Photo By Airman 1st Class Eli Rose | Senior Airman Richard Robicheau, a 673d Security Forces Squadron defender, starts his...... read more read more
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The 673d Security Forces Squadron, leads the way in arctic combat innovation with the development of the new Arctic Combat Development Course. While currently running trial courses through the end of the 2025-2026 winter, the team looks to have it accredited as an official course before the beginning of the 2026-2027 winter season, further enhancing arctic combat capabilities.
Covering a wide variety of topics ranging from basic arctic medicine, to combat patrolling on snowmachines, the course spans five days and includes classroom as well as hands-on learning opportunities. Regardless of prior experience level, members going through ACDC can expect to become proficient in key aspects of arctic combat and be prepared to support and defend the United State’s Last Frontier.
“The goal is to better equip our members for air-base [installation] defense in an arctic and sub-arctic environment, giving Airmen the skills to conduct long-term combat operations in austere environments,” said 673d SFS and expeditionary skills trainer U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Logan Franks. “The course is tailored to enhance and prepare individuals who operate in an arctic environment more than 50% of the year.”
With Alaska having increasing geopolitical relevance and strategic value, readiness is critical. While JBER already offers several foundational programs to prepare personnel for arctic operations such as Arctic Resiliency Training, ACDC fills a critical gap. The program shifts the focus directly to combat applications. Instead of emphasizing on only endurance in the cold, the course equips participants with the tactical skills needed to fight and win combat scenarios in extreme arctic conditions, where the environment itself can be an adversary.
Day one of the course focuses on arctic medicine, covering hypothermia and frostbite prevention, as well as first aid and developing shelter. The second and third days shift to mobility and patrolling, where students learn snowmachine operations, combat patrolling in deep snow via skiing and snowshoeing. Day four integrates weapons and tactics, including cold weather weapons maintenance and firing, small-unit maneuvers using snow for cover and building fighting positions into frozen ground. The course wraps up on day five with a scenario-based exercise, including a simulated combat patrol, followed by an after action debrief.
“Going into the course, I had a baseline knowledge of Arctic survival,” said Senior Airman Trace Langston, a 673d SFS defender. “The material I learned throughout the course was impeccable, I feel significantly better equipped not just to survive, but fight in the arctic.”
The Arctic Combat Development Course is strengthening the 673d SFS’s ability to operate and fight effectively in one of the world's harshest environments. By building practical combat skills tailored to the Arctic, ACDC helps ensure JBER's defenders are ready to protect America's Last Frontier. As more eyes look toward the Arctic, courses like ACDC ensure our defenders aren't just surviving the cold, they're dominating it.
| Date Taken: | 04.24.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 04.29.2026 17:23 |
| Story ID: | 563843 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 12 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Arctic Combat training innovation develops at JBER, by A1C Eli Rose, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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