to slide 19, the third slide titled
"Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management," to
describe the organizational structure of DHSEM. "Planning" and
"Preparedness," on the left side of the chart, represent staff
who engage with all Alaskan communities to do community planning
and mitigation. Mitigation includes modification projects, such
as home elevation or relocation, which help residents be less
vulnerable to threats. Planning includes assisting communities
with disaster planning and preparing their SCERPs. He mentioned
the resiliency team, which coordinates "all of the various
entities that could bring resources, planning, understandings of
the community. You can't plan until you really understand
what's going on out there." He concluded, "This is how we
engage with the community. This is how we engage in
collaborative fashion."
MR. O'HARE referred to "State Emergency Operations
Center/Response" on the chart on slide 19, and mentioned that
this center is located in the basement of Joint Base Elmendorf-
Richardson (JBER) and is the center point of response
coordination for "anything that happens in
Alaska." He declared that there were seats at the center for
all of DHSEM's partners - military, U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska
Army National Guard, Alaska Air National Guard, Alaska State
Defense Force, appropriate state agencies, and volunteer and
faith-based organizations - to come together with the full
authority of their agency and with their resources to bring a
quick response to communities in peril.
MR. O'HARE then referred to "Disaster Assistance," on the far
right of the organizational chart, and explained that this
represents individuals who do the long-term care in the
community recovery programs, who have intimate knowledge of
community dynamics, and who have relationships with community
residents.
2:00:50 PM
MR. O'HARE turned to slide 20, the fourth slide titled "Division
of Homeland Security & Emergency Management," to describe the
successes, operations, and outlooks of the division. For
successes, he mentioned the Fall Preparedness Conference, in
which DHSEM invites participants from all Alaskan communities to
convene in Anchorage to engage in preparedness, outreach,
training, and table top exercises. The purpose is for attendees
to focus on improving themselves in their response to the
community. He added that in the past, there have been two large
preparedness conferences, but the plan now is to have just one
per year and move conference resources and efforts to the rural
"hub" communities for regional focus.
MR. O'HARE discussed "FY2017 Operations" on slide 20, by saying
DHSEM continually conducts response operations. The operations
include responses for federal and state declarations of disaster
and responses to communities to identify and address issues,
coordinate resources, and avert disasters. He offered that a
major success of the division is the Community and Emergency
Response Team (CERT) training that Outreach Chief Michelle Torez
gives to Military Youth Academy cadets in effective community
planning and preparedness for response to disasters. He added
that Alaska National Guard members and Alaska State Defense
Force members will be incorporated into the training to expose
cadets to recruitment opportunities in those agencies. He
asserted this effort to be the foundation for community
resilience as it builds new leadership for emergency management.
2:04:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ shared her experience with Heads Up
Disaster Response through her work with the Salvation Army, and
reiterated that the SCERP is a practical, easy-to-use tool for
planning and organizing disaster response. She added that as a
member of a local volunteer organization, she felt welcome "at
the table," and DHSEM was remarkably professional and
collaborative.
2:05:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if the scope of the Alaska Shield
exercise would be the same as last year and whom it would
involve, and he added that he would like to be involved as an
observer.
MR. O'HARE responded that Alaska Shield is the state's large
field exercise for a particular threat focus. The next date for
this exercise will be in 2019. He said it would be a homeland
security-focused event to involve many communities and regions
in Alaska. He invited all committee members to attend.
MR. O'HARE turned the committee's attention back to slide 7,
titled "Village Relocation," to discuss village relocation as a
mitigation project. He declared that investments to communities
"to harden them to meet the threats" is a vital investment to
community resilience. He said that it is the community's
decision whether to stay in place or relocate. If it chooses to
stay in place, then DHSEM must "harden", elevate, and/or look at
other mitigation opportunities. He mentioned that there was no
specific agency responsible for village relocation. He asserted
that Sally Russell Cox (local government specialist IV, Division
of Community and Regional Affairs (DCRA), DCCED), coordinates
with communities that have identified that they are threatened
and potentially want to look at relocation. Ms. Cox, along with
DCRA and DCCED, work with the villages to understand what they
want to do and what their plans are, and then they mobilize the
resources of the various agencies that "can help move this
along." He added that it was hugely a team effort. He offered
that DHSEM's role in DMVA is as a conduit to Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) mitigation resources. He added that
for every disaster for which the state has a federal disaster
declaration, the state receives money for statewide mitigation
projects. He related that relocation of the Village of Newtok
to Mertarvik will have a huge cost and take a long time. He
added that, to date, there had been ten years of planning for
the relocation, and even though there has been some new
development at the new location of Mertarvik, DHSEM is "nowhere
near getting those houses built and moved over there." He
mentioned that one of the reasons for the slow progress is that
there is no one agency with the $100-150 million to relocate a
community. He offered that even with the resources that DHSEM
partners bring to the table, these resources come with
restraints and reporting requirements. He asserted there are
"cascading effects." He explained, "If we move so many houses,
could we build the school now in the new location?" He
emphasized the complexity of such a mitigation opportunity and
stated that collaboration was key.
