Arctic Edge 24, a U.S. Northern Command train, introduced collectively greater than 400 particular operations forces (SOF) to combine, share classes and refine their tactical effectiveness in diving operations, fast-roping from helicopters, snow cell transits, long-range actions throughout the Arctic Circle, and a marquee occasion involving a fast-attack Submarine. These previous few weeks of coaching epitomize an unwavering dedication to fortifying U.S. and Allied nationwide safety towards potential aggression, echoing directives outlined within the Nationwide Protection Technique and the Nationwide Technique for the Arctic Area paperwork.
“Naval Particular Warfare’s distinctive means to conduct advanced operations within the water column, and in maritime domains such because the Arctic, discourages aggression from potential adversaries,” mentioned Capt. Invoice Gallagher, Naval Particular Warfare Group TWO Commodore. “Given the frequency with which we’re coaching alongside our Allied companions and demonstrating our mixed experience in a number of the most extreme environments on the planet, we’re sending a transparent message about our warfighting means and our preparedness to defend the homeland throughout the Arctic area.”
These beliefs have been on show through the culminating occasion that took the SOF commando’s coaching past the northern most level of america, previous Uqtiagvik Alaska, deep into the Arctic Circle. Flying inside particular operations MH-47G Chinook helicopters, roughly 15 SOF personnel pioneered a historic occasion after they hovered a number of toes from the floor, off-loaded a small staff to conduct an ice-depth survey and cleared a helicopter touchdown zone. As soon as cleared, the Chinooks touched down and snow mobiles exited the plane to retrieve an aerial package deal dropped close by. The package deal was then pushed throughout Arctic terrain and handed-off to personnel from the submarine USS Hampton (SSN 767). Simply moments earlier than, the Los Angeles-class quick assault submarine had surfaced via the thick sheet of ice, rising from the ocean beneath. This marked the first-ever integration of SOF personnel, SOF plane, and snow mobiles coming collectively to conduct an operation with a submarine that surfaced that deep within the Arctic Circle.
In latest remarks delivered on the Maritime Institute of Expertise and Graduate Research, Adm. Daryl Caudle talked about his accountability for defending the homeland and his concept of success within the Arctic which includes sustaining an enhanced presence, strengthening cooperative partnerships and constructing a extra succesful Arctic maritime drive. Caudle instructions U.S. Fleet Forces and is the Navy’s Element Commander for each US Northern Command and US Strategic Command, the place he oversees all maritime homeland protection together with a lot of the Arctic. He went on to debate a few of his priorities which give attention to an elevated presence, campaigning via Joint coaching and workout routines, and a detailed collaboration with Allies.
Artic Edge 24 bolstered this imaginative and prescient, bringing collectively Joint, Allied, typical forces and interagency companions within the Arctic area. Arctic Edge 24 stands as a decisive demonstration of warfighting readiness, offering a platform for testing and refining capabilities within the extreme-harsh climate atmosphere within the Arctic. The collaboration between U.S. East Coast-based Naval Particular Warfare Operators (SEALs), U.S. Army Inexperienced Berets from tenth Special Forces Group (Airborne), one hundred and sixtieth Particular Operations Aviation Regiment, Danish Particular Operations Forces, Norwegian Naval Particular Operations Commandos (MJK) and United Kingdom Special Forces refined the collective capabilities of those Arctic nations to function successfully throughout a variety of coaching iterations to make sure a protected and safe pan-Arctic.
In Kodiak Alaska, SEALs, Inexperienced Berets and MJK forces carried out a number of diving operations in water temperatures of 37 levels Fahrenheit. Deploying from seaside heads and small rubber boats, the staff practiced pier-side vessel ship assaults, using fight swimmer infiltration technique with underwater navigation to focus on a coaching ship on the pier. The group additionally partnered with the U.S. Coast Guard the place they refined strategies of fast-roping from an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter underneath wet situations.
Additional North in Utqiagvik, Alaska, the SEALs and MJK Commandos embraced the challenges related to temperatures of -40 levels Fahrenheit as they ready for the culminating occasion with the US Submarine Power. Main as much as that occasion, they carried out snow cell familiarization coaching, practiced clearing ice to create a helicopter touchdown zone and educated on chilly climate survival drills, making certain a profitable SUB/SOF integration.
Extra coaching occurred all through Alaska in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Kotzebue, and Greenland, with personnel from interagency companions on the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service, United States Marine Corps, Alaska Nationwide Guard, New York Air Nationwide Guard, nineteenth Special Forces Group (Airborne) amongst others.
Safeguarding Arctic safety isn’t merely a nationwide endeavor however a collective accountability. The overall drive contributions throughout Artic Edge 24 helps the strategic significance of this space and improved the Allied-Arctic-nation’s presence and operational effectiveness within the pan-Arctic area. The situations, simulated missions and sharing of greatest practices contributed to advancing the collective warfighting readiness, homeland protection and operational acumen of those elite forces on this excessive atmosphere.
Naval Particular Warfare Group TWO produces, helps, and deploys the world’s premier maritime particular operations forces to conduct full-spectrum operations and built-in deterrence in help of U.S. nationwide aims. For extra info, go to https://www.nsw.navy.mil/
