As a Homeland Defense exercise, ARCTIC EDGE 18 will prepare and test military forces’ ability to operate tactically in the extreme cold-weather conditions found in Arctic environments. The exercise is conducted under the authority of North American Aerospace Defense and U.S. Northern Command.
Together NORAD and USNORTHCOM contribute complimentary, multi-domain capabilities towards the defense of Canada and the United States.
“The goal of ARCTIC EDGE 18 is to train military forces to fight and win in the Arctic,” said Lt. Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Alaskan Command commander. “The exercise is a great opportunity to develop teams and relationships across services, which allows us to protect and defend the United States.”
More Than 1,500 U.S. military personnel will participate in the multi-service exercise that will occur primarily in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and Long Range Radar System sites in Alaska. U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard experts will discuss maritime scenarios during a Tabletop Exercise in Juneau.
Participating units include:
- Alaskan Command
- Alaska North America Aerospace Defense Region (ANR)
- Joint Communications Support Element
- U.S. Army Alaska
- 1-25 Stryker Brigade Combat Team
- 1-25 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion
- 1-52D General Support Aviation Battalion
- Northern Warfare Training Center
- II Marine Expeditionary Force
- 3/8 Kilo Company
- 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion – A Battery
- Transportation Support Battalion – Combat Logistics Detachment
- Surface and Mine Warfare Development Center
- Mine Countermeasures Division Three One
- U.S. Coast Guard, District 17
- 611th Air Operations Center
- 673rd Air Base Wing
- 354th Fighter Wing
- Pacific Regional Support Center
- Clear Air Force Station
- U.S. Marine Forces Northern Command
- U.S. Army North
ARCTIC EDGE 18 is linked to service-specific exercises including the National Guard’s ARCTIC EAGLE, the U.S. Army’s ARCTIC PEGASUS and the U.S. Navy’s ICE-X. These exercises will occur prior to ARCTIC EDGE 18 during February and March 2018. ARCTIC EDGE 18 is the largest joint exercise scheduled in Alaska this year.
Video and imagery obtained during the exercise will be distributed via the Defense Video Imagery Distribution System at www.dvidshub.net/feature/ArcticEdge18.