2:10:23 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if DoD has much interest in
continuing to plan for similar relocations in light of the drawn
out nature of the Newtok response and lack of final resolution.
MR. O'HARE responded that DMVA, as Alaska's key point of contact
with DoD, uses projects such as the relocation of Newtok as
Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) opportunities, and Alaska
can make a bid to the National Guard Bureau for the project as
an engineering training opportunity for the military. He said
that the National Guard Bureau's list of projects is long, and
it is difficult to get a project on that list.
2:11:42 PM
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL opined that she did not believe that the
outcome of that relocation project is on DoD's scope, so would
not jeopardize future IRT bids.
2:12:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD asked for the number of residents in
Newtok.
Mr. O'HARE responded 600-700 residents.
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD noted the state's $3 billion deficit,
the state's huge expenses, and the $20 trillion federal deficit,
and she asked what Newtok would have done hundreds of years ago
"without all these bureaucrats, all these agencies ... all over
the place ...." She additionally asked: "Number two, whose
responsibility is it to move? And number three, is it because
all these government buildings and dollars that have gone into
this community, is that what needs to be moved?" She opined
that the community's residents would have been more mobile in
the past, and she asked about the dynamics of the move in regard
to government infrastructure versus personal housing.
2:13:39 PM
MR. O'HARE responded that the issues Representative Reinbold
brought up about government's roles and responsibility in
assisting the involved communities is an ongoing discussion at
DHSEM with each community at peril.
2:14:12 PM
CHAIR TUCK asked what gives responsibility for relocation of
communities to DMVA.
MR. O'HARE responded that the responsibility of DMVA in the
endeavor mentioned is "as a small piece of this puzzle" in
accessing some mitigation resources. He continued that "without
having those pieces in the partnership to try and meet the
whole, we're not going to get anywhere."
CHAIR TUCK asked, "This is mitigation between the village and
the State of Alaska or the village and the federal government?"
MR. O'HARE responded that all of them - federal, state, tribal,
and Denali Commission looking for federal resources - are
involved to meet that mission.
2:15:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if there is an interagency avian
bird flu team up and operating, and if that is considered a
continuing threat.
MR. O'HARE answered that DHSEM works closely with the Department
of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and with Andy Jones
(Section Chief, Emergency Programs: Health Emergency Response
Operations, EMS and Trauma) and his staff, and they share
information regularly on threats, patterns, and trends
nationwide and in Alaska. He confirmed that avian bird flu was
absolutely an ongoing threat.
2:16:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD offered her appreciation for the
importance of homeland security and urged DMVA to "keep your eye
on the biggest threat." She cited the threats mentioned at the
beginning of the presentation - those involving North Korea,
China, Russia, and infiltration of radical groups - and offered
that they may have the biggest impact on most Alaskans.
MR. O'HARE replied he couldn't agree more. He added that "this
is a moving process and we have to be ... lucky all the time."
He contended that DMVA looks at all of the moving threats and
has relationships with all of its partners - DoD, the federal
government, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), law
enforcement, state troopers, and Department of Public Safety
(DPS). He also mentioned the importance of the DPS intelligence
information sharing center, called the Intelligence Fusion
Center, and of having a homeland security advisor to the
governor, who is the commissioner of DPS. He asserted that DMVA
responds to changing patterns and trends by ensuring community
plans are in place that will help them respond to threats.
2:17:39 PM
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL added that there are Alaska National Guard
personnel, within the Intelligence Fusion Center, who are active
in counter drug operations in partnership with the FBI and the
drug enforcement agency.
2:17:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked about the nature of the upgrade to
Alcantra Armory.
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL responded that it would be a new armory
building. She confirmed this project as being number one on her
military construction merit list.
