JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – From the frozen peaks of Alaska to a thunderstorm of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), every challenge pushes the limits of skill and precision. Joint collaboration with U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, supporting U.S. North Command (USNORTHCOM) and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) homeland security effort, rapidly employing HIMARS during Arctic Edge 2025.
“Arctic Edge is significant to Reserve Marines because it exposes them to an environment that most Marines never experience. It challenges their adaptability, builds confidence, and sharpens warfighting skills while integrating with active duty and joint forces,” said Gunnery Sgt. Fernando Elias, Battery Field Artillery Chief with 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division.
This exercise provides an opportunity to highlight cross command coordination in the Alaskan Theater of Operations (AKTO) for homeland defense.
“It focuses on strengthening joint and combined force readiness, ensuring we can sustain operations, move, and fight effectively in the Arctic. Ultimately, it’s about proving that U.S. forces can project power and defend national interests in any clime and place,” said Elias.
The integration efforts aim to enhance the strategies, effectiveness, and overall capabilities across multiple domains.
“Training with our Allies builds trust, strengthens interoperability and ensures we can fight as one team.” said Capt. Alex Hoppman, platoon commander with 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division. Logistics keeps the force moving and in the fight. Maintaining constant supply of sustainment, fuel and ammunition ensuring Marines and partners can operate anytime and anywhere.
Operating in the Arctic helps identify what training and equipment is required by the Joint Force to operate in the northern theater. Conducting long range precision fires while working with Allies and partners demonstrates how the U.S. executes and enhances integrated air and missile defense across the region.
Arctic Edge challenges Marines with harsh climates and complex missions, giving them the experience and confidence to respond globally. Additionally, it allows the Marines to understand where they fit in within the Marine Corps operations picture, and gain experience working with different units in the Marine Corps.
The HIMARS is known for its long-range capabilities, capable of making contacts with targets over 100 miles away, depending on the provided ammunition. The HIMARS’ quick deployment time and mobility in the frigid arctic climate make this weapon system essential for homeland defense and a key component to the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) in the northern theater.
HIMARS gives the MAGTF long-range precision firepower that can shape the battlefield and support maneuver forces from extended distances. It increases flexibility by allowing us to strike key targets quickly and accurately while remaining highly mobile and survivable. This capability enhances the MAGTF’s lethality and ability to respond across the full spectrum of operations, said Elias.”
Arctic Edge 2025 demonstrates how the U.S. will conduct enhanced maritime domain awareness activities. Maritime domain awareness is a critical mission to safeguard commerce and to protect the sovereign resources of foreign nations and the domestic livelihood of individuals.
Arctic Edge proves that the Marine Corps can operate in any clime or place. Furthermore, it highlights that US forces are committed, capable, and ready to defend the homeland in the most extreme environments, said Hoppman.”
This exercise strengthens our total force, and boost troop readiness and experience through repetition. USNORTHCOM aims to offset our military advantage and continuously prioritize homeland security alongside NORAD. To continuously defend against ever evolving threats from multiple domains and avenues of approach.
USNORTHCOM and NORAD provide our personnel with real world experience via joint training with other services as well as allied and partnered nations. Through integrated efforts Arctic Edge actively strengthens maritime domain awareness and the U.S. Military’s ability to detect, track and engage advanced cruise missile threats in the northern theater.
| Date Taken: | 08.24.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2025 14:46 |
| Story ID: | 546338 |
| Location: | ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 24 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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