United States Army Garrison Greely, known as Fort Greely for short, is an Army installation in a remote location in Alaska known as the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area. USAG Greely is roughly 100 miles from the nearest Alaskan town, Fairbanks, and is part of something known as the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) initiative.
Find information about Fort Greely including the main commercial and DSN numbers for the base, information on basic services, base transportation, lodging for TDY and PSCing personnel, and inprocessing.
Mission & Units
The mission of USAG Greely includes support of tenant units that work on or are vital to the Army’s missile defense program. The installation is also home to the Alaska Air National Guard which is also charged with supporting the missile defense mission there. There is also a regular army garrison unit that handles daily operations to keep the installation operational. Compared to other military bases that are much larger, there are no major units at USAG Greely.
Important tenant units and missions at USAG Greely include:
- Ground-Based Midcourse Defense
- 49th Missile Defense Battalion
- 59th Signal Battalion
- Cold Regions Test Center
- Logistics Readiness Center,
History
Fort Greely began in 1942 as Army Air Corps Station 17, Alaskan Wing, Air Transportation Command. in 1942, serving as a refueling point for aircraft headed to the Soviet Union under the “Lend-Lease Program”. Like so many other military installations at the time, this post was put on inactive status after World War Two, but there was still activity on post thanks to an agreement with the Civil Aeronautics Authority. By 1948, the air station was reactivated and became known for being the home of the Army Arctic Training Center.
In 1955, the post was re-designated as Fort Greely after Major General Aldolphus Washington Greely. The post is ideally suited for cold-weather training, and until the late 1990’s, Fort Greely was home to the Cold Regions Test Center and the Northern Warfare Training Center.
The Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) affected operations at Greely, and the post saw some changes as missile defense became an important part of the mission; Greely was “partially removed” from the BRAC list and supports the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) initiative to this day.
Contacts
Main Address And Phone Number
USAG Greely
Building 661, Arctic Ave
Fort Greely, AK 99731
- 907-873-3662
- 907-873-3284
Important Contact Numbers
- 911
- Police Dispatch: (907) 873-COPS (2677)
- Fire Dispatch: (907) 873-FIRE (3473)
- SHARP: (907) 873-4708
- Installation SHARP Hotline: (907) 505-0275
- DoD Safe Helpline: (877) 995-5247
- Installation Domestic Violence Hotline: (907) 799-9770
- Local: Victim Advocate (FGA): (907) 799-9770
- National Domestic/Partner Violence: (800) 799-7233 | (800) 787-3224 (TTY)
- National Teen Dating Abuse: (866) 331-9474 | (866) 331-8453 (TTY)
- National Child Abuse: (800) 422-4453
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255
- Veterans Crisis Line: (800) 273-8255 Press 1
- Medical Clinic: (907) 873-4975
- Military Family Life Counselor: (907) 616-0131
- Road Conditions: Alaska 511 or 511.alaska.gov; Alberta 877-262-4997 or roadreports.ama.ab.ca/; British Columbia 800-550-4997 or www.drivebc.ca/#welcome; Yukon 867-456-7623
- Child Development Center 907-873-4599
- Housing Office 907-873-3662
- Lodging Office 907-873-4311
- Nurse Advice Line 800-874-2273
- Visitor’s Center 907-873-3663
Surrounding Area
Fort Greely is considered a remote assignment, so in terms of local attractions, most of what you will find offered is outdoors-based, including Northern Lights tours, wildlife refuges, and mountain view tours. There is plenty of four-wheeling, off-road vehicle, and ski culture, but those who want to make the trip to nearby Fairbanks, Alaska which features plenty of culture (museum tours, cultural centers, etc.) in addition to resort hotels including a Northern Lights Lodge viewing experience and the Fairbanks City Highlights tour.
If you are exploring Northern Lights-themed attractions should expect late evenings; many such events transport their guests back to hotels or other amentites around 3 A.M.
