[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6053960,"mediaKeyId","3342281-97a491406436a951394603194a8e8cd9","parentId",3342281,"title","Legislative staff to review Joint Armed Services Committee statute, broaden scope for interim work","audioSeconds",574,"startMs",2818000,"endMs",3392000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3342281-97a491406436a951394603194a8e8cd9&start=2818&end=3392","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3342281-97a491406436a951394603194a8e8cd9/thumbnail_2818000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6053960/Alaska/Legislative-staff-to-review-Joint-Armed-Services-Committee-statute-broaden-scope-for-interim-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053960-d46c819d5138f699a042f8045054e4cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775435181&Signature=K1ct2nY9B2NVTzRVII8ZFk4IHx0PXhhuU7dxESZwDfJ6BqypDEf~FGfCzOPKNiHnptgjE7LN-WV35NVgUnYyKyrAhKeGTTeSntIAcmUAg6Hdk7s7ZPbgQXeJEb336zYp-blEE8UNYppHMcR4CBCqxM1iiQr5B8j1wfu97Kq~9UZJfTdymJ8Yjjw6lu7CguxK-vmBry0rfomYbV5yMiXqclVBPshMFVnLdev1dQXWJanTfhyezw2n9lBNX7pGjUegOAMCj-8-v7OAYSgEZV15pNIg2I3CAgu9hlEO4dK599oOx3XWKX-IlsK3TlwKkPcv-PHwCAl4yJ3aQkThSQKNIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-05-15T00:00:00Z","article","Kyle Johansen, staff to the Joint Armed Services Committee, briefed members on May 15 about an interim plan to review the statute that defines the committee’s powers and duties and to develop potential legislation to update that statute.

\"You have a copy of the powers and duties statute in front of you,\" Johansen said, noting the statute is heavily oriented toward base realignment and closure language from past decades. He told the committee that BRAC‑related language dominates the statute and that the statute has not been comprehensively reviewed since a recent narrow amendment that added Space Force references.

Johansen outlined topics staff will explore during the interim, including cybersecurity, counter‑drug activities, recruitment and retention, the impacts of military activity on housing and childcare, and other matters not reflected in the current statute. He said the Joint Armed Services Committee is administered by the legislative affairs staff and that the interim work would aim to produce draft legislation for the next session.

Senator Dunbar and other members commended the review. Dunbar noted the statute does not currently align well with the committee’s practical work overseeing the National Guard and other state military matters. Representative Gray said the intent is to broaden the committee’s oversight where appropriate without losing focus on defense and readiness.

Johansen also said staff are building a better records and continuity practice to retain institutional files as chairs rotate, and that the committee will schedule an in‑person interim meeting on the Railbelt in October. No formal motions or votes were taken; the briefing was informational and solicited member input for the interim work plan.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05/15/2025 08:00 AM House JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE","oneSentenceSummary","Committee staff briefed members on a planned interim review and possible rewrite of the statute that governs the Joint Armed Services Committee, proposing a broader scope to capture contemporary issues such as cyber, counter‑drug activities, recruitment and community impacts of military operations.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Alaska, Alaska","taxId",78559,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6053965,"DMVA says Fairbanks veterans cemetery project on track for VA grant application",174,1394000,1568000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3342281-97a491406436a951394603194a8e8cd9&start=1394&end=1568","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3342281-97a491406436a951394603194a8e8cd9/thumbnail_1394000.jpg","/articles/6053965/Alaska/DMVA-says-Fairbanks-veterans-cemetery-project-on-track-for-VA-grant-application","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053965-0a7a12e52e597bc893a0ddfd09855523/orig.mp4?Expires=1775435181&Signature=XsNmfHeoAG0gV2zzRnmnzAWh4x2kHsiwPI8EvBXBShdz3vGSVKAVD8Qog0YkdlgDSwZKqOpJEuGwOhQiHRdWP7fM7IxUEF4MSUGUOT9oTmyv88CaLmI5f-ADdO4rcSlQshIiELpSDhAi0jNQeJ1UoePiz0KmIgZukpIaekQucX3DIFPwB0rr0NOpDXfil-1V4RbnwYdDXR58Uoy6OoWLPMm8OsXfNrEezBd1ZfajbnlHB~FtVQ-UFsYgb-TcKrxxDTlH5hFJ4j8SKpGlRgr7ZDsTk-mbsmHopxm1g9eMWiwTXYJSlQWmaxaPM-8ATYalCqlgxTtnTBMYqtV3Vs5qYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy Commissioner Craig Christensen told the Joint Armed Services Committee on May 15 that the state veteran cemetery planned near Fairbanks is progressing through design and studies and is positioned to apply for a Veterans Administration grant this year.

\"We are in the process of just putting the application, the final steps of the application together, presenting it to the VA,\" Christensen said, describing design and environmental work the department had completed. He said the land for the cemetery was purchased last year and that the department expects to meet VA requirements for grant funding if the remaining design and studies are completed.

Representative Dave Divert, who represents Fairbanks, asked whether legislators could assist in facilitating final steps. Christensen said the project was on a \"nice glide path\" and credited the director of veteran services, Bertie Bowen, for coordinating with the federal VA in Washington, D.C.

If the grant is awarded on schedule, Christensen said the state could break ground in the spring following the award. The committee did not take formal action; Christensen characterized the status as preparatory and said the department would continue work on the application and related studies.

The presentation did not include a firm dollar amount for the project or a specific VA grant number; Christensen said required environmental and archaeological studies were \"pretty much\" finished and that the VA requires final design and studies to be complete before awarding construction grant funds.","Deputy Commissioner Craig Christensen told the Joint Armed Services Committee the state has completed most design and studies required to apply for a Veterans Administration (VA) grant to build a state veterans cemetery near Fairbanks and expects to be ready for the VA grant cycle in October.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6053969,"Alaska DMVA briefs legislature on Guard capabilities, Arctic readiness and statewide support missions",1547,799000,2346000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3342281-97a491406436a951394603194a8e8cd9&start=799&end=2346","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3342281-97a491406436a951394603194a8e8cd9/thumbnail_799000.jpg","/articles/6053969/Alaska/Alaska-DMVA-briefs-legislature-on-Guard-capabilities-Arctic-readiness-and-statewide-support-missions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053969-071a057b81f1560b7c629330f7f91264/orig.mp4?Expires=1775435181&Signature=o3qGjxDGstjb8D-qgNQdBj9VYN8xh2ST~J1pP4HvzpMDYNSwENOhDPd7-b8VF7ldaXxJne94Cgbem8KCKHmxe7GZw-RIjbiME44PBh~gdwtpdpOAWcLlUCi7p5zMDeiZJ6DI6ZAS8bDQhY7dFfGjEEjg-O45Ms4PyNUFbrrNXjO2rDIJFYrF5w5H5~Ewtkzc9PvjXZU1Rx-NpnfMulQWWb9AodM6m5OI4ipc0VmLCxx90cB~CH5iNpmalbp3g-HBKBuww2EorlZMO6kDXU4m8waOmyHdu8S6HWjuBraT5MsIIcuPplnO8zEAs~62U1kApVugeXfdagAxZV~fNTYU8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Colonel Craig Christensen, deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, told the Joint Armed Services Committee on May 15 that the department is focused on preparing the Alaska National Guard and related forces for possible future conflict while continuing domestic missions across the state.

\"As most of you know, DMVA is a federal state partnership,\" Christensen said, describing the department's structure and the role of the adjutant general. He emphasized that Alaska's Guard is highly operational, with numerous 24/7 missions and a strong Arctic training emphasis.

Christensen gave a rundown of the organized militia — the Alaska Army and Air National Guard, the Alaska Naval Militia and the Alaska State Defense Force — and highlighted key capabilities at installations across the state. He said the guard fields airframes including the C‑17, C‑130 and KC‑135 refuelers, and noted expansion plans to add four more refuelers. He described the 176th Wing missions and the state’s ballistic missile defense posture tied to facilities at Fort Greely and Clear Space Force Station.

The deputy commissioner also reviewed domestic operations the Guard performs while training for wartime missions. He said the Guard carried out 148 search‑and‑rescue missions in the past year, that refuelers at Eielson scrambled 750 times and transferred about 10,000,000 pounds of fuel, and that the Guard airlifted more than 20,000,000 pounds of cargo and over 6,000 passengers.

Christensen outlined several partnership and program efforts that link training to community benefit. He described the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program, which places military engineering and medical units on community projects; examples cited included road and hazardous‑fuel facility work and delivery of 14,000 pounds of meat to a remote community via FEMA. He also described a counter‑drug program of 18 assigned soldiers and airmen embedded with federal and state law‑enforcement partners; Christensen said those analysts and aviation assets contributed to multiagency investigations that disrupted shipments and seizures of large drug quantities.

On international cooperation, Christensen noted the state partnership program with Mongolia, a relationship he said has lasted more than 20 years and includes recurring exercises. He framed much of the department’s work as preparation: \"Everything that I've just talked about is Major General Sachs' preparation for war,\" Christensen said, adding the department’s hub‑and‑spoke logistics concept and expanded refueling capacity are part of that posture.

Committee members asked for details about specific deployments and local facilities. Christensen said roughly 124 Alaska Army Guard members and about 83 Air Guard members were deployed to overseas areas at the time of the briefing. He confirmed a Black Hawk helicopter detachment had been stationed in Juneau and was conducting training and operational missions.

The committee received the presentation and moved on to the interim agenda. The DMVA presentation was followed by staff briefings on the committee’s statutory scope and interim work plans.","Deputy Commissioner Craig Christensen told the Joint Armed Services Committee the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) is prioritizing readiness for potential conflict while maintaining statewide missions including search-and-rescue, refueling operations, counter‑drug support and community projects.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Legislative staff to review Joint Armed Services Committee statute, broaden scope for interim work

DMVA says Fairbanks veterans cemetery project on track for VA grant application

Alaska DMVA briefs legislature on Guard capabilities, Arctic readiness and statewide support missions