Paratroopers with 11th Airborne Division jump as OPFOR during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center rotation

Photo By Spc. Brandon Vasquez | U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John P. Cogbill, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division, and U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. David P. Hanson, the division’s senior enlisted advisor, observe 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team's lowlight airborne insertion during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 26-02 on Husky Drop Zone at Yukon Training Area, Alaska Feb. 11, 2025. Arctic Angels descended into the frozen terrain to replicate a thinking, adaptive threat, forcing rotational training units to fight for every movement across Alaska’s unforgiving battlefield while reinforcing the division’s focus on Arctic lethality and expeditionary readiness.  

ALASKA, UNITED STATES

02.12.2026

Story by Correy Mathews 

11th Airborne Division

YUKON TRAINING AREA, Alaska — Under the aurora borealis night sky, paratroopers assigned to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division, executed a tactical airborne insertion onto Husky Drop Zone as the opposing force during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 26-02. Arctic Angels descended into the frozen terrain to replicate a thinking, adaptive threat. All while forcing rotational training units to fight for every movement across Alaska’s unforgiving battlefield while reinforcing the division’s focus on Arctic lethality and expeditionary readiness.

Serving as the opposing force (OPFOR), 2nd IBCT (Airborne) replicated a capable adversary focused on speed, mobility and disciplined execution. The nighttime airborne operation forced training audiences to respond to unpredictable maneuvers while testing their ability to operate against a determined force in austere terrain.

Operating on Husky Drop Zone required precise planning and rehearsals to account for deep snow, sub-zero temperatures and limited daylight. Leaders emphasized rapid consolidation and movement after landing, enabling Arctic Angels to transition seamlessly from airborne insertion to ground maneuver operations across the Yukon Training Area.

Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center rotations are designed to push units beyond standard training conditions, and JPMRC 26-02 placed a heavy emphasis on Arctic-focused warfighting. Acting as OPFOR allowed the brigade to employ unconventional tactics and deception while reinforcing its own expeditionary capabilities. Sustainment teams supported dispersed elements through coordinated logistics and aerial resupply, enabling paratroopers to operate independently across extended distances.

The harsh Arctic environment added complexity to each phase of the mission. Soldiers adapted movement techniques, equipment and communication methods to maintain lethality despite freezing conditions and remote terrain. Lessons learned from previous JPMRC rotations were integrated into the operation, improving synchronization between airborne forces and ground maneuver elements.

As the Army’s only airborne brigade permanently stationed in the Arctic, 2nd IBCT (Airborne) continues to refine tactics that enable rapid deployment and decisive action in extreme cold weather environments. The airborne insertion onto Husky Drop Zone demonstrated the division’s ability to deliver combat power from the air while shaping the battlefield as a thinking and adaptive opposing force.

The operation set the conditions for follow-on missions throughout JPMRC 26-02, reinforcing the 11th Airborne Division’s commitment to Arctic readiness, expeditionary capability and maintaining freedom of maneuver in one of the most challenging operational environments in the world.

• Date Taken: 02.12.2026
• Date Posted: 02.12.2026 21:19
• Story ID: 558097
• Location: ALASKA, US