ANG holds ground-breaking ceremony

  • Published
  • By Capt. Guy Hayes
  • Alaska National Guard Public Affairs
CAMP DENALI, Alaska --  The Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing held an historic ground-breaking ceremony June 30 on Elmendorf AFB signifying the move of Air National Guard assets from Kulis Air National Guard Base to Elmendorf by 2011. 

"This is a great day in the history of Alaska," said Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, Alaska National Guard adjutant general. 

The move to Elmendorf is a Base Realignment and Closure success story. The change will allow the 176th Air National Guard Wing to grow, remain a vital part of the Alaska National Guard and join forces with active duty and reserve Air Force components. 

"Fifty years ago Alaska became a state and today we see the total force we've been talking about," said Sen. Ted Stevens. "Congratulations to all of you for being a part of it."
In 2005, the Department of Defense recommended to close Kulis ANGB and relocate the 176th Wing and associated aircraft to Elmendorf. 

The move, which is estimated to save the DOD $146.7 million over the next 20 years, consolidates two installations, reduces infrastructure and retains the skilled, highly-trained Alaska National Guard personnel. 

"This is a monumental effort and we owe a lot of thanks to Steve Freese and Mark Bailey from the National Guard Bureau in Washington D.C. for the funding and execution of this historic project," said General Campbell. 

The 176th Wing, which was established in 1952 as the 8144th Air Base Squadron, is one of the Air National Guard's largest, busiest and most complex wings. 

Originally located in a small office above a bus depot in Anchorage, Airmen flew planes out of Elmendorf until 1955 when they moved to Kulis. 

Today, with six distinct weapons systems and an end-strength of 1,500 members, the 176th is a combat-ready force of highly-trained Airmen.