The Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs manages military and veterans affairs for the U.S. state of
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U ...
. It comprises a number of subdepartments, including the Alaska National Guard, Veterans Affairs, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management,
Alaska Naval Militia
The Alaska Naval Militia (AKNM) is the official naval militia of the state of Alaska. The Alaska Naval Militia falls under control of the state of Alaska. The legal basis for the naval militia comes from both federal and state law.
History
The Al ...
, and others.
Alaska National Guard
The Alaska National Guard is Alaska's component of the
National Guard of the United States
The National Guard is a state-based military force that becomes part of the reserve components of the United States Army and the United States Air Force when activated for federal missions.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
Fairbanks is a home rule city and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska and the second largest in the state. The 2020 Census put the p ...
Alaska State Defense Force
The Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF) is the state defense force of Alaska. It is one of 23 such forces in the United States. The Alaska State Defense Force is administered under the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, but is headed ...
(ASDF) is a military entity authorized by both the State Code of Alaska and Executive Order. The State Defense Force (SDF) 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
The Alaska Naval Militia (AKNM) is the official naval militia of the state of Alaska. The Alaska Naval Militia falls under control of the state of Alaska. The legal basis for the naval militia comes from both federal and state law.
History
The Al ...
is Alaska's naval equivalent of the
Army
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
and
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...
. 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.
United States Army Center of Military History
The United States Army Center of Military History (CMH) is a directorate within the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. The Institute of Heraldry remains within the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Ar ...
Military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...