Photo By Elizabeth Easterling | U.S. Air Force Airmen with the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and 86th Critical Care Air Transport Team, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, practice medical intervention techniques aboard a C-146A Wolfhound, Aug. 25, 2026, during Exercise Northern Viking 2026. This training maintains the expeditionary teams' proficiency in delivering specialized medical care in austere environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Elizabeth Easterling) see less
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Citizen Air Commandos advance Arctic mobility during Exercise Northern Viking 2026 with NATO Allies
AKUREYRI, Iceland — Citizen Air Commandos from the 919th Special Operations Wing went to northern Iceland to conduct specialized air mobility operations during Exercise Northern Viking 2026.
Northern Viking 2026 is a joint and allied live exercise designed to strengthen interoperability and forge readiness between Iceland and participating NATO partners. Staging from various locations across Iceland, the exercise enhances the collective ability to command and control forces in defense of the host nation and the strategic Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom gap.
During the exercise, the 919th SOW demonstrated specialized airlift capabilities by conducting tactical aeromedical evacuation missions in coordination with medical personnel from the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and Critical Care Air Transport Teams. Crews practiced rapid patient loading and mid-flight critical care under austere conditions, validating the wing’s ability to extract wounded personnel from remote locations and sustain vital care en route to regional medical facilities.
"Staging out of northern Iceland gives our Citizen Airmen an exceptional venue to prove our specialized airlift capabilities in demanding, real-world conditions,' said the 919th SOW mission commander. 'Integrating directly with Ramstein’s aeromedical evacuation squadron and the and CCATT specialists demonstrated our ability to rapidly configure for casualty evacuation, solve complex operational challenges in austere locations, and provide responsive combat support across the European theater."
The multilateral maneuvers took place during a critical operational window as Allied militaries synchronized crisis response protocols across Europe's northern approaches. By training alongside joint U.S. forces, NATO Allies, and Icelandic authorities, the 919th SOW reinforced specialized air mobility partnerships essential to regional stability.
"Exercises like Northern Viking reinforce that we are stronger together,' the mission commander added. 'Working shoulder-to-shoulder with our Icelandic hosts and NATO Allies sharpens our shared procedures, enhances combined combat readiness, and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to defend the High North and deter emerging threats."
The tactics and procedures validated throughout Northern Viking 2026 will be integrated into the 919th SOW’s ongoing readiness training, ensuring the wing remains prepared to support dynamic mission taskings across the U.S. European Command area of responsibility.
