Alaskan Command The Alaskan Command ( ALCOM ) is a joint sub - unified command of the United States Pacific Command responsible for operations in and around the state of Alaska . Alaskan Command is charged with maintaining air sovereignty , deploying forces for worldwide contingencies as directed by the Commander , Pacific Command , providing support to federal and state authorities during civil emergencies and conducting joint training for the rapid deployment of combat forces . ALCOM combined forces include more than 16 , 000 Air Force , Army , Navy and Coast Guard personnel , and 3 , 700 guardsmen and reservists . Recently , the Command Representative for Missile Defense position was created to be the focal point for all issues related to Ground - Based Midcourse Defense in Alaska , in support of Alaskan Command , the Alaska NORAD Region , and the Eleventh Air Force . ALCOM is headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf - Richardson near Anchorage . The command is made up of the following military forces : History . ALCOM was established 1 January 1947 , as a unified command reporting to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . The command was founded based on lessons learned during World War II , when a lack of unity of command hampered operations to drive the Japanese from the western Aleutian Islands of Attu and Kiska . ALCOM was charged with the defense of Alaska and its surrounding waters , and to furnish humanitarian support during disasters , such as the 1964 Alaska earthquake . The Alaskan Air Command , United States Army Alaska and the Navy ’ s Alaskan Sea Frontier were the three original ALCOM service components . The Alaskan Sea Frontier was inactivated in 1971 as part of post - Vietnam military reductions . Responsibility for the defense of the Aleutian Islands was transferred to U . S . Pacific Command , again creating a lack of unity of command for Alaskan defense . U . S . Army Alaska was inactivated in 1974 , and ALCOM followed suit in 1975 . Joint Task Force - Alaska was created to replace ALCOM . It was a provisional organization activated in the event of war or disasters by the Chairman , Joint Chiefs of Staff . The problem of disjointed command was corrected in July 1989 with the creation of a new " Alaskan Command " , a subordinate unified command reporting to the Commander , U . S . Pacific Command . This new command recognized Alaska ’ s important role in the Pacific by putting all military forces in the state of Alaska and under the leadership of one commander . Components . Eleventh Air Force . The Eleventh Air Force provides forces to maintain air superiority in Alaska and support Alaska - based ground forces , and combat - ready air forces for employment by unified commanders to preserve the national sovereignty of the United States and defend U . S . interests overseas . The largest subordinate units in the Eleventh Air Force are the 3d Wing at Elmendorf and the 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson Air Force Base , near Fairbanks . The 3d Wing provides air defense and air superiority in Alaska , and supports Pacific Air Forces during contingencies in the U . S . Pacific Command area of responsibility . The 3d Wing is equipped with the F - 22 Raptor and . The wing ' s Raptor fighters stand active air defense alert 24 - hours - a - day , year - round in support of the North American Aerospace Defense mission . The 354th Fighter Wing uses the F - 16 Fighting Falcon to provide close air support and battlefield air interdiction requirements of the United States Army Alaska and Pacific Air Forces mobility commitments . Military airlift in Alaska is provided by the 3d Wing ' s 517th Airlift Squadron at Elmendorf with C - 17 Globemaster III and C - 12 aircraft . The 962d Airborne Air Control Squadron flies the E - 3 Sentry , which can direct friendly fighter aircraft to intercept and identify unknown aircraft as they enter U . S . airspace and also augment existing ground - based radar systems by providing a survivable airborne radar platform during hostilities . Remote locations of the 11AF are operated by the 611th Air Support Group at Elmendorf . Those locations include : Galena and King Salmon airports , Eareckson Air Station on Shemya Island , and a network of 18 Air Force radar sites throughout Alaska . When mobilized , the state ' s Air National Guard becomes an integral part of Pacific Air Forces and Alaskan Command . The Alaska Air National Guard maintains KC - 135 Tankers ( 168th Air Refueling Wing ) , C - 130s and air rescue HH - 60 Pavehawk helicopters ( 176th Wing ) . United States Army Alaska . United States Army Alaska ( USARAK ) is a subordinate element of U . S . Army Pacific , headquartered at Fort Shafter , Hawaii . The new organization , commanded by a major general , is a result of a Department of the Army decision in March 1993 to downsize the 6th Infantry Division ( Light ) , which was the principal Army unit in Alaska , and reactivate the 172nd Infantry Brigade ( Separate ) . USARAK ' s mission is to be prepared to deploy rapidly in the Pacific theater and elsewhere as directed in support of contingency operations , U . S . Pacific Command objectives and United States national interests . U . S . Army Alaska commands to two brigade combat team s , an Combat Aviation Brigade , a Maneuver Enhancement Brigade , the United States Army garrisons in Alaska as well as tenant organizations , the NCO Academy and Reserve Component units : Tenant organizations are located at each USARAK installation and include the USA Medical Department Activity - Alaska , USA Dental Activity - Alaska , a signal battalion , and the Bureau of Land Management . The Reserve Component units located throughout the state include a National Guard Infantry Group ( Scout ) consisting of three Infantry Battalions , a Support Battalion , an Aviation Battalion , and an United States Army Reserve Engineer Company ( B - 411 , whose battalion headquarters are in Hawaii ) and a Reserve Hospital . United States Naval Forces Alaska . The commander of the 17th Coast Guard District , United States Coast Guard , commands U . S . Naval Forces Alaska , accomplishing both the peacetime and wartime naval tasks in the state . Major peacetime responsibilities include search and rescue , law enforcement of territorial waters , maintenance of navigational maritime aides and ensuring maritime safety . Naval Forces Alaska has the task force designator Task Force 91 . District 17 forces are located at Petersburg , Juneau , Ketchikan , Homer , Seward , Tok , Anchorage , Kenai , Valdez , Nome , St . Paul , and three air stations at Kodiak , Sitka and Cordova ( seasonal ) . The district uses a wide variety of vessels , including tenders , patrol boats and medium endurance cutters . During wartime , Coast Guard forces provide the majority of naval forces in Alaska for the defense of the state ' s of shoreline . Due to budget constraints and warming relations with former adversaries , the Naval Air Station at Adak Island was closed in March 1997 . Prior to the deactivation , Adak ' s mission had shifted from providing support to air operations for antisubmarine warfare forces to one of providing short term support of transiting aircraft and ships . The island ' s population had shrunk to approximately five hundred unaccompanied personnel residents - down from a peak of nearly 5000 active duty and family members .