WEBVTT 00:03.942 --> 00:05.875 - We can argue about what's causing it, 00:05.875 --> 00:07.525 but the Arctic ice is retreating. 00:07.525 --> 00:09.038 And there's gonna be more and more traffic 00:09.038 --> 00:10.252 and more and more competition 00:10.252 --> 00:11.972 for natural resources in the Arctic. 00:11.972 --> 00:13.523 And so there's that piece of it. 00:13.523 --> 00:17.399 The Arctic is opening up to more human activity. 00:17.399 --> 00:20.502 So in that respect, Alaska is the only place 00:20.502 --> 00:23.057 in the United States that touches the Arctic, 00:23.057 --> 00:25.025 ^it is in the Arctic so we need to be concerned 00:25.025 --> 00:26.400 ^from that respect. 00:26.400 --> 00:28.414 ^Then you look at where Alaska sits on the globe 00:28.414 --> 00:30.583 and the fact that the forces we have stationed up here 00:30.583 --> 00:32.659 can get to most hot spots in the world quicker 00:32.659 --> 00:35.286 than forces we have in the lower 48, 00:35.286 --> 00:37.241 based on where we sit on the top of the globe 00:37.241 --> 00:39.166 and the ranges and the distances. 00:39.166 --> 00:43.083 It's an immensely important strategic location. 00:43.720 --> 00:46.050 - We all have the responsibility, 00:46.050 --> 00:47.695 ^with all the resources that we have, 00:47.695 --> 00:49.480 ^to keep an eye on our air space, 00:49.480 --> 00:53.299 ^the air space off our shores, to be able to have indications 00:53.299 --> 00:56.512 if anyone is approaching that airspace that's unknown 00:56.512 --> 00:58.429 or potentially hostile. 00:59.092 --> 01:01.462 And then to be able to provide warning 01:01.462 --> 01:05.629 and also to be able to intercept or interdict those aircraft 01:05.793 --> 01:07.806 should it become necessary. 01:07.806 --> 01:10.177 (Radio chatter) 01:10.177 --> 01:13.103 - These red stars date back to the 1980's. 01:13.103 --> 01:15.703 They stand for every time we've done an intercept 01:15.703 --> 01:17.953 of mostly Russian aircraft. 01:18.176 --> 01:20.676 So the stars say the location, 01:20.825 --> 01:24.093 ^the type of aircraft we've intercepted, and the date. 01:24.093 --> 01:26.544 ^That's the preponderance of the stars on the wall. 01:26.544 --> 01:29.937 ^We also have some stars that have eagles on them 01:29.937 --> 01:32.010 and the eagles represent every time we've intercepted 01:32.010 --> 01:35.221 an aircraft that has been squawking a hijack squawk. 01:35.221 --> 01:37.888 (alarm blaring) 01:46.082 --> 01:48.087 - There are a lot of similarities between our facility 01:48.087 --> 01:49.536 and a fire department. 01:49.536 --> 01:51.863 We do sleep here just as the fire department does. 01:51.863 --> 01:53.613 We're always on duty. 01:53.908 --> 01:56.740 ^The only difference there is, they're on duty prepared 01:56.740 --> 01:59.701 ^to go put out a fire, whereas we're on duty 01:59.701 --> 02:02.756 to launch on aircraft and possibly go intercept 02:02.756 --> 02:04.636 either Russian military aircraft 02:04.636 --> 02:07.015 or even a commercial hostile aircraft. 02:07.015 --> 02:08.963 - They are prepared to scramble very quickly 02:08.963 --> 02:11.584 and on virtually no notice, our airmen go to work. 02:11.584 --> 02:14.251 (alarm blaring) 02:14.540 --> 02:18.707 - The horn goes off, it's instant job satisfaction. 02:18.709 --> 02:21.542 (engines humming) 02:22.206 --> 02:24.541 - Crew chiefs and weapons loaders get out there, 02:24.541 --> 02:25.958 arm the aircraft. 02:26.275 --> 02:28.957 In a matter of minutes, the pilots are airborne 02:28.957 --> 02:30.626 and then they'll be airborne in time 02:30.626 --> 02:32.876 to interdict that aircraft. 02:34.263 --> 02:36.285 - [Voiceover] So the Russians, 02:36.285 --> 02:37.710 they definitely keep us ready, 02:37.710 --> 02:39.372 they keep us on our toes. 02:39.372 --> 02:43.539 They do like to fly and, basically, test the waters with us. 02:43.987 --> 02:46.904 (aircraft zooming) 02:48.169 --> 02:51.028 - [Voiceover] Over the bow, right turn, over the bow. 02:51.028 --> 02:53.797 We intercept on average about ten aircraft a year. 02:53.797 --> 02:57.059 Our airspace extends to 12 nautical miles from land 02:57.059 --> 02:59.693 and they don't get within that 12 nautical miles. 02:59.693 --> 03:01.567 But because of how big Alaska is, 03:01.567 --> 03:03.118 we can't wait to intercept them 03:03.118 --> 03:05.327 when they come in to that 12 nautical miles. 03:05.327 --> 03:07.171 So we will go out there, 03:07.171 --> 03:09.734 intercept them in a time and space of our choosing 03:09.734 --> 03:12.861 and just let them know we're there, and that we see them, 03:12.861 --> 03:15.323 and that it's time for them to go home. 03:15.323 --> 03:18.370 - Sovereignty is our most fundamental right 03:18.370 --> 03:21.184 when you think about a military responsibility 03:21.184 --> 03:23.184 to protect our homeland. 03:23.411 --> 03:26.245 Our sovereign airspace is really somewhat sacred. 03:26.245 --> 03:28.391 So really when I go out to the alert cell 03:28.391 --> 03:30.190 or I go down to the air defense squadron 03:30.190 --> 03:31.812 and I see these, in many cases, 03:31.812 --> 03:33.414 very young airmen responsible 03:33.414 --> 03:35.861 for these multi-million dollar aircraft 03:35.861 --> 03:38.132 and what they represent from the perspective 03:38.132 --> 03:41.132 of the sovereignty of our nation, it just warms your heart. 03:41.132 --> 03:43.044 'Cause they embrace this mission. 03:43.044 --> 03:44.751 I mean they are all over it. 03:44.751 --> 03:46.974 They understand the importance of it 03:46.974 --> 03:49.054 and how important sovereignty is 03:49.054 --> 03:51.387 to every citizen in the U.S.