Frequently Asked Questions

Vietnam Service Ribbon

Photo of Alaska Native veterans at a program presentation

Email the BLM Native Allotment Section Team with additional questions at [email protected].

Important Notice for Heirs of Deceased Alaska Native Veterans

Only the Alaska Court System can appoint a Personal Representative for a deceased veteran eligible to receive up to 160 acres under the Alaska Native Veterans Allotment Program of 2019. Call 1-888-478-2572 for assistance.

 

The Law, the Program, and the Application

Where can I find an ANVLAP application?

Download the ~10-question, fillable .pdf ANVLAP Application.

Why does the program exist?

Alaska Natives bravely served this country during Vietnam at rates among the highest ethnic groups in the country. However, the 2019 Dingell Act's Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans land allotment section is not a reward for service in the military. Instead, the law attempts to compensate for a time of intense advertising and publicity that may not have reached these men and women due to the fact that they were busy serving this nation, whether abroad or here in the United States. It provides an opportunity for eligible veterans and their heirs to apply for up to 160 acres of federal land in Alaska without having to qualify by showing evidence of personal use and occupancy. The latest of four Alaska Native allotment programs since 1906, the 2019 program looks to provide equity for those who may have missed the robust outreach campaign -- which coincided with the Vietnam conflict -- to apply under the 1906 Act before it was repealed in 1971 by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). The subsequent Alaska Native Veterans Allotment Act of 1998 attempted to compensate for this, but Congress and the Alaska Native Community have long seen the personal use and occupancy requirement of previous laws, as well as the short service date window in the 1998 law (Jan. 1, 1969-Dec. 31, 1971) as unfair. This new program removes the requirement for personal use or occupancy, and it extends the eligibility window by four and half years to now apply to all eligible Alaska Native eligible who served between Aug. 5, 1964, and Dec. 31, 1971. 

When did the legislation pass?

The legislation passed the House and Senate as section 1119 of S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act and was enacted March 12, 2019, as Public Law 116-9. Section 1119 was originally the Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act before being included into S. 47. 

Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans Land Allotment Program (ANVLAP) status

The Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans Land Allotment Program (ANVLAP) is open to all eligible Alaska Natives who served in the military between August 5, 1964, and December 31, 1971.

Congress has extended the application deadline to Dec. 29, 2030; however, if you have not applied, please do so now. 

If you have received previous correspondence from the BLM regarding your application, please review what is needed and provide it to the BLM.

Where can I find application details in the Final Rules?

Following is a list of quick links to application topics covered in the Final Rules:

  • When can I apply for an allotment?
  • Do I need to fill out a special application form?
  • How do I obtain a copy of the application form?
  • What must I file with my application form?
  • What are the special provisions that apply to selections that include State or Native corporation selected land?
  • What are the rules about the number of parcels and size of the parcel for my selection?
  • Is there a limit to how much water frontage my selection can include?
  • Do I need to pay any fees when I file my application?
  • Where do I file my application?
  • What will the BLM do if it finds an error in my application?
  • When is my application considered received by the BLM?
  • Where can I go for help with filling out an application?
  • How will I receive Notices and Decisions?
  • May I request an extension of time to respond to Notices?
Has every eligible veteran been found?

No. We still need your help locating more than 150 potentially eligible veterans and families nationwide and getting them to provide current addresses to the Bureau of Indian Affairs at (907) 271-4506. Please ask around for people who served between 1964 and 1971. We can’t give you their names due to Privacy Act concerns, but you can spread the word in your community centers, shelters, veterans’ organizations, places of worship, and social services organizations. 

What outreach on ANVLAP has BLM done?

During the rule promulgation up to the issuance of the first Certificate of Allotment, we held more than 110 outreach efforts for Alaska Native entities. In the last year, we have conducted 17 in-person outreach sessions to help veterans and their families apply for lands and to provide additional information about our land transfer programs. 

Were public meetings held?

Yes. Four virtual meetings were held July 15 & 16, 2020 and streamed live on social media. Watch a recording of a virtual meeting, if you'd like, or view the Public Meeting slide presentation from July 10, 2020. 

 

Heirs of Deceased Alaska Native Veterans

How do I become a personal representative?

To apply on behalf of a deceased veteran, a personal representative will need to be appointed through the Alaska State Court through the probate process. Information on how to become a personal representative is available on Alaska Law Help, and through the Alaska Court System. Alaska Law Help also offers a guided online interview that will provide you with the completed, necessary forms to start the process. Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) provides assistance with completing the paperwork needed by the court for an individual to be appointed personal representative.

How do I get a copy of my (or my relative's) DD-214 and other service-related paperwork?

Get a copy of your (or your relative's) DD-214 or print a VA Service Verification Letter right from the US Department of Veterans Affairs website. Visit the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Office of Veterans Affairs or the US Department of Veterans Affairs to request your DD-214.  You can also request the documents you need by calling the VA benefits hotline at (800) 827-1000. Your local VA office or a veteran service organization can help you navigate the process, if you need assistance. 

Do all the heirs of an eligible veteran qualify separately?

No, only the eligible veteran qualifies for an allotment, so there is only one allotment available for application.

The only person who can apply on behalf of a deceased eligible veteran is the personal representative of that veteran's estate appointed by an Alaska State Court. Even if a court has determined that you are an heir, you can only apply on behalf of the deceased eligible veteran if you have been appointed the personal representative of that veteran's estate. Alaska Law Help offers information and resources on how to become a personal representative. If you need additional assistance, contact Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) through their online intake, or by calling (888) 478-2572.

 

Alaska Native Veterans

What should I do?

Eligible veterans should apply today! Veterans previously notified of eligibility will receive application materials in the mail. Read the Final Rules for details.

Those not notified can take the following actions and consult the Final Rules for instructions to apply.

  1. Update your mailing address and phone number with your BIA Realty Tribal Service Provider and personal representative, (if applicable). Enrollment Verification: (907) 271-4506 | BIA Realty: (800) 645-8465.
     
  2. Get a copy of your DD-214 or print a VA Service Verification Letter right from the US Department of Veterans Affairs website. The VA Service Verification Letter gives dates of service and the character of discharge. You can also:

    BY PHONE | Request the documents you need calling the VA benefits hotline at (800) 827-1000 or by contacting Frank "Ric" Epperson at (907) 257-4864, [email protected].

    IN PERSON | Vets and family members can also book an appointment online for in-person meeting at the Anchorage Regional VA office to discuss getting a copy DD-214 copies or a VA Service Verification Letter.

    OTHER ONLINE | Visit the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Office of Veterans Affairs or the US Department of Veterans Affairs to request your DD-214. 
     
    If VA does not have a copy of your DD-214 because you've never filed a claim with them, then request your DD-214 directly from the National Personnel Records Center. This can be done by faxing an SF-180 to NPRC at (314) 801-9195 or completing the form online at the eVetRecs site and mailing or faxing the signature page as instructed on that website. Veterans can also print a Service Verification Letter right from the VA's website. 

    Your local VA office or a veteran service organization can help you navigate the process, if you need assistance. 
     
  3. Coordinate a personal representative appointed by an Alaska State Court, if needed.
     
  4. Review our interactive map of currently and potentially available lands for selection by eligible individuals. It will be updated regularly to account for changes as more lands become available and once allotments are applied for over the course of the program.

Once you update your contact information and receive your DD-214, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Where are you keeping those documents?
  • Does anyone else know where to find them?
  • Who would you like to represent you & do they know you want them to?
    • Do they know what lands you want to select?
    • Did you list them in your will as a representative?

You can also ask each agency if you meet the definition for Alaska Native (BIA) and Vietnam-era veteran (VA). The military service requirement can be met in several ways to qualify as a veteran per 38 USC 101. Active duty for the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard clearly falls within the definition. For service in the Reserves, National Guard, Public Health Service, or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, we recommend contacting the VA or your State veteran services for help in determining if you qualify as a veteran. In Alaska, you can contact the State of Alaska’s Office of Veteran Affairs at (888) 248-3682. 

What else can I do?
  • Nearly 2,000 eligible Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans and family members should apply today for up to 160 acres of federal land in the state! Final rules for the program were published in the Federal Register Nov. 27, giving applicants 30 days to prepare and submit applications before the opening day. Applications for the program were mailed to those who already received eligibility notices earlier this year. Downloadable applications are also available.
  • Spread the word to other potential Native Veterans you may know or through organizations you participate in. We still need your help locating about 150 potentially eligible veterans and families nationwide and getting them to provide current addresses to the Bureau of Indian Affairs at (907) 271-4506. Please ask around for people who served between 1964 and 1971. We can’t give you their names due to Privacy Act concerns, but you can download and distribute our flyer to your community centers, shelters, veterans’ organizations, places of worship, and social services organizations.  
If I am eligible, will I be notified? If I'm not notified, what do I need to do?

The BLM mailed letters to approximately 2,000 individuals between July and December 2020 notifying them that they are eligible to apply for a land allotment of up to 160 acres. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is still determining eligibility status for about 270 more Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans. The BLM will mail additional notifications as eligibility is confirmed.

  • If you do did not receive notification already, it means that the contact information the government has for you is incorrect or you were not ineligible.
  • If your contact information is updated and you were not notified of eligibility, instructions for addressing your concerns is included in the Final Rules. 
Who certifies Alaska Native status?

The Bureau of Indian Affairs.

BIA liaison (in and out of state) Leonard "Paul" Mayo (907)388-0478 [email protected].

 

Land Allotment Selection

Who is eligible to select an allotment of land?

Any Alaska Native who:

A personal representative appointed by the Alaska Court System, acting on behalf of the heirs of a deceased Native veteran, may also apply for an allotment if the deceased veteran meets the eligibility requirements above.

What land is available for selection?

To date there are approximately 38.9 million acres of lands available for selection.  See the Available Lands Map for currently and potentially available lands for selection. The Act makes all vacant, unappropriated, and unreserved BLM-managed public lands available. In general, reserved lands are those designated for a specific use like military bases, National Parks, or National Wildlife Refuge, or specific purposes like the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.  Appropriated lands include lands selected by the State or by Native corporations for conveyance.  Although selected lands are considered appropriated lands, selected lands can be considered if the State or Native corporation agrees to a relinquishment of the selection.

See the Available Lands Map for currently and potentially available lands for selection. The map will be updated as more lands become available and as allotments are applied for over the course of the program.

Do the allotment entries on the Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans Allotment Program of 2019 Available Lands Map have a legal effect?

Noting an allotment to the live map does not have a legal effect. The live map is for the sole purpose of making applicants aware of potential conflicts.

How large can the allotment be?

The allotment must be between 2.5 and 160 acres. 

Can selections be made in wildlife refuges?

No lands within wildlife refuges are currently available for selection.

However, as required by the Dingell Act, findings from the US Fish & Wildlife Service study Identification of National Wildlife Refuge System Lands in Alaska That Should Be Made Available for Allotment Selection by Eligible Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans were reported to Congress in November 2020 for consideration in future actions. Only Congress can make refuge lands available for selection. Identified lands in the US Fish & Wildlife Service study would require subsequent legislation to become available for selection. 

Can I select lands a Native corporation of the State of Alaska already owns?

No. The Act only makes BLM-managed public lands available and does not authorize title recovery.  

Will my allotment be subject to valid existing rights?

Yes, any available Federal land conveyed under the Act will be subject to valid existing rights. 

Is land that is valuable for minerals available for selection?

Yes, however any minerals not subject to valid existing rights will be reserved to the United States in your title document.

Can I select land in two different areas?

No. The legislation limits an allotment to only one parcel of land.

If new land becomes available after I apply, can I change my mind and reapply for an allotment on the newly available land?

Eligible Individuals may be allowed to amend their selections until 60 days after they receive the Notice of Survey. Amended selections will be considered as new applications for purposes of preference, but there is no need to resubmit any portions of the application other than the land description and map. If an applicant relinquishes their application more than 60 days after they receive the Notice of Survey, then the applicant will only be able to submit a new application for a new selection if their original selection is no longer available. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to change your selection except if lands you selected were applied for by another individual or if the lands were otherwise unavailable.

Why is there no land available for selection in Southeast Alaska?

The Act does not include Federal land within a unit of the National Forest System or National Park System. 

 

Military Service and Veteran Affairs

Who certifies military service?

The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

How do I get a copy of my (or my relative's) DD-214 and other service-related paperwork?

Get a copy of your (or your relative's) DD-214 or print a VA Service Verification Letter right from the US Department of Veterans Affairs website. Visit the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Office of Veterans Affairs or the US Department of Veterans Affairs to request your DD-214.  You can also request the documents you need by calling the VA benefits hotline at (800) 827-1000. Your local VA office or a veteran service organization can help you navigate the process, if you need assistance. 

What if the VA doesn't have a copy of my DD-214?

If VA does not have a copy of your DD-214 because you've never filed a claim with them, then request your DD-214 directly from the National Personnel Records Center.  This can be done by faxing an SF-180 to NPRC at (314) 801-9195 or completing the form online at the eVetRecs site and mailing or faxing the signature page as instructed on that website. 

Do I qualify if I was dishonorably discharged?

No, the law requires that you were discharged or released from your service under conditions other than dishonorable.  However, you may want to talk to the US Department of Veterans Affairs or your State veteran services for help in determining whether your discharge can be upgraded. In Alaska, you can contact the State of Alaska’s Office of Veteran Affairs at (888) 248-3682. Your local VA office or a veteran service organization can also help you navigate the process, if you need it.

How can I apply to have a military discharge reviewed?

Veterans can use the following resources to apply to have their discharge reviewed by their respective military service department:

 

Need more information?

I still have questions that aren't addressed here. Who can I contact?

Email the Bureau of Land Management Alaska at [email protected] or give us a call at (907) 271-3786. We're here to help!