Inprocessing and Check-In
Due to the small size of USAG Greely, individual units may rely heavily on the sponsorship program to facilitate PCSing to the installation. All inbound personnel and family members are directed to check in with their gaining unit First Sergeant, Orderly Room, or Command Support Staff to get instructions on how to check in with the gaining unit and proceed with in-processing.
Services
Healthcare
Fort Greely has a medical clinic offering basic care for military members, family, and retirees. 911 calls are handled differently depending on the location; on-post, 911 calls are handled by post emergency dispatch. Off-post in the Delta Junction area, your 911 call goes to Fairbanks emergency dispatch linked to local emergency service providers. Only basic medical services are offered and the appointment line is (907) 361-4000. The clinic is open during normal duty hour Monday through Friday and is closed on weekends and holidays.
Child Care
Child care is offered at Fort Greely by the Child Development Center (CDC). The CDC offers full-time, part-time, and hourly care. All necessary forms will be provided to parents when arriving to complete registration, and at that time the following documentation is required:
- Shot record
- Physical Assessment completed by a healthcare provider
- A current LES and/or pay stub
Due to the small size of USAG Greely, you may be placed on a waiting list depending on demand, PCS season, and other variables.
School age child care and middle school/high school programs are also offered at USAG Greely; you can sign up for all child-care related needs at the Youth Center.
Household Goods
All inbound personnel PCSing to Fort Greely are directed to track and manage their household goods shipments via the Defense Personal Property System at Move.mil.
Dependent And Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue
All ID card services are handled at ID Card Services in Building 556, Big Delta Avenue, Fort Greely. For appointments and other information call (907) 873-3663. You may be directed, depending on demand and other factors, to obtain some services via the RAPIDS system which in this case is utilized by the Welcome Center at Fort Wainright, Alaska.
Schools
School age children may attend classes in the Delta/Greely School District, which includes the following:
- Delta Elementary School – Grades K-5, Phone 907-895-4696
- Fort Greely Middle School – Grades 6-8, Phone 907-869-3105
- Delta High School – Grades 9-12, Phone 907-895-4460
- New Horizons High School – Phone 907-895-4655
- Delta Correspondence School – Phone 907-895-4655
- Delta Cyber School – Phone 907-895-1043
Contact the school you need for immunization requirements, school transcripts, and other transfer needs.
Housing
Fort Greely is served by the Housing Services Office. Housing is privatized at Greely and operated by North Haven Communities, which offers on-base housing to military families and other eligible service members. Unaccompanied troops considered junior enlisted are assigned to rooms in the USAG Greely barracks. Check with the gaining unit sponsor for information required to secure unaccompanied housing. All Soldiers and other incoming personnel are required to in-process through the Housing Services Office in person or by telephone at (907) 873-3042.
PCS and TDY Lodging
There is limited availability for temporary lodging at Fort Greely. Reservations can be made only during lodging office hours, Alaska time. Depending on the nature of your travel, your temporary lodging options may require special planning; military and civilian personnel on PCS or TDY orders are directed to make reservations during Lodging Office business hours.
Contractor personnel reservations must be made by their Fort Greely sponsors. Make reservations at 907-873-4311. There may be limited or no accommodations for pets depending on demand, PCS season, current policies, and other variables.
Transportation
There is no base transportation available at Fort Greely. Most installation features are available by walking and the longest walk you may be required to make is roughly ten minutes. Those PCSing to Fort Greely should arrange for their sponsor to arrange a pickup from the airport where required.
Fairbanks International Airport is the closest to Greely, approximately 80 miles away. If you are traveling to Fort Greely via Canada, you will be required to show a passport to reach the American side of the border.
Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License
Those driving privately owned vehicles on-post are not required to register with the Fort Greely Police, but all entering and leaving the installation are required to carry a Common Access Card, military ID or dependent ID, and visitor passes for those escorted on post by military personnel. Visitor passes must be signed for at the Visitor Center at the Main Gate, Building 556, Monday – Friday, 6am – 3pm. Call 907-873-3663 for further assistance.