Eielson Air Force Base
Eielson Air Force Base, located 26 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, is a strategically vital installation for the United States Air Force in the Indo-Pacific region and the Arctic.1 Its host unit is the 354th Fighter Wing (354 FW), which is under the Eleventh Air Force and ultimately Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). The 354 FW’s primary mission has evolved significantly, and it is now focused on providing combat-ready fifth-generation airpower, advanced training for integration with joint forces, allies, and partners, and a strategic Arctic basing option. This includes operating and maintaining PACAF’s largest air-to-ground bombing range complex and conducting the premier large-force exercise, Red Flag – Alaska, which draws participants from around the world to train in realistic combat scenarios.
Beyond the host 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Force Base is also home to a number of crucial tenant units.One of the most significant is the 168th Air Refueling Wing (168 ARW) of the Alaska Air National Guard, which operates KC-135 Stratotankers in support of PACAF operations, providing critical aerial refueling capabilities. Eielson also hosts the renowned USAF Arctic Survival School (Detachment 1, 66th Training Squadron), which trains aircrew on survival skills in extreme cold weather environments. Other notable tenant units include a detachment of the Air Force Technical Applications Center (monitoring seismic disturbances), a detachment of the 210th Rescue Squadron (operating HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters for search and rescue), and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). The base’s strategic location and diverse units underscore its importance in both national defense and joint force readiness.