Eielson Air Force Base | Military Base Guide

Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska is just under 30 miles southeast of Fairbanks and eight miles away from the City of North Pole which is a small community famous for its’ year-round Christmas decorations and holiday-themed installations such as candy cane street lights. Eielson is home to the illustrious 354th Fighter Wing which has participated in most major American military operations since it started flying.

Find information about Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska including the main commercial and DSN numbers for the base, information on basic services, base transportation, lodging for TDY and PSCing personnel, and inprocessing.

Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska Mission & Units

Eielson plays an important training role not just for the Air Force, but for the Army, Marine Corps, and other organizations in need of winter training, close-air support training, interdiction, and others. Eielson AFB supports an important military exercise known as Red Flag; this is described as a field training exercise run by Pacific Air Forces including joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close-air support, and large force employment training held at the Joint Pacific Alaskan Range complex.

Important Units At Eielson AFB include:

168 Air Refueling Wing
18 Aggressor Squadron
353 Combat Training Squadron
354 AMXS
354 Civil Engineering Squadron
354 Communications Squadron
354 Fighter Wing
354 Force Support Squadron
354 Logistics Readiness Squadron
354 Maintenance Group
354 Maintenance Squadron
354 Medical Group
354 Medical Operations
354 Medical Support
354 Mission Support Group
354 Operations Group
354 Operations Support Squadron
354 Security Force Squadron
372 TRS Detachment 25
3rd Air Support Operations Squadron
DET 1, 210th Rescue Squadron
DET 1, 66 Training Squadron
Detachment 460

Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska History

Eielson AFB was originally known in 1946 as Mile 26 when it was constructed near what is known today as Fort Wainwright. It took 14 months to build the 600-acre facility which included an airfield and a garrison.

Mile 26 was not a busy hub during World War Two and was closed at the end of the war. The base opened in 1946 as an extension of Ladd Field and was eventually used as a base of operations for arctic training.

In early 1948, Air Force General Order 2 redesignated Mile 26 as Eielson Air Force Base, named after Carl Ben Eielson. He was an Alaska flight pioneer who died in a plane crash in 1929 during a rescue attempt in the Bering Sea to help sailors in trouble at sea. Later in 1948, the Eielson AFB Wing was formed with a host unit eventually to become known as the 5010th Wing; for 34 years, the 5010th was the host-unit at Eielson.

During the Cold War, Eielson trained many across most branches of military service; in modern times the Army’s 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division and the 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division train at the Alaskan Air Force Base. The area is good for “winter training” for Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and even Canadian military troops.

Today the Eielson host unit is the 354th Fighter Wing which operates under the command of Eleventh Air Force of the Pacific Air Forces. The 354 FW’s primary mission is operating in support the Alaska Red Flag military exercise.

Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska Contacts

Main Base
Eielson AFB
2631 Wabash Avenue
Eielson AFB, AK 99702-1720

907-377-2178
907-377-2133
(DSN) 317-377-2178/21

Important Eielson AFB Contact Numbers

Barracks/Dormitory Manager Office 907-377-2727 (DSN) 317-377-2727
Child Development Center 907-377-3237 (DSN) 317-377-3227
Eielson Dental Clinic 907-377-1846 (automated) (DSN) 317-377-1846
Airman and Family Readiness Center EFMP Support 907-377-2178 (DSN) 317-377-2178
Air Force Aid Society 907-377-2178 (DSN) 317-377-2178
Family Advocacy Program 907-377-4041 (DSN) 317-377-4041
Family Child Care 907-377-3635 (DSN) 317-377-3635
Finance Office 907-377-1851 / 907-377-1315 (DSN) 317-377-1851
354 Medical Group Clinic 907-377-1847 (automated) (DSN) 317-377-1847
Household Goods/Transportation Office (inbound) 907-377-1771/1772 (DSN) 317-377-1772
Household Goods/Traffic Management Office 907-377-1771/1772 (DSN) 317-377-1772
Housing Management Office 907-302-2170 / Toll Free: 855-398-6683 (DSN) 317-377-1840
ID/CAC Card Processing Office 907-377-2276 (DSN) 317-377-2276
Airman and Family Readiness Center 907-377-2178 (DSN) 317-377-2178
Legal Office 907-377-4114 (DSN) 317-377-4114
Military Personnel Section 907-377-2276 (DSN) 317-377-2276
Relocation Assistance Program 907-377-2178 (DSN) 317-377-2178
Before and After School Care 907-377-5437 (DSN) 317-377-5437
School Liaison Officer 907-377-2178 (DSN) 317-377-2178
Eielson Lodging Office – Goldrush Inn 907-377-1844 (DSN) 317-377-1844 Reservations
Transition Assistance Program 907-361-3013 (DSN) 317-353-3013
Sexual Assault Response Coordinator 907-377-7208 / 907-377-5130 (354 SFS, if calling from cell phone) (DSN) 317-377-7208
Eielson AFB Visitor’s/Welcome Center 907-377-3807 (DSN) 317-377-3807

Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska Surrounding Area

The surrounding area is known for its’ beauty, hunting and fishing opportunities. The Eielson AFB official site states, “Eielson Air Force Base is a 19,790-acre installation…About 15,754 acres are forested. There are 12 lakes totaling 333.7 acres, 80 ponds totaling 226.1 acres, and 27.7 miles of fresh-water streams.”

Eielson boasts a 51-acre recreation area on Birch Lake, plus camping facilities in the 690-acre Chena River Annex, Those assigned to Eielson also have access to the 248,000-acre Fort Wainwright Yukon Maneuver Area, adjacent to the eastern part of the base plus 643,000 acres of the Fort Wainwright Tanana Flats Training Area.”

Tanana Flats is not linked by roads-visitors may reach it by boat in the summer, snowmobiles in the winter, and by plane. There are plenty of other local attractions and places to explore including:

University Of Alaska Museum Of The North
Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center
Pioneer Park
Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum
Fairbanks Ice Museum
Running Reindeer Ranch
Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge
Alyeska Pipeline Visitor Center

Eielson Air Force Base Inprocessing and Check-In

All PCSing personnel should contact their sponsor and unit orderly room for instructions on checking in with the gaining command. Those arriving after duty hours should contact the sponsor and gaining command the following duty day. All new arrivals must be scheduled for base-level inprocessing procedures within 48 hours of arrival.

There is a Newcomer’s Mandatory In-Processing program held each Friday at the Eielson AFB Military Personnel Flight. Sign-in is required and attendance in the Uniform of the Day is mandatory. There is a Right Start /Newcomer’s Orientation at the Wing level which is a required orientation for all active duty military, government civilians, and family members. This is held the second Wednesday of every month.

Eielson Air Force Base Services

Health Care

The 354th Medical Group is responsible for providing outpatient services at Eielson AFB. There are no emergency room services available on base. Outpatient primary care services under TRICARE are available for all eligible TRICARE enrollees. Make an appointment or to leave a request for a telephone consult call 377-1847. Services available include:

Pharmacy
Laboratory
X-rays
Immunizations

The Eielson AFB official site informs new arrivals that Bassett Army Community Hospital on Fort Wainwright “serves as the Eielson clinic’s primary referral source for specialty and inpatient care”.

Other specialty services may be available in the local community and through aeromedical evacuation to the 3rd Medical Group at Elmendorf AFB in Alaska or Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis, Washington.

Child Care

Eielson AFB is served by the Child Development Center, which offers “developmentally appropriate child care and preschool (Sept-May)” according to the Eielson AFB official site. The Eielson CDC is for children ages six weeks through 11 years of age. Drop-in care is on a first-come, first served basis depending on demand, space available, etc. Eielson CDCs are closed weekends and holidays; military exercises and mission requirements may affect hours of operation and the availability of care.

Eielson AFB also provides a school-age care program for children between five and 12 years old during the academic year and there is a summer day-long summer camp option.

