More than 8,000 soldiers in Alaska recently concluded a large-scale exercise that included a 150-mile helicopter deep strike, flying a rocket launcher 500 miles above the Arctic Circle, and snowmobile hunter-killer teams armed with shoulder-fired rockets. Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commander of the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division, spoke about the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center training exercise that took place from Feb. 8 through Feb. 22.
A Mongolian Armed Forces infantry company and 600 Canadian troops participated alongside U.S. forces, with additional forces from partner nations such as Sweden, Finland, and South Korea. The Army’s Arctic Strategy was released in 2021, and the 11th Airborne Division was reactivated in 2022 to counter increasing militarization of the Arctic region by Russian and Chinese forces.
During the exercise, soldiers tested various equipment and faced challenges such as digital communication jamming, drone swarms, and extreme cold temperatures. Observations from the exercise indicated a need for more snowmobiles and improvements to equipment like tent systems and ski bindings. The exercise showcased the Army’s readiness to operate in harsh Arctic conditions and collaborate with international partner nations.
