Fort Richardson

Fort Richardson is a U.S. Army Garrison in Alaska. Other units stationed in the base are the Law Enforcement Command, Non-Commissioned Officer’s Academy and 50th Signal Battalion. It is the major base of U.S. Army activities in the Alaska which includes Fort Wainwright and Fort Greely. Ft Richardson is made up of a large track of training and testing grounds. Located in Anchorage, this is the largest of all U.S. military bases in Alaska. The base has a population of more than 10,000.

This base lies in a 25,000 acre area located within steep snow-capped mountains, rivers, lakes, and glaciers. The area is teeming with wildlife. The base is bordered in the north by Eagle Bay and Knik Arm of Cook Inlet and in the west by Elmendorf Air Force Base and the city of Anchorage. The Chugach State Park and vast undeveloped lands are located on the eastern and southern side of the base.

The base was constructed in 1940 and was initially intended to serve as a major airfield. The very first Army Air Corps personnel arrived at the base on Aug 1940. On November 1940, the installation was designated by the Department of War as Fort Richardson. In 1994, it became the headquarters of the United States Army, Alaska (USARAK) tasked to protect American interests in the unstable region of the Asia Pacific.

Since temperature in the area ranges from 80 degrees below zero in the summer and 30 degrees in the winter, soldiers stationed at the Fort have to learn skills such as traveling in snow, glacier and river line techniques, crossing a tundra, and arctic survival in addition to their standard military training.

The Elmendorf AFB on the other hand is one of the major air force bases in Alaska. This Alaska air force base is one of the two U.S. bases that comprise the Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson camp. Fort Richardson is the other camp. In 2005, Fort Richardson was merged with the nearby Elmendorf Air Force Base and has since been known as the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Prior to the merger both Fort Richardson and the Elmendorf Air Force Base were independently installed with individual objectives and facilities.

Housing and Lodging

Military housing abounds at the Fort. Housing includes 117 units for the camp’s officers, 1,258 units for enlisted men including their dependents and 43 units for single service members. Fort Richardson Alaska Housing, however, has a waiting list lasting up to nine months should a house with 4 bedrooms be needed. If a house with less than 4 bedrooms is needed, it is almost immediately available. The Military personnel simply just have to apply with the base housing office. Housing within the Fort provides all the comfort and convenience for the residents.

For personnel on the waiting list, the base has temporary lodging available. Fort Richardson lodging is available at The Igloo which has 92 guest rooms located in 6 different buildings. Guest rooms are divided into 2 and 3 Bedroom family suites. There are also rooms with kitchens, microwave ovens and internet access. All rooms are non-smoking rooms. Continental Breakfast at the lodge is likewise available.

The base is complete with all living and recreational facilities needed for a comfortable life away from home. The base’s facilities make each military personnel tour of duty comfortable despite the hard work and training they need to undertake.

Other Facilities

Since the fort caters to more than 10,000 people, the camp is almost complete with all facilities needed to ensure their comfort. Fort Richardson has a big commissary and exchange. These 2 facilities offer the residents provisions at discounted prices. It also has a mall and one shoppette. Recreational facilities include a bowling alley, gym, golf course, tennis courts, swimming pools, and facilities for outdoor activities such as camping and fishing. It also has an arts & crafts center, library and an auto hobby center. Come to think of it, residents of the Fort do not have to leave the area for anything. They have almost everything they need inside. Some facilities are open to the public while some are only for the exclusive use of camp personnel and their dependents.

Other facilities include three elementary schools operated by the Anchorage District School (Middle schools students have to go to schools in the nearby communities). The fort also has charter schools and options for home schooling. There are also special education services available for children with disabilities who are between the ages of 3 to 21 years.

The Child Development Center has facilities for more than 200 children and a full-time child care center for children between 6 weeks old to 5 years old. These centers are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and certified further by the Department of the Army.

Important Places at the Fort

Within Fort Richardson are the Anchorage School District, Ursa Major Elementary School and Ursa Minor Elementary School.

The Fort Richardson Youth Center is a fun “Play Venture” place that provides the ambience of the woods within Aluminum posts. The place offers a smooth Track Ride and a ragged climb experience. Visitors will enjoy a simulated adventure at the woods – truly a very thrilling and exciting experience.

The Moose Run Golf Course is an 18-hole regulation-sized golf course. The golf course has a medium-length layout perfect for an entertaining round of golf.

The Arctic Valley Trail is a ski resort on Ski Bowl Road near the Chugach State Park. The trail is perfect for adventure seeking individuals.

The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a cultural and educational institution for the people of Alaska. The center is a foremost interactive cultural place. In this institution, visitors learn different things with the aid of modern technology.

A Starbucks outlet and the Fort Richardson Theater are also located within the grounds.

The United States has a lot of interests to protect in the Asia Pacific Region. The strategic location of Fort Richardson Alaska makes the base an important U.S. installation. With the fort’s merger with the Elmendorf Air Base, this joint installation became a major U.S. Military installation.