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FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Green Berets from 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) travelled above the Arctic Circle in April for a rapid deployment exercise named “Vigilant Shield” to prove their ability to conduct combat operations in extreme cold weather.
“Vigilant Shield was meant to test internal capabilities in the high North,” said a 10th Group Sgt. Major responsible for planning and observing the exercise. “It was also to demonstrate to our higher headquarters that we can compete with adversaries.”
Flying in a C-17 aircraft from Fort Carson, Colorado, a military free-fall team executed a successful High Altitude High Opening jump from the open ramp to the polar drop zone near Deadhorse, Alaska to begin the exercise. Once on the ground, the jumpers conducted a foot movement to a rendezvous point across the snowy terrain.
Upon landing, another team of operators tested the capabilities of their snow machines, driving them off the ramp of the plane to a predetermined objective.
Afterwards, support personnel quickly set up a tactical operations center to oversee the remainder of the missions. Resources included both secure and non-secure internet capabilities along with satellite communications able to reach stations thousands of miles away to include Fort Bragg, NC and Germany.
The next day, a combat dive team bundled up in warm clothing and dry suits. Diving with open circuit rigs, they successfully searched for, identified and recovered a pre-placed item, simulating a potential nuclear threat specially designed for the exercise. The area of operation took place in a frozen bay covered in over five feet of ice.
“The operation was extremely successful given what we accomplished in such a short amount of time”, said the Sgt. Major. “Extreme cold weather is just that, and we’ve been able to learn what resources we’ll need in a place with such a lack of infrastructure.”
All of these missions were completed over the course of 48 hours in temperatures reaching -50 degrees, showcasing 10th Group’s ability to function effectively in arctic environments.
There are still lessons to learn and untapped resources that can be explored to improve even more.
“The high North has Inuits that have lived in the area for hundreds of years,” added the Sgt. Major. “SOF needs to be able to tie-in with our US citizens and learn from what they have to offer in multiple situations.”
| Date Taken: | 06.11.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.11.2021 15:39 |
| Story ID: | 398698 |
| Location: | DEADHORSE, AK, US |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 10th Group Tests Capabilities in Arctic Circle, by SSG Justin Smith, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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