Juneau — The Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) presented its FY26 operating budget to the House Finance Committee on Feb. 14, telling legislators the department’s request is “lean” and contains three budget increments, including a $175,000 general‑fund request to expand the Alaska organized militia’s operations and outreach.

The budget overview, delivered by Deputy Commissioner Craig Christiansen and Administrative Services Director Bob Arnessey, described the department’s responsibilities — the Alaska Air and Army National Guard, the Office of Veterans Affairs, the Alaska Military Youth Academy, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and administrative services — and stressed that most of the department’s resources come from federal receipts rather than state general funds.

The nut graf: DMVA said only one of its FY26 increments requires new general funds ($175,000) to support a statewide build‑out of capabilities for the organized militia — the National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF) and Alaska Naval Militia — and expanded communications and readiness work that leaders said will improve disaster response in remote communities.

DMVA overview and budget items

Christiansen told the committee DMVA’s FY26 request contains three asks overall; only the adjutant general’s office requested additional general fund support. The $175,000 recurring GF increment is described as an operating increase to expand emergency response, outreach, training and communications for the organized militia. Officials said part of the planned work includes a multi‑year build‑out of a high‑frequency (HF) radio network to maintain communications if commercial systems fail.

Administrative Services Director Bob Arnessey explained another request is a technical swap of federal receipt authority into interagency receipts and capital interagency receipts because more grants are being captured on the capital side. DMVA also requested $200,000 in interagency receipts for its National Guard counterdrug program to support training, outreach and partner agency work; committee members were told those dollars would largely be received from other agencies when they request Guard support.

Armory divestiture and local impacts

Legislators pressed DMVA on a long‑running divestiture of armory properties across the state. Christiansen said the department has been divesting underused armories for about a decade and has identified roughly 18–20 armories it will keep as strategic hubs. He said 16 armory sites remain on the list for divestiture; communities typically receive the buildings through a federal disposal process and many have repurposed them as community space or local government facilities.

On the record, committee members asked for a community‑specific list with timelines; Christiansen agreed the department’s legislative liaison would follow up with details. Committee members also discussed the small, often wooden nature of many divested buildings and emphasized the department’s use of a hub‑and‑spoke model to maintain response capacity.

Organized militia growth and roles

Christiansen described growth in the Alaska State Defense Force from about 50 members six years ago to roughly 225 today, with a target of up to 500. He said ASDF members are volunteers until called to state active duty and that they provide local surge capacity for disasters, sheltering, communications and debris management. He and other officials stressed that response is coordinated across the National Guard, ASDF and naval militia.

Veterans services and the Alaska Military Youth Academy

Officials reported the Office of Veterans Affairs processed about 4,160 new disability claims in the last year and that about $100 million a year in VA disability payments flows to Alaska veterans. DMVA described the Alaska Military Youth Academy as a tuition‑free, voluntary residential program for at‑risk youth that runs two 22‑week classes annually and offers post‑residential follow up.

Counterdrug program and interagency work

Deputy Commissioner Christiansen said the National Guard counterdrug program provides analysts and aviation support to state and federal partners; personnel are embedded as supporting analysts and aviators, not as law enforcement. Committee members asked whether other agencies will provide interagency funds; Christiansen said the requested authority will allow DMVA to accept partner agency payments when agencies request Guard assistance.

Committee questions and follow up

Legislators asked for follow‑up data on ASDF growth, the locations and schedule for armory divestitures, the long‑term staffing and cost implications of the HF radio network, and whether federal receipt authority adjustments are sufficient for expected disaster response payroll charges. DMVA agreed to provide more detailed follow‑up through its legislative liaison.

Ending

DMVA officials closed by noting the department accounts for a small share of state general funds while leveraging substantial federal funding for the Guard and other programs; officials told the committee they would supply additional details on divestiture lists, ASDF growth and the radio build‑out as requested.

Speakers quoted or cited in this article are listed below.