Alaska witnesses tell lawmakers 'ready-to-deploy' orders strain military families; six Guard members assigned to ICE in Anchorage

Military family members and state liaisons described the real-world disruptions that 'ready-to-deploy' orders can create for households and communities during a Feb. 11 Joint Armed Services Committee hearing in Juneau.

Lisa Slava, who identified herself as a military spouse and private citizen based at Eielson Air Force Base, said families "essentially live with a baseline of uncertainty because of who we decided to marry." She described how sudden changes to a service member’s timeline cause immediate "financial, physical, and mental pressure for the family" and force quick shifts in childcare, schooling and household logistics.

Representative Andrew Gray told the committee he received an email from the Department of Military and Veterans liaison Angela Laflamme noting that six Alaska National Guard soldiers assigned to ICE in Anchorage were performing administrative tasks. "The 6 National Guard soldiers assigned to ice in Anchorage are only performing administrative tasks," Gray said on the record.

Witnesses emphasized that the state’s veteran population (committee members cited about 60,000 veterans statewide) frames how Alaska views such personnel and policy choices. Dan Mauer, the law professor and retired officer testifying as an expert, and Margaret Stock, a retired military police lieutenant colonel, both cautioned that the legal authority for domestic military use is narrow and that when troops are asked to perform law-enforcement functions they require specific training.

The committee did not vote or adopt policy during the Feb. 11 hearing. Members said they intend additional oversight and follow-ups with Alaska Command and other installations.