DVIDS – News – SOCNORTH Will increase Arctic Capabilities Throughout Arctic Edge 2022

Particular Operations Forces (SOF) from the Army, Navy, Air Power labored with the U.S. Coast Guard, worldwide companions, native and state police, interagency and Alaskan natives to execute excessive chilly climate coaching, increase survival abilities and check arctic tools throughout train Arctic Edge, Feb. 28 – March 17, 2022.

Arctic Edge is an arctic-focused U.S. Northern Command biennial train hosted by Alaskan Command. This yr, Particular Operations Command North (SOCNORTH) not solely amplified its participation and coaching eventualities, however it was the primary time it examined its functionality to shortly mobilize its headquarters from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. The power to mobilize, deploy and set up a Joint Power Particular Operations Element Command (JFSOCC) to command-and-control SOF models is a crucial process for SOCNORTH’s homeland protection mission.

Workouts like Arctic Edge, give SOCNORTH the platform to display its proficiency to quickly deploy, function, and conduct command and management of SOF models within the Arctic. The train additionally supplied a possibility to check techniques and discipline tools in extreme chilly temperatures.

“Particular Operations Forces examined tools and checked out modern methods to not simply survive within the Arctic however thrive within the Arctic,” mentioned Brig. Gen. Shawn Satterfield, commander, Particular Operations Command North. “In addition they developed relationships inside native communities to incorporate Alaskan natives, gaining data from their strategies, practices and procedures on how they succeed within the chilly climate.”

In northern Alaska, also called the ‘The Excessive North’, tenth Special Forces Group (Airborne) and nineteenth Special Forces Group (Airborne) performed a sequence of long-range snowshoe and snow machine actions alongside the North Slope, Arctic Ocean, and Bering Strait whereas built-in with state/native legislation enforcement and Alaskan tribal organizations in harsh climate. Moreover, each models labored closely with native and federal companies to supply built-in deterrence underneath a homeland protection state of affairs.

tenth Special Forces Group (Airborne) Inexperienced Berets then utilized one hundred and sixtieth Particular Operations Aviation Regiment MH-60 Blackhawks to exfiltrate after a multi-day motion by the extraordinary Arctic atmosphere.

In southern Alaska, working on Kodiak Island, U.S. Navy SEALs enhanced strategies and procedures for prospering within the chilly maritime atmosphere, by testing gear and conducting numerous reconnaissance coaching through the day and night time. In Juneau, U.S. Navy Particular Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen partnered with the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety Response Group for particular reconnaissance coaching on defending crucial infrastructure.

As well as, SEALS performed a number of Army Free Fall jumps into Deadhorse, Alaska, on the northern coast of Alaska. Through the closing bounce, they landed on an ice stream 177 nautical miles off land within the Arctic Ocean. As soon as they landed on the ice, they rendezvoused with the usPasadena submarine, which breached upward to 4 ft of ice in places, as a part of a U.S. Navy train, ‘ICEX’, that was going down concurrently with Arctic Edge.

Air Power Particular Operations Command additionally performed an integral half in offering intra-state transportation all through the train, as solely 20 p.c of Alaska is accessible by roads.

SOF repeatedly trains on this unforgiving local weather to be efficient within the Arctic, however they don’t do it alone.

“Our companions and allies are completely crucial and foundational to our mission at SOCNORTH,” added Satterfield. “We prepare and coordinate with Canadian SOF routinely and Danish Particular Operations noticed Arctic Edge this yr. We need to companion with allies which have curiosity in defending our lands and approaches within the Arctic. Partnerships are crucial in constructing all-domain consciousness throughout U.S. Northern Command’s space of accountability.”

Arctic Edge is a large-scale train that offers SOCNORTH not solely the chance to check all its capabilities within the Arctic, however to strengthen partnerships and collaborate with new allies. SOF continues to chart new territory within the Arctic in assist of Homeland Protection underneath the route of Particular Operations Command North.