FReeper Canteen ~ Road Trip: Fort Greely, Alaska

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World | laurenmarlowe

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

~The FReeper Canteen Presents~

Road Trip: Fort Greely, Alaska

Fort Greely is a United States Army launch site for anti-ballistic missiles located approximately 100 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. It is also the home of the Cold Regions Test Center (CRTC), as Fort Greely is one of the coldest areas in Alaska, and can accommodate cold, extreme cold, or temperate weather tests depending on the season.

Fort Greely has a proud history. Because of its location and environment, it has been the site for cold-weather training and testing of operations and equipment through the past half century. Until the late 1990’s, its primary tenant units included the Cold Regions Test Center and the Northern Warfare Training Center.

In 2001, Fort Greely was partially removed from the BRAC list, in order to support the nation’s strategic objective of missile defense. Today, Fort Greely proudly serves as the primary support base
for a host of tenants that support the Ground-based
Midcourse Defense (GMD) initiative.

The camp was established in 1942 as Big Delta Army Air Field. During World War II, The Alaska Highway was built to connect an existing road in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada with the Richardson Highway in Alaska, a distance of 1423 miles. The Alaska Highway met the Richardson Highway at Delta Junction, 5 miles north on the Richardson Highway from what is now Fort Greely.

The United States used the base to aid Russia against Germany and Japan by sending airplanes and supplies authorized by the Lend-lease act through Alaska and into the Russian Far East. The name was later changed to Allen Army Airfield. After World War II, Fort Greely was built south of the air field.

Learn More About The History Of Fort Greely HERE!

In 1995, Fort Greely was selected for realignment (but not closure) as a cost-saving measure. Only the Cold Regions Test Center (CRTC) and Public Works functions were to remain on the installation. Large portions of the post were to be closed and, at one point, the main post was to be turned over to the city of Delta Junction for use as a private prison. Ultimately, plans for the prison fell through.

In 2001, headquarters for the Northern Warfare Training Center and Cold Regions Test Center were moved to nearby Fort Wainwright. Training ranges were also transferred to Fort Wainwright control and renamed Donnelly Training Area. Though its command moved, CRTC continued operating from Fort Greely. The Northern Warfare Training Center also continued operations at Black Rapids Training Facility.

After the United states announced that it would withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, Fort Greely was selected as a site for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system. Starting in the summer of 2002, the United States government began work on the missile defense installation at Fort Greely, planning to deploy a total of 25 to 30 anti-ballistic missiles by 2010. Concurrently, the Missile Defense Command took command of Fort Greely, relinquishing direct Army control, while the Army retained control of the nearby Donnelly Training Area.

Testing efforts are centered at the Bolio Lake Range Complex, approximately 10 miles south of Fort Greely. Arkansas Range is the main test site for mines and small arms. Washington Range is a multi-purpose range used for air defense missile firings, artillery tests, such as Sense and Destroy Armor (SADARM), and smoke and obscurant tests requiring large areas and mobility testing. Texas Range is available for direct-fire tests, as well as sensor, small arms, and missile tests. Oklahoma Range, primarily used for indirect-fire work, is capable of observed fire to 30 km and unobserved fire to 50 km.

Learn More About Fort Greely HERE!

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT~Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allies military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before. 

Please remember: The Canteen is a place to honor and entertain our troops. The Canteen is family friendly. Let's have fun!

We pray for your continued strength, to be strong in the face of adversity.

We pray for your safety, that you will return to your families and friends soon.

We pray that your hope, courage, and dignity remain unbroken, so that you may show others the way.

God Bless You All ~ Today, Tomorrow and Always

 

 

[TASMANIANRED]

Pine needles make excellent compost.

Just move them to a more distant place.

[TASMANIANRED]

Safe trip. Watch out for critters.

[luvie]

Be sure to do it before the rain leaves your area, or
it can’t be directed. :D

Thank you! LOL!

[BIGLOOK]

Most over here are scofflaws too!



"Too much damn laws make people mad!"

[TASMANIANRED]

So noted

[TASMANIANRED]

She’s right though.

[SoldierDad]

We’re renting - these pine trees have been dropping with noone cleaning up long before we moved in. With my new dogs I’ve discoved just how deep the needles really are (they like to dig - thankfully digging in the needles isn’t a problem. I figured I’d wait until the temps started cooling off a bit so that I can then plant grass seed after cleaning up the needles. I need the temp to be between 60 to 80 degress max daytime temp in order to plant grass.

[SoldierDad]

Good idea - we can benefit from the compost since I plan to plant grass once the temp’s decline.

[TASMANIANRED]

How are the hounds doing?

Any new pictures

[luvie]

I guess you can look at the project as a good workout! LOL!

We always have a yard full of the nasty things after a wind-storm...and we have LOTS of wind here in West Texas!

[TASMANIANRED]

Night guys.

[SoldierDad]

I have a few that are a couple weeks or so old. I’ll take some new ones this weekend, and try to remember to get them posted. Freedom developed a spot on his right front shoulder (on the back) that lost all the hair (about the size of a silver dollar). It’s growing back and looking a whole lot better. We are not sure why. Liberty developed hair loss around her left eye and a little on her nose. It’s looking better, but the hair has not really started to grow back yet. Again, we not sure why. We had it looked at by a Vet thinking it might be mange (mites), but the Vet said no to that. I’m not so sure. But, these are the only spots that they have developed. Mange typically spreads, and fairly fast from what I’ve read. Other than that they are doing really well. Still acting like pups, but getting much better at behaving. Still a little problem with jumping up on people, but getting better each week. They have grown like weeds (being approximately 5 1/2 months old).

[luvie]

Nighty-night, Sissy! Glad you could spend some time on your night at home with us!

((((hugs))))

[SoldierDad]

I spent 5 years in North Dakota - so, I understand about wind. I was once told by a native N. Dakotan that N. Dakota has soo much wind because Montana blows and Minnesota sucks.

[luvie]

LOL! I guess you do know about wind.

My AF son lived in Cheyenne, WY, and they had lots of high wind, too!...not to mention the snow. After living there, he said the 4 hurricanes in Florida he went through were “nothing”! LOL!

[SoldierDad]

Ah, yes. The wind with snow. We had one blizzard one time that resulted in white out conditions so bad that just on one side of the highway between Minot AFB and the town of Minot there were 255 vehicles stuck in the ditch - that with a relatively straight highway. We got off the base after work just in time as they closed the base down just after the vehicle behind us was allowed out the gate. The 13 mile drive between the base and town took 2.5 hours+ I’m glad the owner of the vehicle had enough gas to make it. That would not have been a good night to be stuck in the side of the road.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mooch...are you back in the swing of things? Nose to the grindstone?

[luvie]

Awful!

My son was in the missile program. On one of his times at the site, it snowed so much that they couldn’t get out in their SUV. They were there an extra day (underground...no extra food, etc! Yikes!) and then they had to send a chopper for them.

He had a husky who loved that kind of weather, though! LOL!

I need to go SoldierDad. Take care...talk another time.

God bless!

[SoldierDad]

Have a great night, and God Bless.

[HiJinx]

The Sandhill Cranes have been leaving

I wonder if this is the ?flock? that shows up here in southern Arizona every year? They winter here in-between Willcox and Douglas along Whitewater Draw and the Willcox Playa.