THE WATCH staff
Building on the success of its first site survey, U.S. Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH) recently sent another team to Alaska’s North Slope Borough (NSB).
The team for the July 2021 visit was drawn from SOCNORTH (two members), the Air Force’s 621st Contingency Response Wing (two members), a Soldier from the 10th Special Forces Group — which recently implemented a new Winter Warfare Course — and a representative from the Arctic Slope Regional Corp. During their visit, team members focused on planning and logistics for next year’s Arctic Edge 22, a biennial, large-scale, joint training exercise. The team also strengthened relationships with local government officials and Native Alaskans, surveyed airfields in the NSB and tested satellite, cell and point-to-point communications equipment.
The Arctic is an increasingly important strategic environment as climate change opens areas once covered by ice, freeing up access to sea routes and natural resources. These areas can be exploited by potential rivals capable of operating in the harsh conditions. The Arctic is part of the area of responsibility for U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), whose primary mission is homeland defense. SOCNORTH is the special operations component of USNORTHCOM.
“The Arctic has become a key piece of terrain in the defense of the homeland,” Brig. Gen. Shawn Satterfield, the SOCNORTH commander, said in a recent online forum where he outlined the importance of the Arctic and how special operations forces are building a defense presence in the region. Special operations forces have unique capabilities and training that conventional military forces lack, and they also play a special role in deterrence, according to USNORTHCOM.
“The simple fact is that our [Arctic] knowledge and subject-matter expertise has atrophied since the Cold War — a shortfall we are working hard to rectify in partnership with our allies and partners,” Satterfield said.
Surveys help SOCNORTH develop the readiness and capability to operate in the Arctic, which includes strengthening knowledge of the environment and assuring Alaska Natives that the military is sensitive to their concerns — especially when exercises take place near areas that provide subsistence hunting and fishing.
To that end, the SOCNORTH team members met with NSB elected officials and traveled to the villages of Atqasuk and Wainwright, where they refined the training lanes for Arctic Edge as well as logistical requirements. The team also explained the exercise to Alaska Natives and listened to their feedback and concerns. The members coordinated with NSB Search and Rescue (pictured), whose staff and volunteers will work with the special operations forces during Arctic Edge 22.
These surveys are all part of what Air Force Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, who commands USNORTHCOM, calls domain awareness. The general said the U.S. military is working to modernize and build additional military capabilities.
“To compete in the Arctic, you have to be on the field,” VanHerck told the House Armed Services Committee in April 2021. “And currently, our capabilities, I would assess that we’re in the game-plan development [stage].”
IMAGE CREDITS: U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND NORTH