DonYoung

Defense

It is vital that we provide the best training possible to our men and women in the military.  The Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC) has the potential to be the premier training grounds for all branches of our military.  From the immense air and land space to the water along Alaska’s vast coastline, our troops can work together in joint training operations and prepare for real world war scenarios.  It is important, however, that the military not infringe unreasonably on the air and land used by Alaskans to fly to towns and villages, hunt, and enjoy the other outdoor activities for which Alaska is known.  The military in Alaska has always been strongly supported by Alaskans across, and I hope that military leaders will take the concerns of Alaskans into consideration as they expand their use of the JPARC facilities.

Alaska offers the best strategic location in the world, and I believe that the current Administration’s cuts in Defense spending will affect Alaska’s military bases.  The Obama Administration has already made troubling cuts to the Missile Defense Agency that affect Ft. Greely’s ability to protect our country from an attack.  At a time when Pakistan remains unstable and North Korea and Iran are testing Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and developing nuclear weapons, it does not make sense to stop the fielding of a system that has proven its ability to shoot down missiles. 

It is important to remember that the challenges we face today are not the challenges we will face tomorrow.  And unless we plan for those challenges today, we will not be able to successfully and peacefully overcome them.