JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — A groundbreaking ceremony was held Sept. 22, 2025, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to mark the beginning of construction for the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center - Elmendorf, a leading-edge facility designed to enhance interoperability and readiness across the military.
Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham, commander, Alaskan Command, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region and the Eleventh Air Force, presided over the ceremony.
“JITTC-E will play a pivotal role in maintaining our competitive edge by enabling our forces to test and refine tactics, techniques and procedures against the most advanced threats,” said Cunningham. “It will also help us sustain the warrior ethos that defines our armed forces by cultivating the mindset, discipline and excellence required to prevail in any conflict.”
The JITTC-E will provide a state-of-the-art, single-site, joint simulation environment by blending virtual and constructive elements to simulate realistic combat across all domains. The facility will maximize flexibility by using hardware adaptable operator stations allowing for a wider range of force configurations.
“Today’s groundbreaking represents a significant investment in the United States national defense capabilities,” said Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Alaska District commander. “Together with our partners at the Air Force, congressional delegation and contractor, we begin constructing a quality project, safely, for our service members and partners so they can execute their critical mission of ensuring security in the Indo-Pacific and Arctic regions.”
The JITTC-E will ensure persistent readiness by enabling continuous, scalable training scenarios that support the development of adaptive warfighters. The facility will allow joint forces and coalition partners to exercise simulated complex scenarios, validate all-domain kill chains and train in a contested environment.
The facility is designed to prepare assets in high-threat scenarios on ‘Night-1’ of a conflict. Palazzini explained, “The JITTC-E will increase operational readiness and strengthen national security for generations to come.”
“This ultramodern facility and the servicemembers that will execute its missions and operations will usher in a new era of military readiness,” Palazzini said. “We look forward to continued collaboration with the Air Force and providing valuable engineering and construction support to the warfighter here at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.”
As Alaska’s largest military installation and a critical strategic location, JBER is vital for U.S. defense interests in the Arctic and Pacific regions. The installation provides critical support to military operations worldwide and plays a vital role in homeland security and disaster response.
“Here in Alaska, we are uniquely positioned to lead this effort with the unmatched training ranges of the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and the strategic importance of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson,” said Cunningham. “By leveraging cutting edge technology, JITTC-E will allow joint and allied forces to train in a high-fidelity physics-based environment that replicates the challenges of modern warfare.”
With construction scheduled to begin in Oct. 2025 and completion targeted for the fall of 2029, the JITTC-E further solidifies JBER's role as a strategic hub for national defense and homeland security.
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