BRIGADIER GENERAL STREFF added the upgrade project at Alcantra
includes not only a new building but fencing, scheduled road
improvements, and other infrastructure improvements. He said
that DMVA would find out this year if the project is selected
and, if so, construction would start sometime after 2020.
2:20:04 PM
COLONEL ALASKA JOHN JAMES, Commanding Officer, Alaska State
Defense Force, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs
(DMVA), referred to slide 21, titled "Alaska State Defense
Force," and said that the mission of the Alaska State Defense
Force (ASDF) is to provide a trained and organized state
military reserve supportive of homeland security and civil
support operations. He related that ASDF has 76 soldiers and is
growing across the state. He added that it is organized into
the Brigade Headquarters and a Forward Support Battalion at
Alcantra Armory. He further stated that: the Headquarters
Company provides command and control; the MP Company provides
liaison officers at emergency operation centers in communities;
an engineer company is able to assess buildings, bridges, and
community structures post event; and a signal company is capable
of providing communities a secondary or tertiary means of
communication. He said ASDF has detachments in Fairbanks,
Valdez, and Juneau, and is establishing signal detachments in
Kodiak and possibly Cordova and Sitka. He went on to say that
the last state defense force is the scout battalion headquarters
located in Bethel, and detachments will be established at
Quinhagak, Kipnuk, Qwethluk, and Hooper Bay. Analyses will also
be conducted in the communities of Nome, Kotzebue, and Barrow,
for possible establishment of scout detachments in those
communities.
COLONEL JAMES turned to slide 22, also titled "Alaska State
Defense Force," and went on to say that soldiers are trained in:
first aid; instant command systems; search and rescue; oral,
written, and electronic communications; tobacco cessation;
environmental stewardship; leadership skills; and many other
subjects. The Alaska State Defense Force is designed to
encourage and enable state organized militia service in rural
communities. He mentioned that the roots of the state militia
were in the Alaska Territorial Guard, and villages and small
towns were able to participate over the years. He said that
ASDF wants to renew and expand this proposition to increase both
capacity and resiliency across the state and to make the state
defense force and National Guard stronger and more reflective of
the people it serves. He reiterated ASDF's mission to serve the
community, increase emergency management capacity, and continue
the tradition of military service in Alaska.
2:22:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked about the source of funds used to
study the potential for ASDF detachments across the state.
COLONEL JAMES replied that the majority comes from DMVA, but he
is looking for other sources, such as 501(c)3s and private
donations. He assured the representatives that since it is a
volunteer organization, the expense is low.
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL clarified that there is no line item for
ASDF operations in the DMVA budget, but through efficiencies,
DMVA was able to distribute $30,000 to ASDF last year, which,
she added, was twice the amount given in any previous year. She
said that in order to scout for, resource, equip, and train
recruits, the governor has approved a small amount in his
budget, $200,000, as seed money to "grow" the ASDF as a state
militia and to create conditions for increased recruitment into
the Alaska National Guard, reserves, and active component forces
across the state.
2:25:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER commented that last year's recommended
increase for DMVA funds was rejected, and he speculated the
fundamental state fiscal situation to be similar.
MAJOR GENERAL HUMMEL offered that DMVA has scaled back its
request for this year and has started pursuing other funding
opportunities.
2:25:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH asked if Southeast Alaska has been
considered for ASDF expansion.
COLONEL JAMES responded yes.
2:26:55 PM
VERDIE BOWEN, Director, Office of Veteran Affairs, Department of
Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA), referred to slide 23,
titled "Office of Veterans Affairs," and stated that the mission
of the Office of Veterans Affairs (VA) is to advocate for the
Alaska veterans, their families, and transitioning military
members to receive all of the benefits they have earned through
their service to the country. He declared that the biggest
issue regarding this mission is the misconception that all
benefits can be bestowed at once, when, in fact, each member
needs to be interviewed individually and benefits are assigned
according to a number of variables: when they served in the
military; where they served; length of time of service;
condition of service when released; and disabilities incurred
during service. He went on to say the state of Alaska has the
largest number per capita of veterans in the nation. There is a
staff of four state employees and 17 grant funded Veterans
Service Officers (VSO) providing services to veterans throughout
the state. He said that last year 62,000 veterans, family
members, and transitioning military members were served. He
mentioned that for the VSOs, that number averages eight per day,
seven days a week. He said that VSOs and his staff provide a
great service to the veterans and their families by returning a
great deal of money to veterans. He asserted that during the
past year, $105 million was returned to veterans and family
members, the largest single check being $574,000. He explained
that some of these payments are back payments for issues
occurring a long time ago. He added that these payments come
into Alaska and are spent in the communities. He also offered
that about 19,000 Alaskan veterans are receiving a total of $247
million per year in disability compensation and pensions through
the VA. He added that these disabilities were incurred during
service.
