Joint Base Elmendorf - Richardson JBER  Base Essentials

CROSSING THE CANADIAN BORDER: Active duty personnel and Family Members listed on the Active Duty members official PCS orders are in the EXEMPT category. However, it is required to complete the mandatory travel information via the ArriveCAN app or online application.

Temporary Lodging Facility (TLF) Reservations: Reservations for lodging should be made as far in advance as possible to ensure temporary lodging facilities are available upon arrival. All travelers should be aware that space is extremely limited each year from April 1 through September 30 because of the high volume of PCS/TDY traffic. Reservations can be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling The North Star Inn at 907-552-2454. Please remember that you must be signed into your unit and off Permissive TDY while residing in Lodging in order to be reimbursed for the cost.

If the accompanied member and their family do not have a confirmed reservation, they may be issued a Statement of Non-Availability to go off base and obtain a hotel/motel in Anchorage. The lodging office has a referral list of hotels/motels that are within the Temporary Lodging Allowance costs. They can also provide listings of off base hotels/motels that accept pets.

Pets: JBER TLF has a very limited number of pet rooms. No more than 2 pets are allowed and only cats and dogs. Pets must have a health certificate not older than 30 days, be secured in a owner-provided kennel while unattended in guestrooms and during housekeeping or maintenance service, and be leashed at all times when outside the guestroom. Pet fees apply ($10 per night per room, not per pet). Pet owners are responsible to adhere to all policies issued at check in. If Lodging is booked, ask for a list of off post Kennel facilities and/or local pet friendly hotels.

Command Sponsorship: Concurrent travel means you have permission, from your unit commander, to bring your spouse and family with you at the same time you travel to Alaska. You must have all of your authorized family members listed on your PCS orders to do concurrent travel. To arrive in Alaska without approved concurrent travel creates a huge financial burden on you. GET CONCURRENT TRAVEL PERMISSION BEFORE YOUR PCS ORDERS ARE PUBLISHED AND PRINTED. Contact your losing installation's local Military Personnel Flight or Military Personnel Division (S1), Relocations/Outbound Assignments section.

A sponsor is someone from your new unit who is assigned to assist you in settling into your new location. This person will be knowledgeable about the local community and the installation available to assist you and your family for at least two weeks post arrival and be someone who is positive and outgoing.

A sponsor's duties include:

• Contacting you and your family by letter of introduction or e-mail upon learning of your assignment to the installation.
• Following up with a personal phone call after contact has been made.
• Sending information about the installation/area which you may require, or putting you in touch with the resources on the web and at the installation that provide current complete and up-to-date information such as those provided by the Relocation Program.
• Answering any questions which you or your family may have or again providing the proper resources to answer those questions.
• Confirm transportation and lodging arrangements.
• Assisting with obtaining a Post Office Box for your mail.
• Meeting you and your family upon arrival.
• Accompanying you to your check-in point for the unit.
• Introducing you to the Family Center and lending closet.
• Providing essential service locations such as commissary, exchange, gas station, and bank.
• Being available when you arrive at your installation to meet you, show you around, and help you through in-processing.

Air Force - If you have not been contacted by your sponsor, please contact your Commander Support Staff at your incoming unit or True North for assistance. In addition, True North offers the virtual Alaska Specific Sponsor Training the 2nd & 4th Monday of each month for sponsors and their sponsees. Please coordinate with the unit CSS or sponsor for more information.

Army - If you have not been contacted by your sponsor, please contact the U.S. Army Alaska Sponsorship Program Manager at 907-384-3068. If you do not have a pinpoint assignment yet you may contact USARAK Enlisted Strength Management 907-384-0795, USARAK Officer Strength Management 907-384-2607 or Military Processing Division In-processing 907-384-0425. Please note that if you are calling DSN use 317 instead of 907 and all other numbers are the same.

For All Branches of Service: The Military & Family Readiness Centers offer the PCS Alaska: Fly, Float, or Drive in a virtual platform. Please contact 907-384-1517 or 907-552-4943 for more information.

You need command sponsorship permission to have family members accompany you with full military benefits during your assignment.

If you get married before you move, you must inform your commander and follow the procedures exactly as you receive them. The military will not pay for your spouse's, or any other dependents', travel and housing if proper procedures are not adhered. 

If you are on assignment with the U.S. Air Force

Within 24 hours upon arrival, Airmen and Guardians are required to check-in with their unit Command Support Staff to begin inprocessing and be scheduled for the mandatory inprocessing briefs.. Newly arrived Airmen and Guardians are required to attend the True North Day One Inprocessing, the Military & Family Readiness Joint Newcomers Orientation, and for first duty station enlisted personnel the First Term Airman's Course.

If you are on assignment with the U.S. Army

All Personnel Arriving By Air from Ted Stevens International Airport

All personnel arriving to the Anchorage Airport will be greeted by Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson soldiers in uniform, located by the baggage area. The JBER Soldiers will receive single Soldiers and escort them to Fort Richardson Reception. If the PCSing soldier is traveling with family they will receive directions to JBER Reception. Please see these soldiers or call JBER Reception at 907-903 4281 prior to your movement to JBER.

All Personnel Arriving by Personally Owned or Rented Vehicle

All personnel arriving to JBER by driving you are asked to come directly to the Fort Richardson Reception Detachment South located at 602 Richardson street, building 602. The entrance is marked by blue pillars 2nd Floor Staff Duty office room 202 manned 24hrs to sign in. After you have signed in you and or your family will then start your Quarantine/Restriction of Movement.

After arriving and signing in either by Air or privately owned vehicle you will have to complete a 14 day Restriction of Movement period where you will self-isolate at your on/off post housing, hotel or in the barracks. Once your ROM period is complete, you will then report back to the Reception Detachment to begin your Installation In-Processing.

Please do not take instructions from other agencies or units until after you complete your installation in-processing.

If you and/or your family have any questions, concerns or travel inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact the Reception Detachment South Staff Duty Desk at 907-903-4281.

Soldiers arriving in Alaska from 1 October to 1 May must arrive with their Gore-Tex jacket, trousers and gloves due to possible extreme frigid temperatures.

For All Branches of Service

The Joint Newcomers Orientation is mandatory for all newly arrived Active Duty. It is held they every Monday (excluding Federal Holidays, PACAF Family Days, and Army DONSA Days) which includes a bus tour (excluding the winter months). Active Duty will receive the information on how to attend this orientation when they in-process.

If this is not issued: 

• Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guard personnel need to contact the Military and Family Readiness Center at 907-384-1517 or 907-552-4943.
• Airmen and Guardians need to contact True North.

Spouses and Family members are welcomed and highly encouraged to attend.