The scale of the US Army Pacific’s annual exercise in Alaska intensified this year, at a time when national strategic interest in Arctic operations continues to grow. The exercise puts the 11th Airborne and supporting joint forces through an extreme cold-weather trial and creates one of the few opportunities for the joint force to innovate and rehearse combat at extreme northern latitudes. As in years past, the exercise placed a brigade combat team of the 11th Airborne Division into the Yukon Training Area for 10 days, although a winter storm shortened the event by 24 hours.1 The event began with a combined air and ground assault followed by limited offensive operations to expand the lodgment. The brigade then transitioned into a defense to prepare for resuming offensive operations after an enemy counter-attack.2 The brigade was supported by aviation, sustainment, and SOF elements under the command of the 11th Airborne.
