673d Air Base Wing

673d Air Base Wing
An airman and military working dog of the 673d Security Forces Squadron
Active	2010–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Installation support
Size	Over 5000 military and civilian
Part of	Pacific Air Command
Garrison/HQ	Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
Motto(s)	Cavete Ursum Arcticum Latin Beware the Arctic Bear
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Current commander	Col. George T.M. Dietrich III
Command Chief Master Sergeant	CMSG Garry E. Berry II
Insignia
673d Air Base Wing emblem (Approved 22 March 2010)

The 673d Air Base Wing is the support unit for Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, a combination of the United States Air Force's Elmendorf Air Force Base and the United States Army's Fort Richardson. The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission called for the combination of the two installations. The wing replaced the 673d Air Base Wing (Provisional), which had been formed in January 2009, primarily from elements of the 3d Mission Support Group.

The wing supports three Air Force wings, one Army brigade and 55 other tenant units. It provides medical care to over 35,000 service members, dependents, Veterans Administration patients and retirees throughout Alaska (including 20% of the population of Anchorage, Alaska). The wing maintains $12.4 Billion in infrastructure encompassing more than 73,000 acres. It maintains of a vehicle fleet in excess of 1,500 vehicles.

The 673d Wing comprises the 673d Comptroller Squadron, and four groups:

With their assigned squadrons, the groups assist the wing with operation and maintenance of the joint base for "air sovereignty, combat training, force staging, and throughput operations in support of worldwide contingencies."

On 24 July 2010, the 673d Air Base Wing activated as the host wing combining installation management functions of Elmendorf Air Force Base's 3d Wing and United States Army Garrison Fort Richardson. Although the wing was a newly established organization, many of its components traced their histories to earlier organizations. The number assigned to the wing was selected because of its use by the wing's 673d Mission Support Group, which had served in Alaska from 1958 to 1995.