Military & Defense
Alaska's strategic location is a great asset in national defense for both Japan and the United States. The Government of Japan recognizes the significance of the Japan-Alaska alliance considering recent events, especially ballistic missile launches by North Korea.
Alaska has a large active duty and military veteran population. Anchorage and Fairbanks have the largest military communities in the state, and both cities have an Army post and an Air Force base nearby. Joint-Base Elmendorf-Richardson, a joint Army post and Air Force base, is located near Northeast Anchorage. Eielson Air Force Base and Fort Wainwright are near the Fairbanks metropolitan area.
Japan is one of many nations that participates in the annual Red Flag-Alaska exercises at JBER and Eielson. The Red Flag exercises simulate realistic air combat to enhance combat response and survival skills of participating nations' militaries and defense forces.
From June 12 to June 23, 2023, Japan’s Air Self-Defense Forces participated in Red Flag Alaska 23-2 at JBER. Over 2,000 service members helped fly, maintain, and support more than 70 aircraft from 32 units during the exercises. The integration of Japan and US forces helped enable the exchange of tactics and techniques, while improving the synergism between them.
Many current or former military members in Alaska are also university students. The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) has been consistently named one of the most military friendly universities in the nation. UAA has a Military and Veteran Student Resource Center to support students who are in active-duty service as well as their dependents and veterans.
