The Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) is neighbor to two major military installations in Alaska: Fort Richardson Army Post and Elmendorf Air Force Base (AFB). Elmendorf AFB is adjacent to Anchorage and is home of the Headquarters, Alaskan Command (ALCOM), Alaskan NORAD Region (ANR), Eleventh Air Force (11 AF), the 3rd Wing, and some Tenant Units. Fort Richardson, with about 3,700 civilian and military workers, is located next to Elmendorf AFB. The primary combat unit at the fort is the 4th Brigade (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. The post’s largest military tenant is the Alaska National Guard, with facilities at Bryant Army Airfield, Camp Carroll, and Camp Denali.

Since the installations’ founding , the populations of the MSB and the Municipality of Anchorage have grown substantially. From 1990 to 2006, the MSB grew by 17,852 residents and the Municipality of Anchorage by 22,530 . The military population is currently over 25,000 and contributes significantly to the area’s economy.

Encroachment is a word for the conflicts that can occur between civilian land development and military operations and training. Potential areas of conflict include urban growth and development, recreational and transportation access, residential development, noise, crowded airspace, and increased mission or training requirements.

As the Mat-Su area grows, encroachment may begin to pose a greater threat to the missions of the installations and to community lifestyle values. Proper planning at the MSB guided by the JLUS will ensure that encroachment issues are addressed in a systematic way, thus protecting strategic military objectives and community values.