By THE ALASKA STORY
May 10, 2026 – US Sen. Dan Sullivan announced that the United States Marine Corps will expand its footprint in Alaska through a new initiative aimed at strengthening America’s Arctic defense posture and cold-weather combat readiness.
The initiative, called “Campaign–Alaska,” will establish a more persistent Marine Corps presence in the state through two major efforts: a rotational Marine training force operating in Alaska and a permanent Marine detachment stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.
According to the announcement, the new Marine Rotational Force–Alaska, known as MRF-Alaska, will bring Marines to the state for expeditionary Arctic training and exercises designed to prepare troops for operations in extreme cold, remote terrain, and limited-infrastructure environments.
The second component, Supporting Arms Liaison Team–Alaska, or SALT-Alaska, will be permanently based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The detachment will provide year-round coordination and joint fires integration support for military operations and exercises involving American and allied forces in the Arctic.
Sullivan, who served for 30 years in the Marine Corps Reserve and retired as a colonel in 2024, called the move a major milestone in a years-long effort to expand the Marine Corps’ role in Alaska.
“For nearly a decade, I have been working to increase the United States Marine Corps’ presence in Alaska, and today’s announcement is a major milestone in that effort,” Sullivan said. “The Marine Corps recognizes what more and more of our military leaders understand: Alaska is one of the most strategic places in the world, and there is no better place for Marines to train, operate, and be ready to deploy.”
Sullivan said the initiative represents “the beginning of a broader Marine Corps campaign in Alaska,” adding that it strengthens the state’s growing role in national defense and Arctic operations.
Lt. Gen. Bobbi Shea said the Arctic is increasingly important in an era of strategic competition among world powers.
“In this era of strategic competition, Alaska is critical to homeland defense and a vital theater for global power projection in the Arctic,” Shea said. “The Marine Corps Campaign–Alaska is a deliberate and necessary step to ensure we provide the Joint Force with a combat-credible force to support the National Defense Strategy.”
The Marine Rotational Force–Alaska will operate under Marine Corps Forces Northern Command, while supporting missions tied to both U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Officials said the force will participate in joint military exercises and interoperability training connected to homeland defense and Indo-Pacific operations.
Meanwhile, the permanent SALT-Alaska detachment at JBER will fall under Marine Corps Forces Reserve and operate as part of the 6th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, known as ANGLICO.
The announcement adds to a broader expansion of military focus on Alaska in recent years, as the Pentagon increasingly emphasizes Arctic security, missile defense, Indo-Pacific operations, and strategic competition with Russia and China. Alaska has already seen growing investment in missile defense systems, Air Force modernization, Arctic Security Cutters for the Coast Guard, and expanded military exercises across the state.
Sullivan, reflecting during his 2024 retirement ceremony from the Marine Corps, described the Corps as representing “the best of America,” emphasizing values of “honor, courage, commitment” and fidelity to fellow Marines.
His military career spanned from 1993 to 2024, with service assignments around the globe.
(Photo at top of page is file photo from Sullivan’s military retirement party.)
6 thoughts on “Sullivan touts expanded Marine Corps presence in Alaska as boost to Arctic readiness”
Good for you, Dan. I love the Marines.
Here’s a quick story: My husband and I were driving our brand new Chevrolet truck into the mountains in April. We got stuck in the snow. After about four hours of digging, we gave up and started our walk out, out of cell service. But then, along came a large SUV with 8 strapping Marines who were touring around Alaska from San Diego. They got out and pushed us from our stuck location. We welcome our Marine rescuers to Alaska.
EXCELLENT news. Next up, a Navy Base in AK.
Reopen Adak
INDEED(!!!), if I were the President of The Aleut Corp, I’d be lobbying to resurrect the existing Base on Adak, conditioned with an ‘exclusive’ Project Management agreement for any and all construction, maintenance, and operations. It’s a long way out there, pretty dang secluded. So, in order to maintain healthy – positive mindset of the crew, I would recommend installing: Casino, Strip Club, Golf Course, 5-Star Steakhouse, Trap – Skeet – Sporting Clays Club, Short Track Racing Complex, Extensive Indoor Workout Facility, Indoor Beach – Swim Complex, In-Plant a heard of Exotic Game for the crew to hunt (Snow Leopards – Mtn Lions, Deer – Elk, Ibex Sheep, Argali – Markhor Sheep, Red Stag, Tahr, Red Fallow Deer, etc). Make it into a ‘highly-desired’ destination for the ‘adventurous’ type of Service Member.
