military bases in alaska
General Military Questions

Military Bases in Alaska

There are a total of nine active Military Bases in Alaska, split between Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Somewhat surprisingly, there are no Navy Bases in Alaska. There are also no Marine bases.

Here’s the complete list of military bases in Alaska, including their functions and stationed units.

Air Force Bases in Alaska

Eielson Air Force Base

Location: Fairbanks, AK

eielson air force base in alaska
Image: Wikipedia.org

In Use: 1943-Present

Overall Mission: Eielson AFB is approximately 26 miles southeast of Fairbanks, just outside Moose Creek.

It is a support and training base and is a key player in the Red Flag training exercises.

It has hosted and continues to host numerous Air Force wings, and boasts 54 of the new F-35 fighters.

Units Stationed:

  • 354th Fighter Wing
  • 1st Air Support Operations Group
  • 168th Air Refueling Wing, Air National Guard
  • Det. 460, Air Force Technical Applications Center
  • Arctic Survival School, Det. 1, 66th Training Squadron
  • Det. 632, Air Force Office of Special Investigations
  • Det. 1, 210th Rescue Squadron
  • Det. 25, 372nd Training Squadron

Official Site: https://www.eielson.af.mil/

Related ArticleMilitary Bases in Florida

Elmendorf AFB – Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson

Location: Anchorage, AK

elmendorf afb in alaska
Image: Wikipedia.org

In Use: 1940-Present 

Overall Mission: Together with Richardson Army Base, Elmendorf forms the Elmendorf Richardson Joint Base.

It is home to the Alaskan NORAD facilities.

It hosts several air units with the intent of being immediately able to provide worldwide support and air dominance.

Units Stationed:

  • 673rd Air Base Wing
  • Alaskan Air Command
  • 3rd Wing
  • 176th Wing
  • 477th Fighter Group
  • Alaskan Norad Region
  • 11th Air Force

Official Site: https://www.jber.jb.mil/

Space Force Bases in Alaska

Clear Space Force Station

Location: Anderson, AK

clear af station in alaska
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1949-Present

Overall Mission: Clear Space Force Station Base is primarily a radar monitoring station, designed to track ICBMs and other incoming threats along the west coast.

In this capacity, it serves as an early warning station operated by the U.S. Space Force.

It is located deep in the Alaskan wilderness, with only a few small communities nearby.

Units Stationed:

  • 13th Space Warning Squadron
  • 168th Wing Operations Group (Air National Guard)

Official Site: N/A

Related ArticleMilitary Bases in Texas

Army Bases in Alaska

Fort Richardson – Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson 

Location: Anchorage, AK

fort richardson in alaska
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1941-Present 

Overall Mission: Fort Richardson is the Army portion of the Elmendorf-Richardson Joint Base in Anchorage.

The Army’s mission on the base is to provide training and readiness for global deployment.

Units Stationed:

  • 11th Airborne Division 
  • 1st Brigade Combat Team
  • 2nd Brigade Combat Team
  • 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
  • U.S. Army Alaska Aviation Task Force

Official Site: https://www.jber.jb.mil/

Fort Wainwright Army Base

Location: Fairbanks, AK

ft wainwright army base in alaska
Image: Army.mil

In Use: 1941-Present

Overall Mission: Fort Fairbanks is located just east of Fairbanks, Alaska.

It hosts almost 8,000 soldiers and is one of the largest training camps in the United States.

Several special forces units are trained there, including the “Arctic Wolves.”

Units Stationed:

  • USARAK
  • 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team
  • 65th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company
  • 402nd Army Field Support Battalion
  • 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
  • 402nd Army Field Support Battalion

Official Site: https://home.army.mil/alaska/index.php/fort-wainwright

Fort Greely Army Base

Location: Fairbanks, AK

ft greely army base in alaska
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1942-Present

Overall Mission: Fort Greely is a small but essential base over 100 miles south of Fairbanks.

Its core function is to test and launch anti-ballistic missiles, which are designed to shoot down larger ICBMs.

It can also function as an extreme cold weather testing site for propulsion systems and other equipment.

Units Stationed:

  • Missile Defense Command
  • CRTC

Official Site: https://home.army.mil/alaska/index.php/fort-greely

Related ArticleArmy Bases in California

Coast Guard Bases in Alaska

Coast Guard Base Kodiak

Location: Kodiak Island, AK

coast guard base in kodiak alaska
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1941-Present

Overall Mission: Located on Kodiak Island, Coast Guard Base Kodiak began as a Naval Air Station.

The Coast Guard assumed control of the base in 1972.

It currently hosts 18 different Coast Guard units, in a combination of aircraft, helicopters, and cutters.

Units Stationed:

  • 5 HC-130J aircraft
  • 5 MH-60T Jayhawk helicopters
  • 5HH-65C Dolphin helicopters
  • USCGC Douglas Munro
  • USCGC Alex Haley
  • USCGC Spar

Official Site: https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Director-of-Operational-Logistics-DOL/Bases/Base-Kodiak/

Coast Guard Station Juneau

Location: Juneau, AK

Coast Guard News, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In Use: 1974-Present

Overall Mission: USCG Sector Juneau covers several hundred miles of open ocean to keep fishing vessels safe and shipping lines clear.

It also serves as a watch for accidents in the large Alaskan oil industry. This unit patrols to identify oil spills before they become disasters.

This unit also performs search and rescue operations over the Bering Sea.

Units Stationed:

  • 17th Coast Guard District

Official Site: https://www.pacificarea.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/District-17/17th-District-Units/Sector-Juneau/

MSU Valdez Coast Guard Base

Location: Valdez, AK

SRA MATTHEW HANNEN, USAF, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In Use: 1941-Present

Overall Mission: Located in Valdez, Alaska, on Prince William Sound, this Coast Guard Unit’s mission is to perform ice patrols in areas where southern units cannot reach.

It is also the home of the Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Center (VTC), where Guardsmen stand watch 24/7 to prevent accidents on the water due to the cold weather.

Units Stationed:

  • Coast Guard VTC

Official Site: https://www.pacificarea.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/District-17/17th-District-Units/Sector-Anchorage/Sector-Anchorage-Sub-Units/MSU-Valdez/

Rob V.
Alaska Military Bases

Alaska Military Bases

4.8 out of 5 (29 Ratings)

See a list of every major military base in Alaska, including Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard bases. AK is home to 7 major US Military installations.
Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I have personally vetted. Learn more.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *