The Vietnam Veterans are known as the forgotten veterans. This is even more true for the Alaska Native veterans who served courageously, but unfortunately were excluded from receiving Native Veterans Allotments in the late sixties and early seventies.
Through passage of the 2019 Dingell Act, Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans who served between Aug. 5, 1964 and Dec. 31, 1971 are allowed to select from 2.5 to 160 acres of federal unencumbered lands. The available federal lands for selection are limited in quality and location.
Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans Land Allotment Update
The Department of the interior released the following update:
“Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today announced a Public Land Order opening about 812,000 additional acres of public lands managed by BLM Alaska to selection by eligible Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans under Sec. 1119 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019.
The Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans Land Allotment Program allows eligible individuals to select an allotment of up to 160 acres from available Federal lands in Alaska. The Secretary opened 27 million acres to selection in August 2022. With the opening of these additional lands, there are now approximately 29.5 million acres of available Federal lands open for selection by eligible Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans. The 812,000 acres made available today were not included in the August 2022 announcement, as the State of Alaska holds top filings on them. Subsequently, some Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans expressed interest in parcels among that acreage, which led to today’s action.
The PLO becomes available for public inspection in the Federal Register on August 8 and officially publishes August 9.
Subject to valid existing rights, the lands described in the order will be open to selection at 8 a.m. Alaska time on September 8. All valid applications received prior to the opening date will be considered simultaneously filed at that time. Those received thereafter shall be considered in the order of filing. Anyone interested in the program should contact BLM Alaska or see the Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans Land Allotment Program website.”
The newly opened land is visible on the BLM website at www.blm.gov/alaska/2019AKNativeVetsLand.
Steps to select State lands:
To select State lands, first identify lands that the Alaska Native Vietnam Veteran desires to own.
Then meet with Bureau of Land Management (BLM) staff and fill out an application.* The veteran will need to have their current contact information updated and military records available at the time of application. The application period opened on December 28, 2020, and will expire on December 29, 2025. Contact the BLM Native Allotment Section with questions at (907) 271-5998 or CGrimes@blm.gov.
The BLM will provide the Vietnam Veteran’s land selection to the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land and Water. The State will make a determination on the selection within 30 days.
*BLM Field Office staff in Glennallen are available to assist Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans with the application process.
Get the latest updates, a map of lands available for selection, and answers to frequently asked questions about the program at
www.blm.gov/alaska/2019AKNativeVetsLand.
If a Vietnam Veteran or their heir needs assistance in identifying available State lands in the Ahtna Region, please contact the Ahtna Land Department at (907) 822-3476 or landdepartment@ahtna.net.