JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --
The 673d Air Base Wing and 3rd Wing will be participating in
Polar Force from March 27 to April 7. This means some base services will be either
closed or have limited hours.
Polar Force is a two-week exercise designed to test JBER’s
readiness.
A few facilities such as the Iditarod Dining Facility will
continue as normal operations, but will have limited services.
“The restaurant rotation zone [middle section], the
Mediterranean and Deli Zone will be closed during Polar Force,” said Air Force
Master Sgt. Angela Roshto, Iditarod Dining Facility manager. “The Wilderness
Inn on [JBER-Richardson] will not be affected by the exercise.”
For members who will be working late hours, the Iditarod
offers a midnight meal from 11 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Roshto also mentioned if members are unable to make it to the
Iditarod during meal hours, the salad bar and the Grab ‘N’ Go items area
available between meals.
For Polar Force participants who have children, the Child
Development Center and School Age Programs will also extend their hours,
opening at 5 a.m. and closing at 7:30 p.m. Members need to make reservations as
soon as possible to their facility to guarantee proper staffing. The Illa and
Ketchikan School Age Centers will transport children by bus to Two Rivers and
Kennecott Youth Center at 5 p.m. respectively.
The Elmendorf Fitness Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 6
p.m, but will have limited services due to manning.
“The fitness assessment center will be closed from the Mar 27
- 31 and we are offering additional test slot a week prior at 1 p.m. for those
who want to test beforehand,” said Joshua Grieser, Elmendorf Fitness Center
director. “We are not anticipating Hangar Five to be affected; however, access
to facilities during Polar Force could change at any time due to exercise
requirements.”
The Military Personnel Services office will also be closed,
except for base in-processing, final out-processing, and the passport clinic. Those
who need ID cards or DEERS services can visit http://www.rapids-appointments.dmdc.osd.mil for alternate locations.
The following office will
be closed due to the exercise are:
Finance (March 27 - April 4)
Military Personnel Section (March 27 - April
7)
Fitness Assessment Cell (March 27 - 31)
Denali, Sitka, Katmai and
Talkeetna child development centers will remain open with extended hours.
The 673d Medical Group,
Iditarod Dining Facility, Two Rivers and Kennecott youth centers, Illa and
Ketchikan school age centers, JBER-Elmendorf Legal Office, Public Affairs
studio, and Buckner Physical Fitness Center will have normal hours.