THE WATCH STAFF
The ability of the U.S. military and its allies to operate in extreme conditions is again being put to the test in the biennial exercise Arctic Edge.
Arctic Edge 22 (AE22) is hosted by Alaskan Command (ALCOM) and is taking place February 28 to March 17. The exercise is conducted under the authority of U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), which is responsible for homeland defense. It is designed to provide realistic training using locations throughout Alaska.
“Arctic operations and exercises such as Arctic Edge demonstrate the capabilities utilized to defend our homeland and our interests,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. David A. Krumm, the senior military officer in Alaska whose responsibilities include leadership of ALCOM as well as the 11th Air Force and the Alaskan Region of the North American Aerospace Defense Command. “To deter day-to-day, deescalate in crisis, and if required defeat in conflict, we must be able to operate and thrive in the Arctic.
“Technologies are changing and access to the Arctic is increasing, so it is imperative those who choose to come to the Arctic are abiding by international rules and norms,” Krumm said. “Domain awareness is critical for maintaining a free and open, prosperous and safe, protected Arctic.”
Approximately 1,000 U.S. military personnel will participate in the multinational exercise, including those from U.S. Special Operations Command North, who have established a Joint Force Special Operations Command to provide command and control for the more than 340 Special Operations Forces (SOF) from every branch of the U.S. military. The headquarters, located in Anchorage, will have elements of the 10th Special Forces Group, Navy SEALs and 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
The exercise will also demonstrate the SOF’s ability to deploy and operate in the extreme cold while preparing to repel hostile forces.
(Pictured: A Green Beret with the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) self-rescues with ice picks during training for AE22 at Yukon Training Area, Alaska, on February 19, 2022.)
AE22 is linked to other service-specific exercises, including the National Guard’s Arctic Eagle/Patriot, the U.S. Army’s Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Capability and the U.S. Navy’s ICE-X. These occur concurrently or consecutively with AE22, which is the largest joint exercise scheduled in Alaska this year.
While Arctic Edge first took place in 2018, the U.S. military has conducted exercises in Alaska for decades under different names.
IMAGE CREDIT: STAFF SGT. ANTHONY BRYANT/U.S. ARMY