INSTALLATION: OVERVIEW
Welcome to the home of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and Task Force 49.
LOCATION
Fort Wainwright is located adjacent to Fairbanks in the interior of Alaska. The post is located in the North Star Borough. A borough in Alaska is equivalent to a county in the lower 48 states.
Fairbanks, the second largest city in Alaska, is located 365 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska. Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska. Soldiers and their families assigned to Fort Wainwright will be able to enjoy breathtaking scenery; abundant hunting, fishing and camping; regal mountains; diverse wildlife; and the friendly independent people who will be their neighbors.
You'll find that the cost of housing and other living expenses in the Fairbanks area are very high. On post housing can be quite a wait and off post housing is also very limited. The weather in Fairbanks has the largest swing in the world. It can get up to 90 degrees in the summer and as cold as minus 65 degrees in the winter.
HISTORY
Many political and military leaders advocated building military bases in Alaska several years prior to World War II. Finally, when war threatened in 1939, Congress granted $4 million to construct an Army cold-weather experimental station at Fairbanks.
. 1938 Established as a cold weather station
. 1939 Became Ladd Army Airfield
. 1941 Began Alaska-Siberia Lend-Lease w/Russia
. 1947 Named Ladd AFB
. 1955 Ladd transferred to the US Army
. 1961 Renamed Fort Wainwright (172d Brigade)
. 1986 6th ID activated
. 1998 6th ID Deactivated
. 1998 Reactivated 172d SIB
. 2001 Selected as the third Stryker Brigade Combat
Team location
. 2006 Selected as the home of Task Force 49
Aviation Brigade
The 49th state owes much of its success, infrastructure, roads and accessibility to the Army. Soldiers wee here from the moment Alaska became part of the United States, Oct. 18, 1867. Now, 139 years later, U.S. Army Alaska is the Army's forward presence for the northern and pacific region defense.
MISSION
Fort Wainwright's mission is to deploy combat ready forces to support joint military operations worldwide and serve as the Joint Force Land Component Command to support Joint Task Force Alaska. Our strategic location, superior training capabilities and dynamic relationship with our local civilian communities make Fort Wainwright and United States Army in Alaska a significant national asset and world-class power projection platform for military operations anywhere in the world.
POPULATION SERVED
As of 31 March 2006, Fort Wainwright had 915 Civil Service employees and 273 Non-appropriated employees for a total of 1188 civilians working on post. Also, as of that date, 5,108 Soldiers are stationed at Fort Wainwright and 5,798 dependents are command sponsored and reside with those Soldiers on post or in the surrounding community.
SPONSORSHIP
To obtain a sponsor at Fort Wainwright prior to your arrival, please use the online sponsorship request linked in the contacts/links for this topic. If not being met by your sponsor, report to the Welcome Center, Building 3401 Santiago Avenue. If arriving after duty hours, contact the Welcome Center at 907-353-2273. Detailed directions and important arrival information are available in the "Directions" topic. If you need to send mail to Fort Wainwright, call 800-275-8777, ask for the post office on Fort Wainwright and then ask for their requirements for forwarding mail to Fort Wainwright.
TEMPORARY QUARTERS
With the popularity of recreational travel to Alaska and the large number of official travelers, U.S. Army Alaska Lodging strives to offer the finest temporary lodging to both official and "Space Available" travelers. The popularity of Alaska means lodging is usually 100 percent booked from April through September. For the best chance of a successful booking, it is recommended that guests make reservations as soon as they are eligible. For reservations at Fort Wainwright's Northern Lights Inn (Building 3402) call 907-353-3800, 24 hours a day to reserve one of its 90 rooms.
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
The Relocation Readiness Program is located in Room 58 and 59 of the Welcome Center in Building 3401, Santiago Avenue. Welcome packets, maps and other local information are available. Computers are available in the Family Readiness Center, also located in the Army Community Service area of the Welcome Center. The Relocation Lending Closet offers household items for 30 day loan. Fort Wainwright's Newcomers Orientation is held every second Wednesday/Thursday of each month at the Battle Command Training Center located on Luzon Avenue, both days 0800-1500 hours. For more assistance, contact us at 907-353-4333/7908.
CRITICAL INSTALLATION INFORMATION
Fort Wainwright is considered an overseas tour. If you have dependents and you want your family members to accompany you to Alaska, your PCS orders must say concurrent travel and have each family member's name on your orders. Each family member must have completed the Exceptional Family Member screening and have Command Sponsorship.
If your PCS orders say "deferred travel" for your family, then you need to travel to Alaska alone. After you arrive and sign into Fort Wainwright, you can begin the Command Sponsorship process. Have your family complete the Exceptional Family Member screening at the losing post and wait to hear from you for further instructions.
For more information, you can inquire with your current Military Personnel Division, local Army Community Service, Exceptional Family Member Program Manager or call Fort Wainwright's ACS, Exceptional Member Program Manager at 907-353-4243.