Polar Dagger 24 provided Special Operations Command North with the opportunity to refine a range of capabilities and responses to deter, disrupt, degrade and deny competitor activity in the Arctic. AIRMAN 1ST CLASS JOHNNY DIAZ/U.S. AIR FORCE
United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), U.S. Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH) and the U.S. Navy rapidly deployed 150 U.S. special operations forces (USSOF) aboard the USS John L. Canley to conduct multidomain maritime operations in the North American Arctic as part of Operation Polar Dagger 24 (OPD24) in July and August 2024.
Operating in the Bering Sea, Arctic Circle and St. Lawrence Island, OPD24 demonstrated the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) commitment to Arctic campaigning with joint USSOF demonstrating long-range movements, maritime interdiction operations, over-the-beach operations, medical evacuation and personnel recovery, while also engaging with Alaskan Native people and communities.
About 150 joint USSOF participated in OPD24, including: U.S. Naval Special Warfare Combat Crewmen, U.S. Naval Special Warfare Operators (SEALs), the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), the U.S. Army 528th Special Operations (Airborne) Sustainment Brigade Austere Resuscitative Surgical Team, the 524th Special Operations Squadron, and members of SOCNORTH.
In his 2024 posture statement delivered on March 12, 2024, Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, commander of USNORTHCOM and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), emphasized the importance of Arctic campaigning, stating, “The success of homeland and continental defense requires capability and capacity to conduct sustained multidomain operations in the Arctic.”
According to U.S. Army Col. Matthew Tucker, commander, SOCNORTH, OPD24 directly supports the DOD Arctic Strategy (June 21, 2024), which states, “Military forces must effectively strengthen their ability to survive and operate in austere environments with honed expertise and specialized equipment to overcome the challenges presented by the Alaskan Arctic and High North.” OPD24 provided SOCNORTH the opportunity to conduct sustained Arctic multidomain operations, evaluate disruptive capabilities, and expand operational reach as part of the defense of Canada and the U.S.
In summary, OPD24 strengthened joint USSOF and U.S. Navy Fleet integration for rapid deployment of USSOF in the Arctic maritime domain. Since 2021, Operation Polar Dagger has provided USNORTHCOM and SOCNORTH with an opportunity to enhance deterrence posture and domain awareness and validate USSOF proficiency to operate in cold weather and austere environments in the Alaskan Arctic and High North.