2:30:08 PM
MR. BOWEN turned to slide 24, also titled "Office of Veterans
Affairs," and said that the VA provides $154 million in
healthcare for the veterans in Alaska. He attested that $134
million of the $254 million is through contracts with local
healthcare providers, which is unique to Alaska. He explained
that since there are only five VA funded health care facilities
in Alaska, the rest of the healthcare has to be provided at
local facilities, including healthcare through an Alaska Native
sharing agreement. He went on to say that the Alaska VA helped
veterans obtain certificates of eligibility to receive $1.1
billion in home loans, through VA home guarantees. He stated
that the Alaska VA looks "outside of our office" to find other
funds to help veterans. It is the third year for the Highly
Rural Transportation grant, which has been received in five
borough areas, $50,000 per borough area, and it helps transport
veterans to healthcare sites or to medication dispensaries. He
mentioned that two weeks ago the Alaska VA signed a contract to
bring in a new program called the State Approving Agency, which
will help bring in more job programs and will evaluate more
institutions of higher learning - both under the GI bill and
post 9/11 [the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001]. He
offered that program allows him to cover the wages of one of his
state employees under a federal grant.
2:32:25 PM
MR. BOWEN related, "Nothing is really straight forward within
the VA system and, especially in the federal government, nothing
is really straight forward." He relayed a story of an
individual with asthma, who was a pilot. He said that in this
individual's records was "RAD," which is reactive airway
disease, which is not a compensable disability. He said that
his staff had to obtain a doctor's statement for the individual
explaining that RAD was asthma. The result was all of the
medications for that person are now covered. This, he said,
illustrates the importance of the assistance the VA provides.
In addition, he cited a VA study that demonstrated that if a
veteran applies for benefits on his/her own, the average annual
income, through compensation, is about $3,500, compared with
$11,000 if he/she utilizes a VA staff person.
2:33:56 PM
MR. BOWEN mentioned the new Veterans Information System (VIS),
which now has information on 18,000 veterans. He offered that
through this system, the VA is now able to send postcards to
veterans in outreach communities prior to visiting. He said
that his office will continue partnerships with the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which assists with outreach
efforts by sending a team to accompany Alaska VA staff. He said
the biggest challenge for the Alaska VA is bridging the gap
between communities on the road system and the 161 communities
off the road system with regard to access to care and education.
2:35:40 PM
MR. BOWEN mentioned that travel by the VA has been restricted at
times; therefore, Alaska VA staff visit the communities without
the VA support team. He said that through the Tribal Veteran
Representative Program, local volunteers are trained and number
over 300 throughout the state. He opined that these volunteers
are of great assistance during the outreach visits.
2:36:31 PM
MR. BOWEN offered that with the upcoming transitions within the
VA, Alaska VA is monitoring the Alaska Native health care
sharing agreements between the 27 Native entities and the VA to
ensure they "stay in place." There are two years remaining for
the health care sharing agreement program, giving Alaska VA time
to educate the new VA leadership about them.
2:37:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked how long the VSO grants were in
place and if they were "pretty solid."
MR. BOWEN responded they are pretty solid and are funded
annually.
2:37:41 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH prefaced his question by noting the large
differential, $6,500, in the benefit amount received by veterans
who received assistance through the Alaska VA office as opposed
to "going it alone." He asked if a veterans could independently
utilize the VIS to get an approximation of the benefits for
which they qualify.
MR. BOWEN responded, "In reality, the issue we run into, when it
comes to individual benefits, we have to bring them in one at a
time." He went on to say the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA) would prevent storing that level of
information in the software application. He said name, address,
email address, time of service are entered into VIS, which
allows the Alaska VA to target its search. He gave as an
example the contaminated water system at Camp Lejeune, from 1953
to 1988, and attested VIS facilitates identifying service
members impacted by this contamination.
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH asked if there was a benefit calculator in
VIS that a veteran could use independently.
MR. BOWEN answered no. Veterans need to file for benefits; it
is a long process; and it may involve legal issues. He affirmed
that the results of application were generally successful.
