Ft Richardson Army Post Review (3)

1. Your name (as you would like it to appear):
AJ

2. Army Post Name:
Ft. Richardson, now called JBER (Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson)

3. Army Post Location:
Alaska, just outside of Anchorage

4. Dates When You Lived Here (please include year):
09/2008 – 05/2010

5. How is housing? On-post? Off-post?
Our BAH was approx 1800.00 – we lived in on post housing, but on the Elmendorf side due to insufficient housing on the Richardson side but the Richardson housing office was very good about getting us to the Elmendorf housing office to get housing. From what I now understand ALL the housing on Richardson & Elmendorf has been privatized and the standards of housing are improving on the Army side.

Off post starting at around 1500.00 for two bedroom and this doesn’t even include the extras like cable, electricity, internet and landline phone service, other possible charges are garbage pick-up and natural gas used for heating and hot water usage in most areas.

Personally I recommend on-post/on-base housing there because it is so costly to live there.

6. Rate the PX and Commissary.
Commissary serves its purpose but is sometimes limited in selection of some items, depending on what time of year it is and distribution.
The PX serves its purpose as well but again, some things are limited due to AK being detached from the remainder of the US.

7. Are there activities on post? Is there lodging on post?
There is on-post lodging on Richardson as well as the Air Force Inn on the Elmendorf side.
Most activities are during the brief summer months which are usually the end of May thru August. School starts back in September (or late August). They do have baseball leagues and soccer leagues for the children, some FRG’s have leagues as well. During the winter there are some ski/winter activity lodges on both sides of post/base as well.

8. What is there to do in the area?
If you enjoy the outdoors there is fishing, hiking, kayaking, skiing. There are also some tours with the Alaska Railroad and glacier cruises out of Whittier and Seward, skiing and other things at Aleyska, Denali Nat’l Park as well.

9. Rate the school system.
On post and Eagle River area schools are fine. I do not know of off post other than ER so I cannot say for certain.

10. Are there colleges in the area? Please list.
University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA) – several Army wives are attending there and say it’s a good school
There are some other, smaller colleges/technical schools as well in the area. I believe there is also a branch of a couple of colleges on post.

11. How is the job situation? What types of jobs are in the area for spouses?
The economy isn’t helping right now but I do know of some wives who have worked or work at places like Starbucks, AT&T, Michaels, Best Buy, and for professionals, the State of Alaska and local city/municipality agencies are usually hiring as well.

12. Favorite aspect of the post and surrounding area?
It’s located in what is called “The Anchorage Bowl” – scenic and beautiful for those who have never been anywhere like AK or somewhere comparable.

13. Least favorite aspect?
Not a lot to do during the winter months except go to the gym or the movies.

14. List any local websites.
www.mwrarmyalaska.com
www.usarak.army.mil
http://fortrichardsonhousing.com
www.anchorage.net
www.alaskaanchorage.net
www.adn.com
www.muni.org
www.dot.state.ak.us/anc