JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Life at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is a testament to the resilience of its residents, who brave intense winters and unpredictable conditions. Home to thousands of military personnel, their families, and civilian employees, JBER is a place where adaptation is key, especially in one of the most extreme environments on Earth.
"With the climate and unpredictable weather, the younger Airmen and Soldiers have to go through a lot to adapt, especially with the intense pace of JBER," said U.S. Air Force Chaplain (Capt.) Daniel Duplantis, a chaplain with the 673d Air Base Wing. “Our resiliency schedules are always changing. One day, I’m conducting a service next to a flight line with F-22 [Raptors], and the next day, I’m hearing the confessions of our Arctic Angels hours before a jump.”
For residents, arctic living is a way of life. With winter temperatures often plunging below zero and snow blanketing the base for much of the year, the challenges are ever-present. But survival is only part of the story -- thriving is the goal.
“Arctic resilience is something that's definitely taught and experienced at varying levels up here,” said Jim Scraper, recreation and rental supervisor at the JBER Outdoor Recreation Center. “It's not that other bases don’t have their challenges; it’s just different up here.”
JBER provides a variety of resources to help residents cope, including heating assistance, snow removal services, and recreational activities designed to foster camaraderie. Despite the long winters, the people of JBER stay active through both indoor and outdoor activities, maintaining a strong sense of community.
“Moving up here isn't easy, especially with a family,” said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Ayden Rayburn, a young executive administration Airman recently stationed on JBER at the 3rd Wing. “But the available resources up here such as the chaplain corps and even the recreation center have helped my wife and I feel like we're a real part of the community up here.”
Through its dedication to resilience, JBER continues to lead the way in arctic living, proving that it's not just about enduring the harsh conditions, but thriving in them.
Service members on JBER can find a plethora of opportunities to connect and find resilience through community on the JBER Connect app, the Arctic Oasis Community Center, the JBER Life website and through the JBER official social media pages.