Defense Department official who toured JBER dorms says poor housing drains readiness

A top Defense Department official told a defense communities convention this week that run-down military housing is hurting the force. The department illustrated his remarks with a photo from his tour of dorms at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

"Substandard living conditions are not minor inconveniences," said Dale Marks, assistant secretary of defense for energy, installations and environment. "They are an active drain on morale, combat readiness and our retention of top-tier talent." He cited black mold, failing plumbing and leaky roofs.

The department's account of the speech ran a photo of Marks touring JBER's Polaris Hall dorms in August 2025. An airman dorm leader walked him through and talked with him about housing quality for soldiers and airmen, the caption says. The account doesn't say what condition Polaris Hall is in or whether it's slated for repairs.

Housing is already tight at JBER. In August, the base's family housing was about 98% full, according to a city resolution before the Anchorage Assembly. The Air Force's buildup in Alaska could add roughly 1,050 personnel, not all of them at JBER.

The problems Marks described aren't new. A 2023 federal audit found barracks with sewage overflow, inoperable fire systems and mold at bases nationwide.

Marks also promoted the department's prototype for a Next Great American Base, designed to run for 30 days cut off from civilian utilities on microgrids and a small nuclear reactor. He said its systems would be brought to older bases once they're proven.