December 2025 Edition

As the Department of War intensifies its focus on homeland defense and rebuilding the nation’s military, one persistent challenge remains: retaining operational experience before it leaves the force. At the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, the DoW’s SkillBridge program has become a solution. By placing soon-to-retire warfighters directly into Arctic security–focused research, education, engagement, and mission support roles, the center is helping the department preserve decades of tactical knowledge critical to homeland defense in the Arctic region, where experience and judgment cannot be rapidly replaced.