About
The mission at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is to support and defend U.S. interests in the Pacific and around the world by providing units capable of worldwide air power projection and to meet Pacific Command's theater staging and throughput requirements.
JBER also provides early entry battle command capability and acts as the Joint Force Land Component Commander for homeland defense and civil support in Alaska. It is prepared to deploy rapidly in the Pacific theater and elsewhere in support of contingency operations, Pacific Command objectives and U.S. national interests.
Today, JBER continues to grow in importance to US National Security due to our strategic location and complementary mix of military capabilities to include F-22 Raptors and E-3 Sentry AW ACS, Pacific Command's only airborne brigade combat team, the C-17 Globemaster getting them to the fight, and HC-130 and HH-60 aircraft conducting search and rescue missions throughout the state and elsewhere during contingencies.
JBER's host unit is the 673d Air Base Wing; but we are also home to headquarters, Alaskan Command and 11th Air Force headquarters, US Army Alaska Headquarters, the Alaska National Guard, the 3rd Wing, the 176th Wing (ANG), the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, the 477th Fighter Group, and more than 60 other mission partners.
History
The military's long and important history in the Great Land began at the very moment Alaska became American soil, Oct. 18, 1867. Elements of the Army's 9th Infantry were on hand as the Russian Golden Eagle was lowered and the Stars and Stripes was raised in Sitka, which became headquarters for the U.S. Military District, Alaska. The military has had a presence, even if very small at times, ever since. Fort Richardson, named for Wilds P. Richardson, was built in 1940-1941 near Anchorage. Construction of the base began on June 8, 1940. The first Army Air Corps personnel arrived on Aug. 12, 1940, led by Maj. Everett S. Davis. On Nov. 12, 1940, the War Department formally designated the installation Fort Richardson. The air facilities and flying field on the post were named Elmendorf Field in honor of Capt. Hugh M. Elmendorf. In 1947 the Army planned to move its operations to a new site named Fort Richardson, adjacent to the WWII installation. The Air Force assumed control of the original Fort Richardson and re-named it Elmendorf Air Force Base. The two installations combined in October 2010 and became Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. For a more thorough history, visit: https://www.jber.jb.mil/Info/History/
Population
JBER has over 30,000 Service Members, Civilians and Family members.
Local Area Population:
Total Anchorage/Mat-Su Economic Region = 401,848 (2019 Census)
Anchorage = 293,531
Matanuska-Susitna Borough = 108,317
Location
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) is located in Southcentral, Alaska amid picturesque, majestic, snow-capped mountains, lakes, rivers and glaciers. The area abounds with wildlife. Many northern tier states such as Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan have shorter but much colder winters than south central Alaska.
JBER is 2,090 miles north of Seattle, Washington, and 300 miles south of Fairbanks, Alaska. The Anchorage community has a military presence of over 42,000 people and accounts for more than 10 percent of the local population. Alaska is a very military friendly state! Come prepared to be awed by this beautiful base, and state. There's nowhere else like Alaska!
Anchorage provides most of the conveniences of a large city. There are greenbelts and parks throughout the city, and has recently been ranked as one of the BEST outdoor-living cities. Access to dozens of activities for families: world-class fishing, skiing, snow-machining, ice skating, sledding, hiking, biking & rafting are just a stone's throw away.
