In July 1994 the 6th Infantry Division (Light) was inactivated and Fort Richardson became headquarters for United States Army, Alaska (USARAK). The mission of USARAK is to command and control United States Army forces in Alaska and provide the services, facilities and infrastructure to support power projection and training to rapidly deploy Army forces from Alaska in the conduct of contingency operations within the Pacific theater and elsewhere as directed.
The fort is authorized 2,175 soldiers and approximately 3,800 family members reside on post or in the adjacent communities of Anchorage, Eagle River and Palmer. The fort employs about 1,050 Army and DoD civilian employees.
U.S. Troop Medical Clinic is located at 600 Richardson Drive, Building 604; 8 miles from 3rd Medical Group, Elmendorf Air Force Base. The Troop Medical Clinic provides primary care to 2,800 active duty personnel stationed at Fort Richardson. Care includes Sick Call. The Troop Medical Clinic (TMC) operates Sick Call by the appointment system. Each unit on Post is assigned a Primary Care Manager (PCM) who is a physician or a physician's assistant that is responsible for providing and overseeing the units health care. All sick call problems will be seen as urgent appointments within 24 hours. Patients who come in with non-acute ailments will be triaged by a medical officer or triage nurse and either seen or deferred for a routine appointment.
The Emergency Medical System is used in the Fort Richardson community and the Arctic Valley area for emergencies that require immediate attention 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Dialing 911 activates the system. The average response time is 5 minutes. The Emergency Medical Technicians play a very active role in the medical education of the Fort Richardson community, assisting with the "Fit to Win" program, Retirement and Children Health Fairs. Ambulances are displayed to provide demonstrations of their functions and capabilities and the technicians educate the community on the importance of home and work safety.
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Fort Richardson (located approximately 10 miles East of downtown Anchorage) was named for the military pioneer explorer, Brigadier General Wilds P. Richardson, who served three tours of duty in the rugged Alaska territory between 1897 and 1917 and was built during 1940-41 on the site of what is now Elmendorf Air Force Base, west of the post's current location. Established as the headquarters of the United States Army, Alaska (USARAK) in 1947, the post was moved to its present location about five miles north of Anchorage in 1950.
In the early 1950s, to make the post more livable additional permanent barracks, family quarters, warehouses, a service club, underground utilities and a power plant were built. The first streets were paved, the post was landscaped, the first of four school buildings sprang up and the gymnasium and theater were completed as well.
Today the post provides housing, facilities and activities that add up to good military living. There are community services, medical and dental facilities, excellent churches, schools, libraries, a crafts shop, newspaper, a theater, golf and ski courses and cross country trails. Newcomers will find a post exchange, commissary and a large field house. Flying, camping, hunting, fishing, prospecting, gold panning and rock collecting are popular summer activities. Snowmobiling, ice fishing and skiing round out off-duty recreation in winter for the post's residents.
The fort is authorized 2,175 soldiers and approximately 3,800 family members reside on post or in the adjacent communities of Anchorage, Eagle River and Palmer. The fort employs about 1,050 Army and DoD civilian employees.
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