The men and women of our armed forces are required to be always ready for the threats this nation faces. In the north of Alaska at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, the US Army is preparing our forces for winter warfare.
The reason is that the likelihood of an arctic conflict is increasing.
The base is also moving to bring in a flexible winter fighting component which they believe will be more suited to future winter wars than the current Stryker Brigade.
Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth said it’s all about being able to operate in “extreme” low temperatures and be ready to fight in the coldest parts of Europe or the “Indo-Pacific.”
Here’s why this matters…
Building ‘Arctic-Capable’ Soldiers
As Wormuth emphasized, bases like Elmendorf want soldiers who are fully “Arctic-capable” and can stand up to increasing threats in the region from Russia and China.
There continues to be the chance of serious naval incursions from Moscow and Beijing. The problem is America doesn’t have as many troops who are fully trained up in winter warfare and ready for this kind of threat.
We also need troops who are ready for deployment in very cold areas, including in eastern Europe or Asia.
Russia has been building its troop presence in northern regions and areas it controls. China is also training up troops for winter combat.
With the war in Ukraine still raging, Finland and Sweden are also planning to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Russian leader Vladimir Putin said this will result in Russia dropping nuclear bombs on Europe.
The point is this: serious winter war could be coming in the very near future.
A U.S. Army soldier died after sustaining injuries in a bear attack Tuesday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska. https://t.co/oKb8Uf6PID
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) May 11, 2022
Meet the 11th Airborne
The replacement of the Stryker units and Elmendorf’s 4th Infantry Brigade will form together to form the 11th Airborne.
They will be based in Alaska; the unit will include new and more mobile vehicles than Strykers which can navigate winter landscapes more quickly.
There will also be more and more training going on to get troops specialized in winter warfare and ready for future conflicts that could arise.
Currently, Exercise Red Flag Alaska 22-1 is also going on from Elmendorf, as well.
Personnel from No. 47 Squadron, have been training with coalition partners on Exercise Red Flag Alaska 22-1.
Four crews with a single C-130J Hercules have deployed from RAF Brize Norton to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage.
See more: https://t.co/MTrlwJEcNW pic.twitter.com/dDUmUdgx15
— RAF Brize Norton (@RAFBrizeNorton) May 12, 2022
Owning the Arctic
The threats America faces are very real. It’s important for our geostrategic security that we have a firm grasp on the Arctic and security there.
It is good our troops at Elmendorf and other northern bases are focusing on the threats of the future and getting ready for any situation or deployment that could arise. The more versatile we are, the better.
Weak countries like Canada are not going to do much to protect their pieces of the far north. This is why America needs to step in and be the strong leader in these regions.
