PHOTOS: 11th Airborne operates in freezing conditions in Alaska
During the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 26-02 rotation, the US Army's 11th Airborne Division emulates what an Arctic conflict would look like.
Soldiers from the Army's 11th Airborne Division stand in front of a Cold-Weather All-Terrain Vehicle (CATV) during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) Rotation 26-02. (Photo by Carley Welch/ Breaking Defense)
YUKON TRAINING AREA, Alaska — The Army’s 11th Airborne Division, nicknamed the “Arctic Angels,” braved the cold during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 26-02 rotation, where soldiers act out what an Arctic conflict might look like. The training comes as the Arctic’s strategic value grows and the Pentagon reorients to homeland defense.
Temperatures average around negative 20 to 40 degrees with wind chills much colder here this time of year, but during the time when these photos were taken, it was an abnormally warm day at a balmy 18 degrees. On a normal day, even exposing a finger to use a tablet or mobile device in such frigid air can cause frostbite, as it did with one soldier here, Col. Chris Brawley, commander of the 1st Brigade Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, told reporters.
Cold-Weather All-Terrain Vehicles (CATVs) and trailers line up to make the trek from Eielson Airforce Base to the Yukon Training Area. (Photo by Carley Welch/ Breaking Defense). Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy George observes soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division speak about their command and control operations during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) Rotation 26-02. (Photo by Carley Welch/ Breaking Defense)
A tarp that blocks thermal and electronic warfare signatures covers a command post made out of a CATV. (Photo by Carley Welch/ Breaking Defense)
Soldiers from the 11th Airborne talk outside of a command post used by the 2nd Brigade, 11th Airborne Division. (Photo by Carley Welch/ Breaking Defense)
A snow machine waits for its rider outside a 2nd Brigade command post. (Photo by Carley Welch/ Breaking Defense)Soldiers from the 2nd IBCT, 11th Airborne division, hid out in small snow holes as they waited for the 1st IBCT to “attack” during JPRMC 26-02. (Photo by Carley Welch/ Breaking Defense)
Soldiers trek through the snow-covered forest on their way to find more operational posts belonging to the 2nd Brigade. (Photo by Carley Welch/ Breaking Defense). Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Randy George, crawls into a operational post soldiers made out of tree limbs. (Photo by Carley Welch/ Breaking Defense). Soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division hide out in observation posts made out of tree limbs while they wait for the 1st IBCT to “attack” during the JPMRC 26-02 exercise. (Photo by Carley Welch/ Breaking Defense) Snow machines and CATVs are sprawled out while senior leaders of the 11th Airborne discuss plans for the rest of the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) Rotation 26-02. (Photo by Carley Welch/ Breaking Defense)