Physically an expanding robust military presence on Alaska gives me confidence to have the military defense to protect us defenseless illiterate dummies up here. We’d look like sitting ducks to Russians, Koreans and Chinese without the US Military.
I’m saying this again and hope Sen. Sullivan shows better vision than he has in the past on the points of the US Navy and the US Marine Corps in Alaska on a permanent basis with docking harbors for the Navy and a proper US Marine Corps Base in the Matanuska Valley where the Willow plan sets a huge land site to develop for the Marine Base. Have some real vision, Sen. Sullivan! You know what I miss while living in Alaska? I miss not seeing our US Navy ships and vessels not docking in Alaska anymore. The last US Navy vessel I saw was in 2007 in Juneau when the residents of Juneau celebrated the last trip of the USS Juneau LPD 10. Let me tell you, that we partied and celebrated with the crew and thanked them for all they do. Today, after being decommissioned in 2008 the USS Juneau LPD 10 is awaiting historical, attritional record keeping at a harbor in Hawaii. In the recent past history of US Navy vessels docking in harbors, many came into Anchorage in the 1990’s and a nuclear submarine docked in 1987 in Seward, Alaska. I saw a couple of US Navy frigates dock in Juneau when I lived there but there has been no more mention or written notice of visits to our communities. Why is that? Why don’t we hear more about them and why don’t we see them in our harbors and ports? The Cook Inlet is prime for such vessels as battle ships, aircraft carriers and frigates with enough depth and width in water to support the whole Navy in a protected environment surrounded by high mountains and so are the fjords of Seward, Whittier and all the passage of Southeast Alaska with its deep waters and coves just as we did in WWII. We, Alaskans have a lot to offer to the US Navy for harbor and docking usage and the US Marine Corps for a base and training in the United States last Frontier in every imaginable training environment needed for the US Marines and the US NAVY.
In the future, we should see larger vessels from the Coast Guard and ice breakers, but the US Navy should be ever present to our waters and seen by the people of Alaska in our harbors and coastal waters from the far north to the southern tip of Southeast Alaska. The history and present purpose of our ships that carry our Naval sailors and the US Marines should be visible, worked with and shown with dignity the protection of our navigation on the seas and shores of our state with honor. You know what else I don’t see as far as our US Navy is concerned? No US Naval base and no US Marine training grounds. Why is that? Why haven’t you presented such defense and building purposes to the President of the United States, Donald Trump? Why is this shelved and not put forward in the defense of this northern zone for our armed forces? It is the best defense today and the future of our waters. I strongly suggest you take this seriously and bring on the strength of the US Navy and the US Marines into Alaskan waters and shores. Don’t think for a minute we Alaskans wouldn’t be honored to have their permanent presence because we definitely would.
I also don’t see there is any substantial necessity in continuing to ask for missiles for the silos at Ft. Greely if they are not filled after all these years. Use good sense and resources to permanently build a US Marine Corps base and the US Navy base and docking facilities needed for our military vessels here in the far north to secure the Arctic. Adak is not enough and at this point in time and history we have to increase a military presence that is grounded and permanent but mobile and strong.
The YouTube testimony you gave on incursions by Russia and China in air and water attempts to test our willingness to respond was not adequate for this Trump Administration and the Department of War. You showed the time frame of the Biden Administration but not the many attempts to test the USA in Alaskan environment of air and water navigation in this presidency. I suggest you put the many more attempts that China and Russia has made against the Alaskan waters and air defenses out there for the department of War and the presidency with updated facts. Have some permanent vision to give Alaskans, Sen. Sullivan, not missed and left out facts. Time to bring on the US Navy and the US Marine Corps permanently in Alaska. Make a commitment and stick with it.