Alaska Naval Militia


The Alaska Naval Militia is the official naval militia of the state of Alaska. The Alaska Naval Militia falls under control of the state of Alaska. The legal basis for the naval militia comes from both federal and state law.

History

The Alaska Naval Militia was established in 1984. In 1989, the AKNM was deployed to assist in recovery operations after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. In 2019, members of the Alaska Naval Militia were deployed to help fight the Swan Lake Fire in southern Alaska. In March 2020, the Alaska Naval Militia was called to action in response to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Duties

The AKNM has focused on four mission areas:
Unlike state defense forces, naval militias are partially regulated and equipped by the federal government, and as such, membership requirements are in part dictated by federal rules. Under 10 U.S. Code § 7854, in order to be eligible for federal aid, at least 95% of members of the naval militia must also be members of the United States Navy Reserve or the United States Marine Corps Reserve. As such, Alaska law requires that membership be limited to members of the United States Naval Reserve or the United States Marine Corps Reserve.

Equipment

Under federal law, the naval militias of each state may be loaned or given vessels, arms, and equipment from the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and have use of facilities made available to the Navy Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy.

Legal protection

Employers in Alaska are required by law to grant an unpaid leave of absence to any employee who is a member of the Alaska Naval Militia, and who is activated to perform active state service. The employer must also guarantee the employee's right to return to his or her employment position upon that employee's return from deployment.