Eielson also offers Family Child Care, which is provided by on-base private homes that are certified and monitored. There are approximately 40 certified FCC homes for parents with shift-work schedules, plus providers offering special needs services, etc. Call (907) 377-3636 to learn more about Family Child Care options at Eielson.

Dependent and Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, and New Issue Cards

Those in need of dependent ID cards, retiree ID cards, or even active duty Common Access Card reset/replacement/etc should visit the DEERS/ID Card Office in Amber Hall, Building 3112 or make an appointment via RAPIDS. Two forms of valid, non-expired ID are required to get a new or replacement card.

Dependent ID cards can only be issued in the presence of the military member unless the spouse or dependent provides a DD Form 1172 Application (which must be signed by the sponsor and witnessed by a Verifying Official or bears a Notary Signature and Seal. A Power of Attorney document that authorizes such activity (a general power of attorney or a limited version that specifically permits the bearer to get ID cards on the service member’s behalf).

Household Goods

All PCSing military members should contact the Eielson AFB Traffic Management Office (TMO) upon arrival as well as tracking and managing household goods shipments via Move.mil. Contact the Eielson TMO office at 907-377-1771/1772 or via DSN at 317-377-1772. Newcomers have the option to take their household goods shipment on arrival or have it placed into storage.

Eielson Air Force Base Schools

Eielson is served by on-base schools operated by the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District which has programs for all ages K through 12. All students living on base will attend the on-base schools;

Anderson Elementary School (K through 2nd grade)
Crawford Elementary School (3rd through 6th grade)
Ben Eielson (middle school/high school)

Students living off base attend the public school assigned to that area. Bus transportation is provided for all children within the attendance area who live at one and a half miles from school or more. Military families living in North Pole or Fairbanks are permitted to send their children to the appropriate on-base school on a space-available basis. In such cases the parents are required to provide transportation.

All Eielson schools are public and subject to the laws and requirements of the State of Alaska including immunization requirements. Certain classes or school ages may require parental consent forms or release forms depending on the school activity and other requirements. Contact the Eielson School Liaison Officer for more details at 907-377-2178 or (DSN) 317-377-2178.

Eielson Air Force Base Housing

On-base housing at Eielson is privatized and operated by Corvias. There is a waiting list for on-base housing, which PCSing service members may sign up for once PCS orders are available. Spouses may apply on the service member’s behalf using a power of attorney.

Off-base housing is available in the local area, but is described as “limited”. All service members are required to contact the Eielson AFB Housing Office before attempting to apply for off-base housing. A dependable vehicle is required to live off base due to driving distances and climate issues.

Unaccompanied housing at Eielson Air Force Base is required for enlisted service members E1 through E4. Those with PCS orders to Eielson who need on-base unaccompanied housing must contact Consolidated Dormitory Management at 907-377-2727 to arrange to live in an on-base dormitory.

Eielson Air Force Base PCS and TDY Lodging

Eielson Air Force Base is served by Air Force Inns-the temporary lodging facility (TLF) there is called The Goldrush Inn, with more than 400 rooms.

Reservations may be made as far out as 120 days in advance, but space-available booking is only available 30 days in advance. Availability depends on mission requirements, timing around peak PCS season, and other variables. Make reservations at 907-377-1844, extension one.

Eielson Air Force Base Transportation

There is no shuttle service available on Eielson AFB. Commercial equivalents from Fairbanks to the base may cost $100 or more depending on circumstances, demand, timing, etc. At the time of this writing, no public transportation is available to Eielson from local communities.

Eielson Air Force Base Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License

Eielson Air Force Base does not required privately owned vehicles to display base decals or register on base, but all drivers will be asked for proper ID including a Common Access Card or its’ equivalent. All vehicles operating on the base must be properly registered either in Alaska or the service member’s home state, and drivers must carry proof of the required insurance minimums.

Service members with a vehicle registered in another state (in the active duty member’s name), are not required to purchase Alaska license plates. All tags and registration must be current to operate the the vehicle on base. Active duty service members may use their current driver’s license from another state.