Summary

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Army's decision to station the 6th Infantry Division in Alaska, specifically: (1) the division's mission; (2) the relative risk and priority of the military contingencies for which it is planning; (3) its estimated cost; and (4) the Army's rationale for and additional cost resulting from the decision to station the division in two locations in Alaska.

GAO concluded that: (1) the division's mission is the defense of Alaska and the initial defense of the Aleutian Islands; (2) the primary threat to Alaska is an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States via Alaska; (3) the Army estimates that the cost would be $1 billion by fiscal year 1992; and (4) the Army did not consider either Fort Richardson or Fort Wainright an economical option for stationing both active component brigades because it wanted to take advantage of existing facilities at both locations.