2:40:48 PM
BOB ROSES, Director, Alaska Military Youth Academy, Department
of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA), emphasized the level of
support of DMVA for the Alaska Military Youth Academy (AMYA)
program, contributing to its success. He referred to slide 25,
titled "Alaska Military Youth Academy," and stated that AMYA is
a program designed for 16- to 18-year-old youth who are at risk
- those who have dropped out of high school or are in jeopardy
of not being able to complete their secondary education by the
time they are 19 years old. The Alaska Military Youth Academy
teaches them eight basic core components: academics, physical
fitness, leadership/followership, responsible citizenship,
service to community, health and hygiene, life coping skills,
and job skills. All eight core components must be successfully
completed for a cadet to complete the program. He added that
the program consists of 22 1/2 weeks of residential status
followed by 12 months of post-residential status. During the 12
months, cadets report back monthly "to let us know if they're
working, if so where. Have they joined the military? Have they
gone back to their local high school to actually get a high
school diploma, as opposed to a [General Education Development]
(GED)?" He relayed that if they are not engaged in any of these
activities, they are required to perform 30 hours of community
service and provide documentation of service hours to AMYA.
2:44:20 PM
MR. ROSES, in response to Representative Tuck, described the 22
1/2 weeks of residential status: a 5:00 a.m. rising; physical
training; 90-minute classes Monday through Thursday; study hall
and community service two days per week; and tutoring. Group
leaders are assigned to three or four cadets to mentor and
monitor. During the 12 months of post-residential status, they
are required to check in with AMYA monthly and provide
documentation of their activity, which could be a pay stub,
school record, military record, or documentation of community
service.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked if there were consequences if the
cadet loses contact with AMYA.
MR. ROSES responded that unfortunately, there are not. He cited
the incentives provided to the cadet for filling out the monthly
report - $100 per month for the first six months and $50 per
month for the last six months.
2:46:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH asked about the consequences of missing a
month of reporting.
MR. ROSES replied, "It's an all-or-nothing game." He added that
AMYA seeks to teach the cadets personal responsibility, along
with self-respect, self-discipline, and self-worth.
2:47:26 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH asked for the success rate of the program.
MR. ROSES responded that about 55-60 percent cadets will follow
through with all 12 months of reporting.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER remarked that "being part of a team and
being responsible for somebody other than themselves is a
powerful motivator."
MR. ROSES added that the leadership/followership component
addresses that concept. He further stated that some 18-year-old
students have come to AMYA having never earned a single high
school credit. He said, "How do you get them through a 22-week
program where they can earn their GED? How do you get them to
be a responsible leader? Well, you don't do it by not giving
them the opportunity. You do it by putting them in that
position and holding them to a level of accountability where
they measure up, and, if they don't qualify for some reason,
they get removed as a squad leader. Because they didn't do what
they're supposed to doesn't mean they won't try it again." He
said all cadets get an opportunity to participate in a
leadership position: it is not only an opportunity but a
requirement of the program. He added that AMYA is an accredited
high school and can issue a high school diploma. He said a
student can earn 7 1/2 high school credits through the AMYA
curriculum, which is aligned with the state curriculum
standards. He offered that each year AMYA awards 8 to 15 high
school diplomas and 75 to 85 GEDs. He added that AMYA does
"credit recovery," which means a student may return to high
school with a little over a year's worth of high school credits
earned in the 22 1/2 weeks at AMYA.
2:49:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER affirmed that he took the tour of AMYA
and was very impressed.
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ asked if students from rural Alaska get
transportation support to attend AMYA.
MR. ROSES confirmed AMYA pays for transportation to and from
AMYA for any students in outlying areas. He added that if the
student drops out of the program in the first month and a half,
AMYA encourages the parents to pay for the transportation, but
if the family has no means, then AMYA will pay. Many cadets
from rural areas experience "culture shock," and they are the
hardest to retain in the program. He mentioned that years ago,
through a cooperative agreement with the Cook Inlet Tribal
Council, a counselor was provided to the AMYA campus for these
students, but the funds for that service have long since
disappeared. He emphasized a need for that type of counseling.
2:54:23 PM
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD expressed her appreciation for the work
of DMVA and its "amazing team." She mentioned the importance of
AMYA's work in teaching life skills to high-risk youth and the
benefits of this work to society.
2:55:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked if the cadets are covered by
health insurance.
MR. ROSES replied yes. He said that AMYA strives to ensure
every cadet is insured, either through their families, through
Denali Kid Care, or through another agency. He added that no
cadet goes without medical care; AMYA has a medical staff,
including a nurse practitioner and a registered nurse. If AMYA
has to transport a cadet off campus for services, the parents
are contacted, but also AMYA has medical power of attorney. If,
in the rare instance, services are not covered in some way,
either by insurance or the provider, AMYA will cover the cost.
2:57:49 PM
BRIAN DUFFY, Director, Division of Administrative Services,
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA), gave a brief
summary of his background. He referred to slide 27, titled
"Division of Administrative Services," and said that all of the
programs and services described by the presenters require money,
manpower, and material. He asserted that the mission of the
Division of Administrative Services (DAS) is to deliver, assist,
and serve, which is aptly summed up by the acronym "DAS." He
said DAS delivers key products and services in the forms of
information technology, budget, financial management, and
procurement. He stated that it assists DMVA personnel in
executing their assigned missions. He added that DAS is mindful
of whom it ultimately serves - the state's veteran population
and all Alaskans. He gave practical examples of services
provided - uniforms for AMYA cadets, food for the AMYA dining
facility, or materials for use in the classroom - and more
complex services, such as providing contract support in disaster
response and relief efforts. He mentioned that his finance team
is focused on the effective and efficient management of DAS's
complex accounting system.
MR. DUFFY, referring back to Representative Spohnholz's question
about veterinary services in the U.S. Armed Forces, stated that
the primary mission of these veterinarians is to provide support
to the military working dogs that are part of the U.S. Army,
U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force security forces. Their
secondary role is to provide veterinary services to the eligible
population on the installation "within the means of their
capacity."
3:01:48 PM
ROBERT DOEHL, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Military &
Veterans' Affairs (DMVA), explained that the federal military
has reserve components for all branches of the military, but
only the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps have state
components. The Alaska Naval Militia consists of about 60
Alaskans in the U.S. Navy Reserve, who have volunteered for
state service as well as federal service. They are trained,
available to assist in time of state disaster, and volunteer for
state active duty in time of disaster.
MR. DOEHL referred to slide 28, titled "Alaska Aerospace
Corporation," and said that the Alaska Aerospace Corporation
(AAC) is not, by statute, part of DMVA. It reports to a board
of directors, is appointed by Governor Bill Walker, and the DMVA
provides administrative oversight. He said that two years ago
the general funds appropriation for operating AAC was "zeroed
out," and no funds have been requested this year. He stated
that AAC provides aerospace services. It operates a rocket
launch facility on Kodiak and provides rocket launch services,
such as radar safety telemetry for "anywhere in the world"
rocket launches. He said that there will be two rocket launches
on Kodiak this summer, in May and June, and possibly two
additional ones. He related that AAC is generating a self-
sustaining amount of money for itself, including $8 million of
contracts with the federal government and a commercial venture
for $700,000 to provide launch services outside of Alaska with
the telemetry equipment.
3:05:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked about "the ownership structure of
the launch facility."
MR. DOEHL said that the board of directors continues to explore
options for ultimate privatization, but remains concerned for
possible loss of trust and confidence in the AAC, with sensitive
contracts at stake. He expressed the concerns: not disrupting
a growing business; needing to protect Alaska's interest in AAC
and making sure there is fair compensation; providing for
ongoing sustainability; and fulfilling a vital national need in
terms of the second rocket launch facility in the nation that
can do polar launches. He added that the rocket launch facility
is in an optimal location for the Arctic launches necessary for
the satellite arrays needed for development of the Arctic and is
in a necessary training area.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER noted that AAC is in the position to
diversify the economy, as constituents often advocate.
3:06:53 PM
MR. DOEHL, in response to Representative Reinbold's stated
appreciation for no budget request associated with AAC,
attributed that to the business development model under
President and CEO Craig E. Campbell of AAC. He opined that the
national need for AAC is probably even greater considering the
threats from North Korea and other rogue nations. He added that
the rocket launch site is the optimal location to develop and
validate the technology necessary to defeat those threats.
MR. DOEHL referred to slide 31, titled "Alaska GF Budget by
Department," and reiterated the small "slice of the pie" DMVA
represents in the state budget and the ample funds the
department brings into the state.
3:12:27 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was
adjourned at 3:12 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| FY18 DMVA Department Overview (H)MVA FINAL.pdf |
HMLV 1/19/2017 1:00:00 PM |
Dept. of Military & Veterans Affairs Overview |