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US special operations forces adventured to Alaska in February to train for the Arctic War.
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Their trip reflects the growing US military interest in the Arctic Circle, which is becoming more accessible.
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The United States is not the only country interested in Arctic security, and not only US operators are there.
As the Nearpia War returns to the agenda, US special operations forces are concentrating their training on an environment in which they are most likely involved.
The The frigid Arctic is one of those environmentsAnd Navy Seals and Special Warfare Combat Pilots-Craft Crewman Operators, Green Berets and Army Elite Astronauts, and Air Commandos have recently trained for almost a month.
Special operator goes to the North Pole
From late February to mid-March, regular and special operations forces gathered at the Arctic Edge 22, the main US military exercise in the Arctic Circle.
Operators from the entire US special operations community have joined Alaska’s regular forces and local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
The 10th Special Forces Group and 19th Special Forces Group green berets used snowshoes and skis to make long-distance patrols along the Arctic Ocean and the Bering Strait.
Green beret conducted penetration training at tHe is the elite “Night Stalkers” of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment... Special Forces operators also worked with local and federal law enforcement agencies in simulated land defense scenarios.
On the Navy side, SEAL honed its Arctic survival skills and conducted special reconnaissance training. The Navy’s SWCC operators also worked with Coast Guard units to practice defending critical infrastructure.
One of the most interesting parts of SEAL’s training was to free fall into the ice currents of the Arctic Ocean and work with the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Pasadena. With biennial ice exercise..
Finally, the U.S. Air Force Air Force Commandos provided rotor support to traditional units and special operations elements participating in the training.
The special operations aspects of the exercise were overseen by Brig-led US Special Operations Command North. General Sean Satterfield.
“Special operations forces have tested the equipment and considered innovative ways to not only survive in the Arctic, but also prosper in the Arctic,” Sutterfield said. release..
Satterfield not only trained special operators for specific mission sets, but also built relationships with local communities, including Alaska Natives, to “technically, practices and procedures on how to succeed in cold weather. Get the knowledge from. “
Competition in the Arctic
As the Arctic Circle becomes more accessible, it New importance to US national security..
As a result, US special operations have been trained both inside and outside the region to better understand the situations encountered there.
One of their training methods is the Special Operations Winter Mountain Operator Course, which takes place twice a year in Colorado.
This course is open to all Special Operations Forces, but is attended by Green Berets, the 10th Special Forces Group, which is primarily responsible for Europe.
As the name implies, SOWMOC focuses on the mountain and winter war. Participants will be able to navigate in snowy conditions, small unit tactics for setting up the Arctic, and how to use skis, snowshoes, and snowmobiles to penetrate and penetrate the winter war environment. Learn the survival skills of the war.
It is not only the United States that has security interests in the Arctic Circle, and not only US special operations forces are working in the Arctic Circle.
Special Operations Command North continues to expand and strengthen its ties with foreign special operations forces, including commands from Canada and Denmark.
“Our partners and allies are absolutely important and the foundation for our mission at SOCNORTH. We regularly train and coordinate with the Canadian Special Operations Forces and the Danish Special Operations Forces. The operation monitored the Arctic this year, “said Satterfield.
The abundant resources of the Arctic Circle, more direct maritime routes, and the melting ice that makes them more accessible are transforming the major geopolitical real estate of the Arctic Circle.
The United States shares the region with six close allies and partners of Canada, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and Iceland, and one of its major enemies, Russia. China is also interested in the region, “Close to the Arctic Circle” When Observer transmission At the meeting of the Arctic Council, which consists of eight countries in the Arctic Circle.
As competition with Russia and China intensifies, US military interest in the Arctic and preparations to fight there will increase.
“We would like to partner with allies interested in protecting Arctic lands and approaches. Partnerships are important in building awareness of the entire territory of the United States Northern Command’s overall responsibilities. “Sutterfield said.
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a defense journalist specializing in special operations, a veteran of the Greek Army (the 575th Marine Battalion and the National Service of the Army Council), and a graduate of Johns Hopkins University.
Read the original article Business Insider