Alaska SDF participates in Multi Nation Exercise

The Alaska State Defense force recently participated in a Multi nation exercise. The exercise known as Arctic Eagle 2018, focuses on scenario-based events which include hazardous material detection and response, security and protection of critical infrastructure, triage, domain awareness patrol, communication and transportation support. The participating military forces and agencies are numerous and are listed as follows:

Alaska National Guard
Alaska State Defense Force
Alaska Naval Militia
U.S. Customs
Colorado National Guard
Connecticut National Guard
Indiana National Guard
Oregon National Guard
South Dakota National Guard
Utah National Guard
Vermont National Guard
Washington National Guard
Wyoming National Guard
Canadian Rangers
Canadian Brigade Group
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Army Alaska
U.S. Army Reserves
Environmental Protection Agency
State of Alaska Departments of Environmental Conservation
Health and Social Services
Public Safety, and Transportation
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, UNITED STATES

02.16.2018

Story by Lt. Col. Candis Olmstead

Alaska National Guard Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Approximately 1,100 Air and Army National Guardsmen are set to participate in Exercise Arctic Eagle 2018 across the state, from Feb. 20 to March. 8.

Arctic Eagle 2018 is a statewide exercise involving national, state and local agencies designed to provide opportunities for participants to conduct sustained operations in arctic conditions.

“Training is crucial to ensure the Alaska National Guard maintains the highest levels of proficiency and readiness to respond as needed by our state and nation,” said Maj. Gen. Laurie Hummel, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard and commissioner for the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “The Alaska National Guard has successfully operated in extreme cold-weather conditions in and near the Arctic region for more than 75 years.”

Arctic Eagle 2018 consists of scenario-based events at multiple locations, including Anchorage, Valdez, near Ft. Greely at the Donnelly Training Area; Bethel, Kwethluk and Quinhagak in Western Alaska; along the Alaska-Canada border, and areas north of Fairbanks. The scenarios include hazardous material detection and response, security and protection of critical infrastructure, triage, domain awareness patrol, communication and transportation support.

The goals of Arctic Eagle 2018 are for participating forces to operate in a joint, interagency, intergovernmental and multinational environment; assess ability to conduct sustained operations in arctic conditions, and integrate new and emerging capabilities.

“This is a highly complex training exercise that includes federal, state and local emergency participants in a combined response to several challenging scenarios,” said Hummel.

The exercise includes National Guard forces from Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming, in addition to participation by the Alaska State Defense Force.

Other agencies participating in the event include the Canadian Rangers, Canadian Brigade Group, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Alaska, U.S. Army Reserves; federal participation by the Environmental Protection Agency; State of Alaska Departments of Environmental Conservation, Health and Social Services, Public Safety, and Transportation; and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’ Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Arctic Eagle 2018 is linked to Alaskan Command’s Exercise Arctic Edge, the U.S. Army’s Arctic Pegasus, and the U.S. Navy’s ICE-X. The exercises occur in February and March 2018, and dates for each exercise varies.

Stories and imagery from the Alaska National Guard’s Exercise Arctic Eagle 2018 may be accessed via the Defense Video Imagery Distribution System at www.dvidshub.net/feature/ArcticEagle.