Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs


The Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs manages military and veterans affairs for the U.S. state of Alaska. It comprises a number of subdepartments, including the Alaska National Guard, Veterans Affairs, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Alaska Naval Militia, and others.

Alaska National Guard

The Alaska National Guard is Alaska's component of the National Guard of the United States and comprises the Alaska Army National Guard and the Alaska Air National Guard. Current strength is 1,972 army guardsmen and 2,309 air guardsmen.
The Governor may call individuals or units of the Alaska National Guard into state service during emergencies or to assist in special situations which lend themselves to use of the National Guard. The state mission assigned to the National Guard is "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by
state law." The Alaska Army National Guard also operates a launch site for a U.S. anti-missile system at Fort Greely, about 100 miles south of Fairbanks.
The military department's Alaska Military Youth Academy is run by the National Guard.

Alaska State Defense Force

The Alaska State Defense Force is a military entity authorized by both the State Code of Alaska and Executive Order. The State Defense Force is the state's authorized militia and assumes the state mission of the Alaska National Guard in the event the Guard is mobilized. It is separate from the National Guard and reports to the Governor of Alaska as ex officio commander. The SDF is composed of retired active and reserve military personnel and selected professional persons who volunteer their time and talents in further service to their state.

Alaska Naval Militia

The Alaska Naval Militia is Alaska's naval equivalent of the Army and Air National Guard. It is composed of members of the Navy Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve members who, like the National Guard, have a dual federal and state obligation; they serve as state military forces unless called into federal service.

Department heads