ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE  May 15, 2025 8:07 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Andrew Gray, Co-Chair Senator Scott Kawasaki, Co-Chair Representative Maxine Dibert Representative Ky Holland Representative David Nelson Senator Kelly Merrick Senator Forrest Dunbar PUBLIC MEMBERS PRESENT    Colonel George Vakalis, retired - Anchorage (via teleconference) Brigadier General Julio Banez Anchorage (via teleconference)   MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Louise Stutes Senator Bill Wielechowski Senator Mike Shower COMMITTEE CALENDAR  PRESENTATION(S): CURRENT STATUS OF THE ARMED FORCES IN ALASKA - HEARD BRIEFING: JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE PROJECTS  - HEARD PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  No previous action to record WITNESS REGISTER CRAIG CHRISTENSON, Deputy Commissioner Department of Military & Veterans Affairs Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented an update on the status of the armed forces in Alaska. KYLE JOHANSEN, Staff Representative Andrew Gray Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a briefing on Joint Armed Services Committee Interim Projects. ACTION NARRATIVE 8:07:30 AM CO-CHAIR GRAY called the Joint Armed Services Committee meeting to order at 8:07 a.m. Present at the call to order were Senators Dunbar, Merrick, and Co-Chair Kawasaki; and Representatives present at the call to order were Representatives Dibert, Holland, Nelson, and Co-Chair Gray. Public members present via teleconference were Colonel George Vakalis, Brigadier General Julio Banez. ^PRESENTATION(S): CURRENT STATUS OF THE ARMED FORCES IN ALASKA PRESENTATION(S): CURRENT STATUS OF THE ARMED FORCES IN ALASKA  8:08:31 AM CO-CHAIR GRAY announced an update on the current status of the armed forces in Alaska. 8:08:48 AM CRAIG CHRISTENSON, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, Anchorage, Alaska, Presented an update on the status of the armed forces in Alaska. He moved to slide 2, DMVA Mission: [Original punctuation provided.] DMVA Mission  Mission:  • Provide military forces to accomplish missions in the state and around the world • Provide homeland security/ defense; emergency preparedness, response, and recovery • Provide services to veterans • Provide military style education and training to youth at risk of not graduating Sources:  • Alaska Statute 44.35.020 • Alaska Statute Title 26 • Mission, Vision, and Core Values: https:\\dmva.alaska.gov\ 8:09:32 AM MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 3, Organization, and said the Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs (DMVA) is a federal and state partnership. Alaska is one of seven states where the Adjutant General also serves as commissioner over a state department. This position is referred to in the National Guard as a "Super Tag" and in Alaska is held by Major General Torrence Saxe. The Alaska Organized Militia is organized within DMVA. He briefly described other divisions within DVMA: Veterans Affairs Alaska has 70,000 veterans. Alaska Military Youth Academy free, quasi military structure serving 15.5 18 year old students at risk of not graduating. Homeland Security and Emergency Management assist Alaskan communities with disasters and emergencies. Alaska Airspace Corporation a national strategic asset that administratively is under DMVA and is one of only four vertical launch facilities in the United States. Alaska Wing of the Civil Air patrol receives grant funds from but is not technically part of DVMA. 8:11:35 AM MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 4, and said the Alaska Organized Militia is comprised of the Alaska Air National Guard, Alaska Army National Guard, Alaska Naval Militia, and the Alaska State Defense Force. 8:11:53 AM MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 5, and stated that the area of operations covers all of Alaska using a hub-and-spoke model for military operations, exercises, disasters, and emergencies. He explained that supplies are stored in central hubs for easier access by military aircraft and transported to outlying areas when needed. He noted that the Army National Guard has 124 members deployed to Poland, Kuwait, Mongolia, Iraq, and various U.S. states. He added that the Air National Guard has 83 members deployed to Europe and Southwest Asia. 8:12:57 AM MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 6, and explained that the Alaska National Guard operates differently than most National Guards in the Lower 48. Alaska's National Guard is among the most operational in the country, conducting numerous 24/7 alert missions. He highlighted the 176th Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf- Richardson (JBER), which manages combat search and rescue, strategic and tactical airlift, and air defensemissions critical to national security. At Eielson Air Force Base, the 168th Wing performs air refueling, which supports fighter aircraft responding to Russian and Chinese incursions near [Alaska's] borders. He also noted Clear Space Force Station's role in missile warning and space surveillance. He listed Alaska Air National Guard aircraft, including the C-17, C-130, Pave Hawk Helicopter, and KC-135 refuelers. He stated the unit is acquiring four additional refuelers. 8:14:25 AM MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 7 and stated that the Alaska Army National Guard operates the Ballistic Missile Defense system at Fort Greely, which plays a critical role in national security. He explained that when potential incoming missiles are identified by Air Guard members at Clear Space Force Station, Army National Guard personnel at Fort Greely are responsible for intercepting them. He added that the Alaska Army National Guard also includes aviation, infantry, military police, engineers, public affairs, and medical [support units]. 8:15:04 AM MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 8 and explained that Alaska is one of the few states with a naval militia, which primarily provides manpower and technical support to the National Guard. The naval militia does not have its own boats. He stated that the militia has about 50 members, most of whom are Marine Corps or Navy reservists, with a few retirees contributing their expertise. He noted that the naval militia mainly assists during disasters. He cited their involvement in the Mendenhall floods in Juneau, where they helped with debris removal, shelter support, and communications. 8:16:00 AM MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 9 and stated that the Alaska State Defense Force is statutorily authorized and includes approximately 225 members located in 25 communities across the state. He explained that the Defense Force supports both the Air and Army National Guard during disasters. Recent deployments have included responses to landslides, wildfires, the Murbach typhoon, COVID-19, flooding, winter storms, and an earthquake. He listed their duties as traffic control, debris removal, sandbag placement, snow shoveling, assisting the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at airports during COVID-19, providing administrative support, and helping with sheltering and communications. 8:16:58 AM MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 10 and said he would touch on highlights. CO-CHAIR GRAY asked Mr. Christenson to give the number of members participating in each organization. 8:17:36 AM MR. CHRISTENSON replied that there are approximately 52 members in the Alaska Naval Militia, 225 members in the Alaska State Defense Force, and about 4,000 members in the Alaska National Guard. He specified that the National Guard includes 1,500 to 1,600 Army National Guard members and around 2,200 Air National Guard members. 8:18:08 AM MR. CHRISTENSON continued slide 10 and shared highlights: [Original punctuation provided.] Highlights  • State Emergency Operations Center responded to 140 incidents, 12 state disasters, and three federal disasters • AMYA graduated 244 cadets; 94 GED, eight HS diplomas, 26 GED and HS diplomas • Processed 4,160 new disability claims through the VA; over $1OOM in disability payments to Alaskan veterans annually • Fairbanks Veterans Cemetery grant opportunity 8:19:57 AM MR. CHRISTENSON moved to slide 11 and continued sharing highlights: [Original punctuation provided.] Highlights  • AI